Page 28 of Fighting Fate

“No, I don’t either, and I know our boundaries get blurred a lot. You’re practically family, and I love you like my own sister. You know that, right?” Although she nods and a small smile flickers across her lips, her eyes are still sad. Hoping to settle things, I give her a hug. “Today got crazy. It’s done. It’s over. But don’t ever call me out like that again.” Taking a step back, I give her shoulders a squeeze. “At the end of the day, when we’re at the club, I’m your boss.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers as the elevator doors open suddenly with a loud ping ringing out around us.

Jan jumps closer at the same time as Willow steps out, her eyes widening on mine before they flit down to Jan.

“Fuck…” She blows out the curse, shaking her head down at the floor. “Shit…”

All the build-up today did not prepare me for this. The silence is awkward as I distance myself from Jan and go to her. Willow looks stunning in a long black skirt that wraps around her hips, leaving her long legs in view to the middle of her thighs.

“Dang, umm…I should go,” Jan murmurs behind me.

“I didn’t know you have company…” Willow whispers up at me as I stop right in front of her, leaving no space between us.

Although she doesn’t push me away or step back, there’s a heart-wrenching dullness to her eyes that makes me want to reassure her that whatever she’s thinking isn’t true. There’s a vulnerability to the way her stare is flitting between me and Jan that has me coiling my arm tight around her waist as I tell her, “Jan’s my assistant.”

“Hi.” Jan waves as I step behind Willow and press a kiss to the top of her head.

I don’t know what I’m doing, but it feels right. Being this close to her feels too good, and introducing her to someone that’s a big part of my life seems the logical thing to do. Even though I can’t say she’s mine, this is the next best thing.

“Willow…Jan…Jan…Willow.”

“Nice to meet you.” She finally cracks a whisper of a smile with a wave of her own.

Although she doesn’t say much else, her body relaxes into mine with her hands grasping my wrists as Jan gets in the elevator with a sheepish “Goodbye.”

It seems like forever before the doors shut and it’s just the two of us, and while we remain bundled together, rocking from side to side, I rest my chin on her shoulder.

“You’re early,” I whisper into her ear after a beat.

I’m unable to keep the smile off my face even when she tips her head to the side so that our eyes meet. It’s good to see that she’s smiling too as she retorts, “You’re ready.”

It’s refreshing how she’s always ready to come back at me. I’ve never felt so at ease around a woman that I don’t have to think twice about what to say or do. It is what it is, and I know that if she’s not down, she won’t shy away from letting me know.

“Still need to grab a jacket,” I tease, stealing a quick kiss.

It’s impossible to miss the confused look when I pull away all too quickly. Although it pains me as much as her, I have every intention of taunting the hell out of her until she’s as needy as I am. It’s the least I can do after the photo this afternoon.

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