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The utter shock on Ryan’s face wasn’t something James would easily forget as they’d passed each other in the hall. The look of betrayal.
Why? As far as the family tree went, Ryan was a bad apple, and James wanted no part of him in his personal- or work life anymore.
“I started noticing the signs in the last few months.” He didn’t add it had ramped up when Tori had started at the firm. “I just never thought he’d take it this far.”
“Me neither.”
They were quiet for a moment before she touched the buttons on his shirt.
“Look, maybe we should stop talking about him and do something else to distract ourselves.”
His breath hitched. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She finished unbuttoning his shirt and placed a kiss on his chest. “It’s been a hell of a three days and we’ve been too exhausted to have any fun. So, maybe now?”
“Definitely now.” He lifted her to straddle his lap, then quickly unbuttoned his shirt that she loved to wear.
Her breasts were freed to his waiting hands. He loved the heavy weight of them in his palms.
“Kiss me, James.”
An overwhelming feeling of tenderness for her spread through him. He lowered his head and took her mouth in a slow kiss.
This woman had claimed a part of his heart he hadn’t realized he was ready to give away. She was so much a part of his life, he could barely remember what his world had been like before her.
A sharp knock came from his apartment door, and they drew apart, staring at each other.
“Are you expecting someone?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“No.”
The knock came again. Louder and harder this time.
Shit.
He didn’t even need a guess to know who was outside.
Neither did Tori, it seemed. Her gaze turned uneasy. “He’ll go away, right?”
“Open the door, you fucking coward!”
Anger snuffed out the passion. He lifted Tori off him and rose.
“Please go to my bedroom, Tori.”
She quickly buttoned the shirt up again. “Maybe you should just wait him out?”
The pounding started again and didn’t stop. His neighbors would be poking their heads out of their apartments by now.
“Tori?” He gave her a pleading look.
“Fine.” She nodded, but didn’t look pleased. “Please be careful. I’ve been around enough drunk guys to recognize the sound of one.”
Once she had closed herself in the bedroom, James went to crack open the front door.
“What can I help you with, Ryan?”
His cousin’s eyes were bloodshot, his shirt partially unbuttoned, and his tie askew. In his hands, he clutched a nearly empty fifth of vodka.
