Page 91 of Crave Me

“Loud and fucking clear, captain!” I say as I give him a lazy salute.

“He’s not wrong though, Sawyer. None of us can be hypocrites about this,” Carter adds.

“You fucking employees, too, Carter?”

We all look at him and he just shrugs.

Sawyer throws his head back, exasperated. I take a deep breath and try to settle this.

“Look, we were keeping this to ourselves while we figured things out. You obviously weren’t supposed to find out likethat,and Blaire is mortified. I’d like to wrap this up so I can go check on her.”

“And if this goes south? Then what? We lose Blaire?” Sawyer asks, genuinely concerned.

I think about his question for a moment. I can’t imagine seeing her and not being able to touch her, take care of her, talk to her. She loves her job more than anything, and even if this ended badly, which I hope to fuck it doesn’t, I couldn’t take this from her. It means too much to her. She’s worked too hard.

“You won’t. You have my word. If shit goes south, I won’t let that happen. Even if I have to work from home, work nights, do whatever I need to do so that she’s comfortable to stay. I will.”

All three of my brother’s heads snap back in unison.

“You really care about her.” Not a question.

Liam’s right. I do.

Instead of going straight to Blaire’s office to check on her, I decide to give her some space and take a run downtown for some of her favorites first. By the time I return, I hope that she’s simmered down enough to have a calm conversation without her running away and shutting me out.

“Knock, knock,” I say as I open Blaire’s office door and walk in, closing it softly behind me.

“Haven’t you done enough damage today?” she asks from behind her desk, her head laying on her crossed arms over her laptop.

“I deserve that, but now I’m here for some damage control. Chocolate croissant?”

She peeks up at me from her position on the desk, eyes squinting, “Bean Haven?”

I scoff, “As if I’d go anywhere else.”

Moving to the front of her desk, I set down her black coffee and pastry and take a seat in one of her chairs. Rather than wait for her to sit up and talk, I make the first move.

“I’m sorry. I told you that no one would find out until we were ready, and I failed you. But, I’m not mad about it.”

She sits up quickly, her eyes narrowing at me, so I put up my hands defensively.

“I don’t want to hide anymore. I don’t want to keep you a secret. I know that makes me a selfish bastard. For the first time in my life, I have something that’s just for me. You make me happy, Blaire. Being your man makes me proud and I’m sorry if you still aren’t ready for us to be open about that with everyone and I’ll do whatever you need to make sure you’re comfortable, but I can’t go back into hiding. I’m sorry how it happened though.”

I say my piece and wait. Her eyes haven’t left mine and I can’t read her expression at all.

“You don’t want to keep me hidden?” Her words are slightly vulnerable.

“Fuck no, baby.”

“This isn’t a good look for me.”

“Then let’s make it look good. Tell me what you need from me and it’s yours.”

“You really mean that?”

“I do. I told my brothers that you didn’t want anyone to find out and to keep their mouths shut about it. No one knows but the five of us. And probably Ivy because Sawyer can’t keep anything from her. I don’t want to hide anymore, but if you still need time, I’ll give it to you.”

“No more fooling around at work. I feel so stupid. We were bound to get caught.”

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