t her side that hadn't been there in months-years, maybe. The sheets smelled faintly of James's

perfect if it w

about last night had felt inevitable: the kiss, the way his hand had lingered at her

uch after the kiss.

didn't exist. It hadn't been performat

as r

was the

reality

feelings-weren't

irred slightly, turning toward the sun but remaining

dress from the back of the chair, a

t herself in

ick long gone. But it wasn't her appearance that ca

you doi

was to make Matthew jealous,

man who didn't

o someone who could

t different. James had looked

were too many emotions, too many complications, a

ke, leaning against the headboard, bare chest c

riser," he said w

he replied

ing the phone a

ard but strangely familiar. She poured the coffee. He flipped on

owledging it

lence. "They posted a foll

ed a brow.

hone. She scrolled

: Sources Say James Reed Is

blin

he said quickly. "But I

k, her fingers brushing hi

been lying so long, I'm no

akes tw

f silenc

sked, "What

home. You go to work. And we forget w

her. "Is that

nestly. "But it's

that silence-so unlike

to Re

ship and back to market predictions, mergers, and politics. But inside

every inch the professional assistant. But something was off. Her routine

call for her

ocked on his of

without looking u

d inside.

d at her.

t t

mment. No trace

low up on the Donovue proposal. Legal ne

es sent. I'll approve i

idn't

again. "Is there

scream. Everythin

he said, "No.

alked

on Over

e needed a distraction. A drink. A friend who did

her roommate and lo

city lights blazing below them, jazz

e said before the seco

bitterly. "It'

wed

Jam

aighter. "You

didn't mean to. It

for almost two weeks, attending black-tie events, exchangin

I could c

elings? Please. You fall in love

is isn't like that. He's not

motionally

but it didn't

e looks at me, I don't feel like the gi

. "Do you want

es

tell

e doesn't do love. He made

now how. Doesn't me

held her. As he'd said, I d

. just

Dangerous

e came late Fr

My place. No

the screen for

s. No

respond r

was more frighte

he was standing in

t said everything. He led her to the dining room,

g only about work, the w

, James set h

opped thinkin

't stopped feeling like I'm

like he unders

cross the table a

That night. When I said

. "Then why did

d I didn't know how

d shakily.

d the table, and gentl

willing

stared

open. No ga

dded s

to

t possessively, but like someo

her of them felt li

hey were finally

eth