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“Make love to me, Harrison.”
He kissed her softly and a heavy weight filled her chest. Every breath invited the burn of unshed tears.
It was already starting. This was part of his goodbye.
She arched as he entered her, savoring the perfect way his body filled hers. When he looked into her eyes, his stare seemed to travel to the pit of her soul. And when he pressed deep, he held himself there as if trying to imprint a memory.
The moment passed between them, silent and paper thin. The longer it lasted the more she could feel her heart tearing in half.
Their breath mingled as they watched each other through misty eyes, their bodies clinging through the creeping sorrow that somehow fed the beauty of the moment. The pale dawn light filled the room, chasing back the shadows as reality moved in.
This was how she wanted to remember him. Unguarded and peaceful. There was no tension in his stare. No pain banked in his sapphire eyes.
Neither of them mentioned that they forgot a condom again. She selfishly wanted it that way. No barriers.
When they finished, she felt permanently changed, resigned in a way that left the empty parts of her heart eternally caved in so no one else could ever fill that space. As she rested in his arms staring at the hotel ceiling, she wondered how she remained so silent while her riotous heart broke with an earth-shattering crack.
She couldn’t help it. One tear slipped from her lashes and she lacked the strength to wipe it away. When she finally found the courage to look at him, his eyes were closed and his breathing level.
She should go. If she didn’t go now, she’d never be able to leave. And if she didn’t make the choice to leave, he would choose for them. She couldn’t bear to suffer the sight of him walking away from her again.
Sliding out of bed, she replaced her body with a pillow, which Harrison hugged to his side. She quietly gathered her clothes and carried them to the bathroom.
Once dressed, she wrote on a small notepad with the hotel’s logo at the top.
* * *
Harrison,
It was incredible seeing you again. If you’re ever nearby, feel free to call. You have my number.
~M.
* * *
It was for the best that she didn’t have his number. The ball was in his court.
Taking one last look around the room, she quietly let herself out.
She made it all the way to the elevators before losing the battle with her tears. As she traveled down to the first floor, she dug a tissue out of her purse and blotted her eyes. She wanted her bed and pajamas.
The doors parted and she stepped out, head down, as she followed the pattern of the carpet to the lobby floor. A small voice screamed inside of her, begging her to turn around and go back to him, exist just a little longer in the illusion.
The effort to resist caused her to physically shake. Tears brimmed and she blinked them back. Almost home. As soon as she made it there, she could fall apart in private.
“Ms. Mosconi?”
Startled by her name, she pivoted and staggered to a halt. “Mr.—Mr. King.”
His gaze briefly retraced her steps, but he had the good grace not to comment on her entrance point. “I was planning to call you this morning.”
“Oh?” Best that she got all the bad news over and done with at once.
“About the interview. The staff felt you made a strong impression. Mauricio and Aaliyah really liked you.”
Not what she expected to hear, she frowned. “They did?” He didn’t bother to lie and lump his wife’s opinion in with the others’.
“Yes. And I agree, you’re very qualified for the job.”
She was speechless and needed a moment to catch up. “I…I’m sorry—you’re offering me the job?”
He grinned. “If you’re still interested. We’d love to have you on our staff. You can start as soon as tomorrow, if that works for you.”
“What? I mean, yes!” A stunned smile overtook her face. “Tomorrow would be perfect! Thank you! I can’t believe this.”
“Great.” He shook her hand and she matched his professionalism with over-zealous enthusiasm. “I’m in town for the next few days, so I’ll be the one handling your orientation. Be here at seven and we’ll start the paperwork then.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. King.”
“Call me Gage. And welcome to the Brick Hotel.”
CHAPTER 10
“And now we ask friends and family to say their final goodbyes by placing a flower with Ward as we lay him to rest.”
Erin stepped over the muddy path cleared from the snow, and Harrison caught her elbow as her high heel sank into the damp ground. She leaned forward, placing a single rose on their father’s casket and then returned to his side.
The priest looked at him expectantly, but Harrison didn’t flinch or give any indication that this circus was for his benefit. Ward was dead. Let him rot.
