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I squint up at him. “You too.”
Once he’s gone, I sink to the floor and hug my knees to my chest. His willingness to take this at whatever pace I want is something I hadn’t expected. Isn’t that enough to prove he cares about me and wants to move on?
After getting out of the shower and drying off, I walk into the bedroom wrapped in a fresh towel. I grab my laptop, sit on the bed, and pull up my texting thread with Harper.
Calista: I think I finally understand what you meant when you said you’d do anything to protect someone you love. If that’s who you are and who Hayden is, maybe I need to be more understanding and accepting… Anyway, text me when you get this. I need my bff.
Neither Hayden nor Harper talks to me for the next forty-eight hours. By hour forty-nine, I’m ready to beg Hayden and lecture Harper. I won’t, but I want to. Instead, I make my way to the office and knock on the door.
Hayden jerks up his head, his gaze brightening with appreciation as it travels over my naked body. “What do you need, Callie?”
“Do you have a minute?” When he nods, I make my way into the room and perch on the edge of the desk. “I need to ask for a favor.”
He frowns. “What is it?”
“As I’m sure you know, I’ve been messaging Harper every day for almost three weeks now, but she hasn’t responded for the last two days. I know it’s probably nothing, but I’m worried. Her suddenly going quiet on me isn’t normal.”
“Your friend is anything but quiet.”
“Exactly.” I cross my legs and place my hands on my lap. “Since you won’t let me have my phone—” I stop and give him a frown. “I was wondering if you could reach out and make sure she’s okay.”
“Give me a second.” He retrieves his phone, types out a text to send, and then places it back on his desk. He picks up his pen and jots down a note on his legal pad before looking back at me. “Done.”
I smile at him. “Thank you.”
The urge to kiss him overcomes me, and I brush my lips over his before I think better of it. His eyes flare, his grip on his pen tightening. When he speaks, his voice is low. “Was there anything else?”
“Nope,” I say quickly. Too quickly.
He lifts a brow, a silent inquiry. “I can always tell when you’re lying. Tell me what you need.”
I press my lips together, biting the inside of my cheek. I can feel Hayden’s power beckoning me, pulling the truth out of me. “I’m tired of fighting with you.”
The air sizzles with attraction, crackling across my skin. My heart pounds in my ears, the sound drowning out everything else except the man in front of me. Hayden’s nostrils flare, and the pen clatters to the desk before he pushes it away.
My lips part, my breath hitching at the hungry look in his eyes. I lean in closer, the need to feel his mouth on mine overwhelming me. I close the distance and press my lips to his. It’s a sweet kiss, but I know it’s more than that.
I’m finally surrendering to him.
He stands and slides his hands over my waist, then runs them over my thighs before gripping my knees and pulling them apart. A small chime sounds, along with a tiny buzzing noise. I blink at him in a daze as he retrieves his phone. He reads the message, and I can sense the immediate change in him. His body goes taut and a muscle flickers along his jaw.
“What is it?” I ask. When he doesn’t answer me, panic builds in my chest. “Hayden?”
He puts the phone away and gives me his full attention. “Your friend is safe.”
I wait for an explanation. When Hayden remains silent, warning bells go off in my head. “What aren’t you telling me?”
His expression remains blank, but he squeezes my knee. “Don’t worry, Callie. Everything is under control.”
“What’s under control? Hayden, what’s going on?”
“Everything is fine.”
“You’re lying to me.”
I lean over to grab his phone, but he stops me by gripping my shoulders. “I just want to talk to her,” I say.
“She’s resting.”
