Page 77 of Negotiating Tactics

Noah

“You’re kicking me out?” I asked.

She twisted her face in a mock frown. “Afraid so, Wilder. I’ve been hiding in here long enough, and I need to get to work.”

It took everything inside of me to tell her that with me around she’d never have to worry about anything because I would take care of her.

I meant it with everything I had, but Alex would reject it.

So, I held my tongue but made no move to leave.

Alex stared down at me, her beautiful face serene before she gave me a soft smile. “Thank you for checking on me. I’m…sorry I dropped out of sight like that. I just?—”

“Shhh,” I said, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “Don’t thank me. Just promise you’ll never do that again. I’m here for you, Alex.”

Her face cracked, her smile brittle now, but I didn’t press. I knew she trusted me. She wouldn’t have been so open if she didn’t. But I also knew that trust was new and fragile.

But I’d nurture it, see to it that Alex came to trust me completely.

Much as I wanted to keep her, I let her pull away. But instead of leaving, I lingered, feeling soothed just by being in her presence.

By the time she emerged from the shower and dressed, I’d prepped her a cup of coffee and made two hard-boiled eggs, glad I’d had the foresight to have them delivered with her dinner last night, and even happier to provide Alex with her breakfast of choice.

“That is so gross,” I said as she smiled at the offering and grabbed her briefcase.

“You’re wrong. This is the greatest breakfast ever invented. And I appreciate you making it for me,” she said.

She smiled brighter, finally seeming like herself.

I was determined she would stay that way.

“Call me if you need me,” I said.

“Okay,” she responded as we walked out of her apartment.

She locked her door, and together, we walked to the elevator.

“Let me give you a ride to work,” I said.

“That’s not necessary,” she responded.

“It also wasn’t a question, Alex,” I said.

She laughed, that husky, joyful sound lifting my spirit. We rode to her office in comfortable silence.

“I’ll see you later,” I said as she reached for the door handle.

“If I have time,” she said with another shrug.

“Also not a question, Alex. I’ll see you later.” She laughed and then got out of the car and waved at me before she closed the door.

I watched as she disappeared inside the building, comforted by the fact that she seemed to be better.

And even more comforted by what I was going to do next.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my email to check the address.

Once I had directions, I drove to my destination.

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