Page 105 of On the Edge

“I don’t believe you.” He dropped both hands, and my body splintered, a vise on my chest squeezed. I’d lost him. I had known it since that day in the barn, but still, I had clung to the hope that somehow we might find our way back to each other.

“I’m sorry.” Defeat and anger splayed in the lines of his face. As he started to turn, I grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him.

“Adam? Can we act like you and I aren’t bad for each other? Just for the next sixty seconds?” My hand dropped heavy at my side as he stood there in silence, contemplating my words.

He faced me head on, and I stumbled backward and against the door once more. In one quick movement, he swept my arms up over my head, holding both my wrists with his one hand, locking them in place. His lips slanted over mine as his other hand slid down my throat and to my collarbone.

He kissed me with a fierceness that far surpassed anything I’d ever felt before. His tongue dipped inside my mouth, meeting mine with possessive fervor.

My body arched up, needing to be closer to him as his fingers moved gently across my chest. He still held me pinned in his grip. His cock thickened against my belly, and my pulse fluttered.

When he tore his lips from mine and released me, I hardly remembered my own name. My knees sagged—almost giving out beneath me. My chest heaved up and down as I panted, trying to catch my breath.

His gaze, warm but also full of mourning, slid over me.

He tipped his head and turned away, leaving me alone in the hall.

I dropped my head into my palms, trying not to cry. He’d wrecked me with that kiss. But it was one I’d never forget. It would stay with me forever.

I attempted to gather my composure, preparing myself for whatever questions my friends might shoot my way. Of course they’d have noticed—anyone with eyes would notice when Adam was around.

I pressed my hands to the blue and white Belle dress and took a few deep breaths. I hadn’t even stepped forward when I saw Adam’s sister, Holly, coming straight for me. Judging by her pursed lips and furrowed brow, I suspected she was pissed.

“So you’re the one.” She folded her arms and stopped in front of me, and my back was once again to the door.

“The one what?” I raised a brow.

“We need to talk,” she replied.

We’d only spoken in Adam’s office that one time. What did Holly want with me now?

“Sure, Miss McGregor.”

Her eyes were sharp on me, and my stomach rolled with nervousness. “You need to leave Dublin.”

“Um.” I hadn’t expected those words. “I plan to in two weeks.”

“No, I want you to leave now. Tomorrow. I’ll pay you, but you need to go.”

My mind raced. What was her problem? Was I in danger? Nothing made sense.

“I don’t understand.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Adam has lost his bloody mind. He hasn’t been to the office, and he’s at that bastard’s gym every moment of the day. But if you leave, maybe there’s hope. Maybe we can save him.”

I gaped at her, trying to comprehend what she was saying.

“Don’t act like you don’t know about the fighting,” she accused, opening her arms wide. “Everybody knows. But you have unique knowledge the others don’t since you’re screwing my brother.”

More like screwed. Adam wanted nothing to do with me, anymore. But I wasn’t about to argue semantics with Adam’s very pissed-off sister. “If I can help Adam by leaving, then that’s what I’ll do. But I don’t understand what the point is—what harm can I do?”

The woman actually scowled at me. What the hell?

“He’s fighting because of you, don’t ya get it? If you leave, maybe he won’t fight.”

My mouth rounded as I tried to respond, but my mind seemed to be slugging through Jell-O. Why would he be fighting because of me? I didn’t want him to fight, either!

Her brows twitched together again. “You didn’t know?”

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