Page 197 of By His Vow

Forcing a smile onto my face, I gesture toward the doors. “My pleasure, baby.”

“Don’t,” she hisses, jumping forward and out of reach the second I press my hand to the small of her back.

My smile grows.

Oh, how I missed my defiant little brat.

48

TATUM

“Good evening, Tatum,” Judith says with a wide smile as I spill out of the elevator long after everyone else in the building has left for the night.

“Hi. Isn’t it a little late for you to still be here? He’s not working you too hard, is he?”

“Miles?” she asks with a laugh. “Never. That boy is far too sweet for that.”

“Sweet? Are we talking about the same Miles?”

“I’ll be heading out in a few minutes—just finishing off a couple of things.” She pushes her keyboard aside, turning her whole focus on me. “How are you doing? Things have been a little…intense.”

I deflate under her caring gaze.

“You could say that,” I mutter. I’ve no idea how much she knows. We haven’t had much contact after the funeral plans were in place, but she’s been here for Miles no doubt in the way our mother should be, so something tells me that she’s aware of everything that’s going on in my life right now.

“You look exhausted,” she says softly.

I smile, trying to ignore just how true that statement is. “I’m okay,” I lie.

After the relaxing weekend we had, I should be refreshed and ready to take on the world. But yesterday ruined all the good gained from our little getaway.

I might have been wasted last night, but not even the tequila could help me switch off.

After stupidly falling back into Kingston’s trap in the bathroom, I took myself to bed and then just laid there, staring into the darkness.

Kingston fell into bed a few minutes later, and I swear he almost immediately started snoring.

Good to know that everything was all right in his world while mine felt like it was spinning out of control.

All I could think about was the woman he was with last night and the terms of the contract.

He’s allowed to see other women. He’s allowed to do more than touch the small of her back, a move that I didn’t realize I liked quite so much until I saw him do it to someone else. Nothing about what he did last night was wrong, no matter how it felt to me.

Hell, nothing I did was wrong either, but I’m aware of how it looks.

But surely, agreeing to marry Kingston shouldn’t mean I have to kiss goodbye to friendships with men.

Sure, Cory and I have been intimate a handful of times, but it was only a means to an end. There’s nothing between us romantically, and there never will be. We both friend-zoned each other a while ago. We just also enjoy the benefits when we’re both single and lonely. There is nothing wrong with that.

“Tatum, you need to look after yourself. That’s the most important thing,” Judith chastises.

“I am,” I lie again.

She stares at me, not believing a word of it. We never could pull the wool over her eyes.

“Is Miles still here?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Of course. I swear he’s barely left this building since your father passed. You’re not the only one feeling the pressure of all of this.”

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