Page 42 of Desperate Needs

It was like the act of eating was heightened simply by her presence.

Food was something we all needed to survive. I liked food. I ate when I was hungry, enjoyed it for the sake of nourishment.

But with Clementine, it was different. I savored every bite.

I lingered on the flavors, the textures, not because I was particularly obsessed with them, but because she made everything feel so much brighter.

Her laughter, her ease, her enthusiasm for even the smallest things—it made the whole world seem a little warmer, a little more colorful.

It was like all the things that would otherwise pass me by unnoticed suddenly became worth relishing, and all simply because she was there.

This thing with Clementine was supposed to be a one and done. But something changed the minute I touched her, and I was shocked at how powerful the rightness of that sentiment felt the second I had it.

“Excuse me. I, um, need to use the ladies’ room,” she murmured after we had our last bite of dessert.

I stood up, offering her my hand. The second she took it, I felt it zap through me. A lightning bolt of awareness, sharp and a little bit painful as it hit me right in my core.

“I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be right here waiting for you, Darlin’.”

Chapter 18-Connor

The restrooms were a straight line from our table, and I watched her intently until she reached her destination safely.

Maybe I should walk to the door. Wait for her there.

But my phone buzzed, and I contented myself with simply watching as I lifted it to my ear.

“Hey Boss, I got an update from Stu,” Arnold, one of the Group’s leaders and a second cousin, said.

“Yeah, what is it?” I asked.

“First, uh, I did as you said and permanently reassigned Shane. Second, the new hires have been working on testing the latest firewalls and so far, so good.”

“What about Stuey?” I asked.

“He said to ask you when the feed from SI is coming in?” he asked, using the initials for Sigma International.

“I’m not sure. Anything else?”

“He said to remind you what we stand to lose and that you need to get those to him sooner rather than later?—”

“Tell Stuey he will know when I fucking tell him.” I ended the call and flicked my gaze up as if some internal sense knew she was already on her way back to me.

Clementine had just opened the door, and those crazy, beautiful emerald eyes of hers captured mine.

Shit.

What was I doing?

I had obligations. People who needed me.

But what about my needs?

Arnold, my prick cousin, was right. I needed to move my ass and get back to figuring out what I could use to bring Sigma down, but one more night wouldn’t hurt.

Would it?

---