Page 110 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

I nodded.

“But we’ve come up empty-handed every time. Even the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions database has come up short. I have every resource at my disposal, but Ulrich is good, Rose. He was a genius back at the frat—and he’s giving this everything he has. He’s covered his tracks, evading everything we try. With something like this, they haven’t left the typical trail.”

“So Wolf Industries is still operational,” I said. “But only in a black-market kind of sense or something?”

The thought was chilling. This reminded me of terrorism, like the business was in place for the sole purpose of being nefarious and causing harm to others. A company with no regulations, with no restraints, would stop at nothing to get whatever whoever started it wanted.

“Exactly. I’ve been talking to the guys. We’re trying to find out more, but with no leads…”

“There are no breadcrumbs to follow.”

I hugged my arms around my torso, not liking this at all. No wonder Duncan had tried keeping me away for so long.

Desperation overtook his expression. He rose to his feet. I inched in, wanting to be as close to him as I could. He placed his hands on my shoulders.

“That was why I couldn’t tell you how I felt. Why I pushed you away. I swore not to fall in love. But you got to me anyway.”

I shivered, losing myself in his eyes once more. Despite everything he confessed, Ididn’thate him for this. I didn’t faulthim for a mistake he’d made so long ago. It wasn’t his fault all of this was happening.

And despite the danger, I couldn’t help the rapture taking over me.

He loved me. A man like Duncan Hawthorne, brooding, strong, sulky, grumpy, sexy, thoughtful, powerful, and so inwardly kindlovedme.

My lips quirked upward. “I wondered.”

His brows gave the gentlest lift as he allowed amusement to cast his worries aside. “You did not.”

“Not back in Vermont, but here in Arkansas? Seeing this other side of you, spending all this time with you, yeah. I wondered.”

Duncan pulled me to his chest, holding me close. I lost myself in the beat of his heart, in his warmth. I lost myself in him.

“Is that why you’ve stayed with me?” he asked. His voice rumbled through his chest. “Why you didn’t go?”

I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Are you kidding? I’m here for the money.”

Duncan pulled back just enough. Bemusement flashed in his expression. “You’re not that shallow. You have more self-respect than that. You wouldn’t have let me kiss you just now if you didn’t feel something for me.”

“You left me hanging long enough,” I said, deciding to tease him.

“So you’re going to do the same to me, is that it?”

“What if I did?”

“That’s okay. Now, you know. Now, I don’t have to hide it from you. But I still need to keep my feelings to myself.”

“No more kisses?”

“None.”

“Not even if I do this?” I nuzzled my nose against his cheek.

Duncan groaned.

“Or this?” I nipped his ear with my teeth.

His hand fisted behind my back.

Moving slowly, gradually, I tiptoed up so my mouth hovered molecules away from his. His breath mingled with mine. “Or this?”

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