Page 70 of Lethal Attraction

I shake my head in all parts of disgust and anger I feel for her situation. “They should be the ones who feel guilty for what they did to you. Don’t ever think that their actions were justifiable. You deserve to be angry.”

Her eyes saucer. “Coming from you, Mr. Emotional Stability? I didn’t think you could get angry.”

I chuckle. “It’s hard to get a rise out of me, but I know when someone deserves to be knocked off their pedestal.”

Her whole frame lightens in the blink of an eye. Her color returns to her cheeks as she gives me a small smile. “No one has ever really been angry for me besides my family…”

We fall into easier conversation as the morning goes by. I still have plenty of questions that need to be answered, but I know there’s more than enough time in the world to get to know the real Thalia.

I present her breakfast (only a little charred) with a grand motion. “The, hopefully, best omelette you’ve ever had.”

She smiles as she stabs a hefty portion and shoves it past her lips. The whole time she chews, I wait in anticipation before she finally nods.

“Okay, this is pretty good.”

“Victory,” I celebrate before scooting my stool close to hers, and we eat together. Our knees bump as we talk, and I can’t help every little subtle touch—my pinkie grazing the outside of her thigh, brushing her hair behind her ear as she eats, and the long lingering stares that I know she can feel.

She’s doing just the same—lightly placing her hand over my thigh, leaning towards me until her shoulder rests on my chest, and observing me through her peripheral vision when she thinks I’m not paying attention.

“What’s your plans for today?” I ask as I finish up my breakfast and take her empty plate to the sink.

She walks her fingers along the counter as she tilts her head. “Hmm, nothing you should be concerned about.”

I lift a brow. “Oh, yeah?”

“Mhm.”

I check my clock on the stove before cursing. I have a midday shift, but I don’t want our time to end. I scratch the back of my neck. “I work until—“

“I know,” she interrupts before bouncing down and padding over to me to wrap her arms around my neck. My hands go to her waist as she pulls me closer. “Meet back at your place at seven?”

My brain buffers.

She knows I get off at six…

Fuck, that’s a little hot. How does she even know my schedule? Shouldn’t I be freaking out over her knowing so much about my personal life?

Why do I find it so…intriguing?

“Yes, please,” I beg.

She nips at my bottom lip before our mouths crash in something passionate. Our kisses no longer feel like stolen time or something borrowed. They feel firm—connecting. As if we’ve finally come full circle and no longer have to worry about losing one another.

I kiss her harder, letting every ounce of emotion I’m feeling right now bleed into her as I cup her cheeks and circle my thumbs over her flesh. She melts against me, her body going pliant until I think we’re going to fuse together.

When we pull away, we’re both panting with glassy eyes.

“Definitely meet back here.” I order.

“For sure,” she agrees breathlessly.

Chapter eighteen

Reed

Here I am, minding my business as I take note of what needs to be stocked in the OR when Taryn appears out of nowhere and snatches the back of my scrubs so tightly, she chokes me.

“What the fuck?!” I hiss as she drags me out of the supply closet and towards the doctor’s station in the ER. She doesn’t answer as she forces me to sit down in a rolling chair in front of an unoccupied dual monitor.