Page 62 of What Comes Around

“We were both tense and in need of some stress relief. It’s not necessary to make this awkward.”

His jaw tightened. “Are you sure?”

“Completely,” I said. “Everything is fine. I want to continue working here. Let’s just keep our focus on work.”

He hesitated. Just a fraction. Then his voice dropped lower.

“Ashley… are you on birth control?”

He looked uncomfortable.

“I didn’t use anything on Friday,” he added quietly. “I should have asked.”

I let the silence stretch just long enough for him to feel it.

Then I stepped closer. “I am not,” I said. “But it is okay. It’s not that time of the month.”

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“I should have been more careful,” he muttered, almost to himself. “For what it’s worth… I’m clean. I got tested recently, and I haven’t been with anyone since.”

“You were distracted,” I said lightly. “So was I.”

His eyes darkened, the memory passing between us like heat.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

My gaze drifted to his desk, just for a moment too long. He cleared his throat sharply and my eyes snapped back up to his.

Ah, there it was.

That look.

The same one from Friday night.

The one that said I hadn’t imagined the tension simmering under the surface.

The one that said he wanted to repeat that mistake.

His voice was low. “That is all.”

I turned and walked out, closing the door behind me.

He was mine.

He just didn’t know it yet.

And I could be patient.

For now.

Chapter 20: After All These Years

The next day my phone rang just after lunch, the Berkeley area code flashing across the screen.

I stepped into an empty conference room before answering.

“Ashley Richards,” I said.