He touches my chin gently, tipping it up.
I hold my breath, wanting him to kiss me.
He strokes his thumb across my lips, then lowers his hand.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says.
I get out and stand on the sidewalk watching as he drives away.Soon, he’ll be a part of my past.I press my hand to my chest.I’ve never felt pain like this before.
Chapter Nine
Locke
She’snotmarried.Shelied so she could use me.Those thoughts tumble over each other in my head.But she didn’t do it for malicious reasons.She didn’t do it to hurt me.
I’m going over everything she told me last night when I realize she’d mentioned her father was a contractor.
A contractor?There’s no way he could be the man who found me.The odds…I swallow.But if that were true, it would explain why I feel a sense of fate with Salem.
And why I’m so mixed up and so fucking pissed about what her ex did to her.It’s bad enough he screwed her over with her designs but to go after her family?
That’s not something I can let go of.I’m going to teach that asshole a lesson.
“What has you looking so mad?”Oliver asks as he walks into my office.
I tell him what happened yesterday.
“She’s not married?”
I shake my head.After taking her home, I’d wanted to kiss her.I’d wanted to hold her and tell her I never wanted to let her go.I’d wanted to bury my cock inside of her until the fire that’s raged in me since I first saw her was quieted.
“She’s not married,” Oliver repeats.“Then…that complication is removed.”
“Yes.”I tell him what I’m wondering about her father.If he could be the man who saved me.
“I’ll reach out to the PI to dig into her family background,” Oliver offers.
“Do that but keep it discreet.”
“Discretion is my middle name,” he jokes.
There’s a tap on the door and then Salem enters.“Your grandmother called.She’s on her way here to see you.”
“Shit.I’m leaving before she sends me off on a honeymoon with Poppy,” Oliver says.
I laugh, then motion for Salem to take a seat.She chooses the chair across from the sofa and I get a close-up view of her long legs in a shorter skirt.She’s stunning and now that I know she’s not married I don’t feel so damned pervy noticing.
“Heloise hasn’t called yet, has she?”
“No, why?”
“She won’t,” I say, then share the information I discovered earlier this morning, “Her husband made a new business deal with Doug’s family and if she stands against DB Jewelry, it could jeopardize her family business.”
Salem’s expression falls.
“I’ll help you.”I look away from her legs.“And I’ll protect your family as well.No strings attached.”
“Why no strings attached?”
