Page 16 of Finding Out

“Tom,” I whisper-shouted as I jogged to keep up with his long strides. “The painting?”

He stopped in front of the elevator and frowned at me, his forehead bunched. “Is upstairs.”

I froze. “You left it?”

Jaw locked, he huffed out a harsh breath through his nose. The elevator dinged, and when the doors slid open, he stepped inside, seemingly ignoring my question.

“Tom.” My sharp tone pierced the small space as I stepped in behind him.

Without responding, and with more force than necessary, he hit the button for our floor, which did not take on the warm orange glow the buttons normally did.

The doors slid shut with a whoosh, locking us inside the small space.

“Stonehengeis fine?” I asked, hands clutched to my chest. What the hell was going on? Why did he leave the room? No one left a million-dollar painting completely unattended. Not without a reason.

“Key,” he snapped.

I pursed my lips. “What?”

He pointed to the still unlit button. “This damn thing needs the key.”

“Right.” I reached into my pocket and passed the card over. “But what about the painting?”

“It’s still in my room.”

Bewildered, I swallowed past the nerves rising up in me and gave him a once-over. His hair was disheveled, and his feet were bare. What on earth had made him leave the room, leave his painting, in this state?

“I don’t…understand,” I stuttered as I pulled out my phone to text Kline and let him know all was okay.

The elevator dinged, and he stepped off, ignoring me completely.

“Tom.” Once again, I trailed behind him to our room. Though my shock was quickly fading to annoyance. “Hey,” I called uselessly as he pushed through the door.

He stalked across the space toward his room, but I refused to let him shut that door on me. Not without an explanation. Picking up my pace, I stayed on his heels.

The second we were through the door, he froze, and I crashed into his back.

The jarring collision didn’t even prompt him to turn my way.

The concern that had held me in its grip dissipated instantly and was replaced with anger. “Damn it, Tom. Stop ignoring me.”

Ignore her?That was laughable. I’d done everything in my power to ignore her for the last five years, and yet I’d been entirely unsuccessful. Every time this woman was in my presence, I was hyperaware of her. Until she mentionedStonehenge, I hadn’t even thought about it. Hadn’t considered that I’d left it. My entire focus had been her. Was still her.

I whirled around, shoulders pulled back, and threw a hand out, gesturing to the box. “As you can see, it’s fine. So?—”

“No.” She stepped close and poked a red nail into my chest. “I’m responsible for making sure you and the painting get back to Boston, and I can’t do that if I’m in the dark. So what the hell is going on?”

The scent of her perfume filled my nose. I locked my hands into fists so I wouldn’t pull her closer to get more of the scent that drove me mad. My heart pounded wildly, each beat feeding the chaos that flooded me. I felt like I was drowning, being pulled under by a current that wouldn’t quit. I’d fought so hard against for years, and I was exhausted by the idea of staying away.

Her fingertip was still pressed to my sternum. That was the only part of her touching me. Yet my entire being buzzed. I wanted to pushher hand away, but that desire was overshadowed by a more desperate need. The need to pull her to me. To make her mine.

My cock swelled at the idea of touching her.

But I shouldn’t do this. Because if I let it happen, it wouldn’t be just tonight. I knew myself well enough to know if I gave in to Wren, I’d want so much more than today.

“Wren,” I rasped, hoping to say something to push her away. I’d done it so many times. I just needed to find the words that would have her retreating. Leaving my room. Saving me from myself.

Her eyes locked with mine. Confusion, frustration, and hurt. Fuck, I didn’t want to hurt her. All my resolve fled. I wanted this and I was going to do the work to figure out how to make it happen.

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