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Keely glares at me. “Nolan was leaving.”
“No, I wasn’t.” I gesture at the forgotten coffee. “Would you like a drink, Jamila? Keely refused my gesture.”
Jamila shrugs and takes one markedblack. “I feel like I just caught two teenagers about to dry hump each other.”
“Jams,” Keely says, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “It’s not like that.”
“It was definitely like that,” I say as I head toward the door. Jamila moves away, giving me space. “But I won’t keep. I suppose you two have some things to discuss.”
“Not at all,” Keely says sharply.
Jamila only stares at me. “She’s not going to do it, you know,” she says.
I pause. Keely told her about the marriage? I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like we could hide it. “She will.”
“This isn’t important enough. Be reasonable, make a better offer, but don’t think you can do whatever you want to my friend and get away with it.” All lighthearted teasing is gone from Jamila’s tone. I’m almost impressed.
I glance back at Keely. She’s standing there, cheeks red with embarrassment and fury. I smile at her, wishing I could’ve kissed her and given her a taste of what we might have together.
Instead, I nod to them both. “Ladies.” And I leave before Jamila can lay into me again.
But that negotiation, that near-kiss, it told me everything I needed to know.
Keely will be mine. All she needs is the right nudge.
Chapter11
Keely
Ialmost kissed him.
It was stupid, like shoving my face up against a pissed-off viper and thinking it’ll be fine. Getting anywhere near that guy is suicide.
I nearly did it anyway.
It’s like when he’s around, my brain goes haywire.
I know he’s bad for me. Nolan’s a Crowley, which means Nolan’s a gangster. I don’t want anything to do with that life. Ash deals with it, but I can tell her husband’s profession stresses her out. That’s not what I want.
But I also remember what being with him was like. That night was magic—he’s right, even though I hate to admit it. What we had was transcendent, special, the sort of connection and spice that only happens once in a lifetime.
When he offers it to me again, I’m tempted.
I’m also tempted for somewhat less selfish reasons.
Like the baby growing inside of me.
That’s going to be a problem, which is a total understatement. I haven’t really thought about how I’m going to afford to raise a child, much less how I’ll have the time to deal with a baby while also running a new business. The whole idea seems absurd, and the longer I put off figuring out what I’m going to do, the harder it’ll be.
Mostly because I know it’s not possible, and I want to avoid making that decision.
Nolan’s offer would solve my dilemma. He’d help take care of the baby, hire a squadron of nannies, babysitters, whatever.
But that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid.
Putting myself in his debt.
Worse than that, forcing my child to grow up with a gangster father that might end up gunned down in the street at any moment.
