Page 11 of Pretend it’s Forever

“I’m fine, I must have tripped,” she said, her gaze not leaving mine.

I would let the lie pass, even though the three of us knew there were reasons for her words.

After all, the only two times she had ever met me, she had been bleeding out, or in a hospital bed. And both times I had threatened to kill her now ex-husband. But I wasn’t quite sure she had been conscious enough to remember the first time.

Pity.

“Sophia, this is Carson. He’s working on a few developments with the company.”

I raised a brow at that, my jaw clenching. If that’s how Flynn wanted to introduce me, that was fine. A business associate. Not the man who knew more Cage secrets than most. Or the one who taught them how to box or helped them relieve whatever tension they had. After all, getting in a ring and trying to beat the shit out of your opponent usually helped with things like that.

“I would say nice to meet you, but I suppose we’ve already met.”

Another kick to the gut. I hadn’t wanted her to remember me and yet I’d known that was a lie. I needed her to remember me. To think of me. And that was why I was damned to hell. “I would say it’s good to see you standing, but you did just swoon in my arms.”

Her gaze narrowed and I couldn’t wait to find out what she was thinking.

Flynn cursed under his breath. “Really, Carson?”

I didn’t bother looking at him when I answered. “What? She did.”

“I did not swoon. I tripped.” She raised her head, her eyes still on mine.

“Whatever you say, Princess.”

“Don’t call me princess.”

“Didn’t you play one on stage once?” I hadn’t meant to say that, and when her eyes widened, and Flynn cursed once again, I realized I might’ve played my hand. Though I wasn’t sure which at that point.

“Let me take you home, Sophia.”

She held up her hands and frowned.

“No. I’m fine. Really. Let’s go get lunch, and then I need to head back to the studio. Thank you, Carson.”

I didn’t know how I felt about hearing my name falling from those luscious lips that I craved and dreamed about.

No, I didn’t like it at all.

“You don’t need to thank me at all. Just like you never need to apologize.”

Her eyes widened, and I knew she remembered that entire conversation now. Good.

“Flynn, good to see you, even in the unexpected. I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow.”

“Okay. Sophia? Are you sure?”

“I’m fine, Flynn. You don’t need to keep worrying about me.”

But as she took a step away from him, her leg gave out slightly. I reached forward, gripping her arm without thinking. She stiffened and looked down where my large hand covered her small forearm, and she let out a sigh. Then she lifted her chin and met my gaze.

“Thank you. I’m fine though.”

“If you’re sure.”

That bastard had really done a number on her. I’d seen the bat, the blood on the floor. He had shattered her dancing leg and broken a few ribs…let alone other things. I didn’t know all the details, mostly because I hadn’t looked. If I had, I would have found that man and ended him long before now.

I’d yet to give in to my temptation to murder men who hurt women, but Cale Whatever the Fuck his Last Name Was deserved it.