ngled in Dan

-to-ceiling windows, minimalist furniture, everythin

Daniel isn't steril

and actually means it. The kind of man wh

r briefs and nothing else. His body is gym-perfect-t

broader frame. The w

t

pulling the sheet around me even

gar. My work order, not my actu

e bed, his hand finding my knee through the

he lie tast

he reads people for a living. Sees throug

do you

y took that step. But you've checked y

my neck. "I'm s

voice gentles. "It's

's imagining things. That last night me

ee cup. "I don't kn

es to the window. "I'v

nie

hat tech conference where you destroyed that venture capitalist's pitch in three sentences. Sinc

tighten

y company. You respect me. But when I touch you, you don't-" He stop

ate

I'm standing, hate looks a l

et tighter. "H

u to forget what he did. I'm just asking-do you think you can actually move on? Or

ery time he shows up with that damn coffee, every tim

eel it

't wan

he same as no

ghtstand. I reach for it

he screen. Daniel sees it

shoul

se until you deal with whatever's between you and Adrian Kan

Let it ring. On the

comes out harsh

s voice is rough. Worri

t ph

" He pauses. "You and Dr. Morrison. Leaving you

ins. "You're hav

follow you. You'r

uilding at 7 AM, hair messy, wearing last night's dress. The headline

am

you to know-I'm not angry. I'm not jealous.

are you

do. Publicly. And photos of you lea

old. "Good. Maybe you should've thought about that before

le

n up for this. All of it." He

hand, Daniel watching

did he

n my throat. Because Adrian didn't yell. Di

e. And somehow that infuriates

ering my clothes. "I'm sorry,

le

all you

e and flee his pentho

*

another coffee waiting on Marlene's des

on cream

liding them into my desk drawer without read

ople deserve second chance

the same script that used to leave love notes in m

e others. Twenty-three notes now.

g his stalking. Building a case.

me-the part I've spent five years tr

orway. "Ms. Sinclair? Yo

cel

ut

s still warm. He must have been here minutes ago. "And M

oot up. "You wa

, like always. "But avoiding him isn't wo

and dis

and hostile takeover strategies and a drawer fu

aniel: "I meant what I said.

Sofia: "Babe.

of anger-that's what's getting to you, isn't it? You expected

essage. Then I type:

"I'm not reading your mind.

ts the wall and clatters to the floor,

hes in. "Ms

I'm the opposite of fine

osing the door s

ping since day one of this arrangement. Doc

Daniel's building. Saw evidence that

people deserve second chanc

ly show me the jealous, possessive man w

Someone patient. Mature. Someone who loves me e

ate him

his-whatever this is-requires me to acknowledge

g? Am I still trying to hurt him? Or am I trying

ave the a

Drink his coffee. We

more than any hostil

e. Stare at Adrian's last message: I'm not r

d. Then I delete the thread, pock

ian Kane might actually love me. And that is