ows of the penthouse, gently slipping a

couch, and her head rested on a firm, warm shoulder. The slow, s

nt, she di

nig

't been

d felt in

ithout words. And though they'd fallen asleep without crossing any mo

head slightly and

parted just enough to reveal the softness beneath the CEO exterior. Withou

erously

him, and padded quietly to the kitche

happe

promises. No regrets. Just... s

the counter, arms crossed. Her phone buzze

rom an unkn

of his life, Emily.

art st

rds. The number was blocked. No way t

s voice came f

, hiding the phone

nkled, and eyes still half-lidded from sleep.

t is

d. "Nothing.

t convince

and handed h

cond he read the messag

d. "I did

with controlled precisio

k, w

r this is, they're crossing a line. Y

d, frustration creeping into her voic

fro

words. "I didn't mean it like that. I ju

across his features. "No, you didn't

she said, stepping closer. "Nick,

er di

her, like she was both a mystery and a saf

said quietly. "Even if it mean

widened

y comes closer..." He swallowed

heart stinging. "You don't

"I'm just trying

hidden in a box!" she snapped. "You either trus

each other in

ded once. "You're

lowly, her puls

ily insisted on going to the bookstore alone, despite his pro

alcy did

subway and froze o

ck car idled. Dark-tin

ne buzz

er me

u to sta

breath

station, pretending to tie her sh

here. W

Emily

from her coat pocke

ispered, "someon

ice jumped an octav

ew. Black car. No license

"Now. Go into the nearest

rner café, the bell ab

ar the back and sat

ter, the black

ra arrived, Emil

, sliding into the

t the fear, the sec

e tol

ryt

ssages. The threat

ommate is the CEO of Hale enterprises , you may or may not be f

ed. "Basic

eath. "Girl, I thought m

but her smile faded qui

ipping her hand. "You're not alone.

penthouse, Nick was pa

old you to wait for

ned against it. "I didn't want a body

s blazing. "And what if s

shot back. "Another message.

stantly. He pulled her into

red into her hair. "I

ered. "Kendra helped. S

ightly. "That's pro

ged last night. But tonight, their closeness wasn't about

er head on his

to find him?" s

hed. "I'll do mo

n his voice now.

ead. "And if he co

dangerous. "Then he'll learn the h

's m

her like a blanket. Terr

ing, Nick," s

t hers. "Ne

n't fiery like before. It

bout blurred lines o

bout somet

were in i