Page 62 of Forever Mr Black

“And?”

He looks at me, trying to gauge what reaction he’s about to receive. “She said she didn’t mean it like that and that you must have got the wrong end of the stick.”

My simmering temper reaches boiling point. “You what? How could I possibly get the wrong end of the stick? It was pretty clear what she meant.”

He fixes me a warning look. “I’m not arguing about this anymore, Sophie. I’m not having this cause problems between us. If you don’t want me to see her again, I won’t.”

Even though I hate the idea of him spending time with her, I can’t tell him he can’t have any more contact with her. I spent two out of the four years I was with Theo being told who I could speak to. I’m not that person. “No, I don’t want that. You can see and speak to whoever you like.”

“Then, no more arguments about her. Because there’s nothing to argue about. Okay?”

I heave a reluctant sigh. Because he’s right. We can’t keep arguing about her.

“Okay. But please at least tell me if you’re going to see her. I don’t want to find out by accident. And I don’t want her to feel like she’s a secret you’re keeping.”

“Of course. I’m sorry.”

I slide my hands up his broad back and relax against him. He presses a kiss to my forehead, and I close my eyes, feeling the tension slip from my body. When he has me like this, I forget about bloody Aisling.

“And at least think about the job.”

I wrinkle my nose, not convinced. “I’m not sure.”

“Just think about it. I think we make a good team.” He kisses me and gives me an easy smile. “And you still haven’t answered me.”

“About what?”

“When you mentioned about me distracting you earlier? What were you talking about?”

I run my hands across the firm muscles of his shoulders and up the back of his neck, entwining my fingers into his thick hair. “Well, it has been known that when I’m pissed off with you, you happen to have a knack for distracting me.”

He flashes a wicked grin. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He holds my head in his hands, tangling his fingers through my hair and his tongue with mine. I pull away, breathless, smiling and seeing stars.

“Yeah, a bit like that.”

He laughs. “But now that you’re wise to me, you won’t be falling for it again.”

I can’t guarantee that. Before I can admit it, his mobile beeps to signal he’s got a text. He pulls it out of his pocket, and his brow furrows.

“What’s the matter?”

He looks at me. “There’s news on Theo.”

Nineteen

My stomach turns over, the way it always does when I hear his name. “What … what news?”

“I don’t know. The private investigator has sent some photos over. Come on. Let’s take a look.”

Art takes my hand and leads me round his desk. He sits down and pulls me onto his lap. Within a few clicks, he brings up his personal emails on the laptop. “He’s been tracking Theo’s movements. Everything has seemed pretty routine. He goes to work every day on the tube to an accountancy firm in Shepherd’s Bush …”

I nod. “Yes, he’s worked there ever since he graduated.”

“He comes home every evening and doesn’t seem to go out much. There aren’t many comings and goings at his place. It’s pretty uneventful stuff, but I asked the PI to let me know if anything out of the ordinary happened.”

I nervously chew my thumbnail. “And?”

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