Page 98 of Always Be an Us

Instead, I take a bite out of my own spaghetti.

After doing an inventory of everything that was missing from my office, and taking it to the police station, I came home.

The PI is already on his way from New York and I sent the rest of the men home for the day so as not to tamper with potential evidence.

Amelia continues her ghost theory throughout the rest of dinner, and then I retire to my bedroom to work while she and Emma watch TV. A few hours pass before I get a knock on the door. I already know who it is before I say, "Come in."

"Hey." Emma walks in tentatively, closing the door behind her.

"Hey," I respond and beckon her closer. She attempts to take a seat across from me, but I shake my head and reach over to grab her hand.

I direct her around the table, till she's in front of me, and then pull her to sit in my lap.

"That's better," I say and she blushes.

"Amelia is asleep. I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened to your wheel loader."

"It's not like it's your fault."

"Yeah." Her teeth worry her bottom lip. "Still, do you think it's a weird coincidence that our places got broken into at like almost the same time?"

"Maybe. How many break-ins does Lakewood usually have in a night?"

"Virtually none. And the few we have are because of Nate Huntley, who likes to nick stuff sometimes. But he never makes a mess like this."

"Hmm," I murmur but I'm distracted by the look of her pulse racing under her skin. She's nervous to be around me, sitting on me, which makes sense because the feel of her lap is getting me excited too.

"Do you think I'm bad luck?"

"What?"

"Just something I've been thinking about." I shift her so she's closer to me, resting against my chest. "Ever since I showed up a lot of bad things have happened to you."

She shakes her head. "No. A lot of good things have happened too." She blushes. "Plus, I like having you here."

I see it then in her eyes, that dangerous emotion. An emotion I don't deserve, but one that is quickly growing in her anyway.

It should scare me. Instead, I crave more of it, selfishly.

Leave her alone, I tell myself. End this.

This can't continue if I don't want to hurt her. Despite what she says about being okay with this, Emma is all heart. She's not the type of person who can separate her emotions from sex, and I need to leave her before she falls even deeper for me.

And I will, I decide, determined. Soon.

But perhaps for the last time, I draw her closer and kiss her. I savor the quiet sigh on her lips as her body relaxes into my hold, as I cradle her closer like she's something precious.

I need to have that hard conversation with her again and tell her I'm letting her go, but my insides get tight and painful at the thought of it.

So I bury myself in the sensation instead, the feel of her, kissing down her neck, over her collarbone to her racing heartbeat.

I shift her off my lap, till she's on the seat and I'm kneeling in front of her. I tug her shirt over her head and she holds up her hands to allow me. She also shifts when I start taking off her pants, allowing me to do it, and is now sitting here in her underwear.

It's basic and cotton, but it's just about the sexiest thing I've ever seen, highlighting just how sweet and unassuming she is.

I need to let her go. Soon.

But for now, I need to take everything I can.

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