Page 15 of Phoenix

“Hey,” she said. “Oh, um, you two need some privacy.”

“How do you know that?” Phoenix asked.

“She’s some kind of witch, I swear,” Riggs breathed.

“I heard that, Riggs,” Banshee said. “I could tell by the look on both of your faces. Riggs looks like a man on a mission—and I believe that you’re just that for him.”

“I’m his mission?” Phoenix asked.

“Yep,” Banshee said, “and you look—” She paused, and Riggs wondered what she was going to say exactly. Banshee scrunched up her nose and looked at Phoenix. “Do you want me to say it?” she loudly whispered.

“I’d like to know,” Riggs said. “Because for some crazy reason, I have no idea what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours, honey.”

“What’s going on is I need to get back to work,” she insisted.

“I’ve got you covered,” Banshee assured. “I’m a pro at waiting on these Neanderthals. You take all the time you need, Phoenix. Just tell Riggs what you want.” They watched Banshee walk out of Savage’s office and pull the door shut behind herself.

Riggs leaned against the big desk, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared Phoenix down. She didn’t seem to be intimidated by him at all, and that worked for him because he wanted to know what was going on with her, and he didn’t want to bully her for answers.

“Tell me what you want, Phoenix,” he almost whispered. “I want to know.” Riggs sounded like he was begging her, but he didn’t care. He’d get down on his knees if she gave him some answers.

“I want you, Riggs,” she whispered. “I have since we met, but I’m worried that I’ll make the wrong decisions, just as I have over the past four years. My track record with men isn’t the best. I mean, I’ve only had sex once, and that resulted in Lydia being conceived. How do I know that you aren’t a bad decision?”

He shook his head, dropping his arms back to his side. “You won’t know,” he admitted. “I can tell you that I’ll never hurt you and I’ll always treat you well, but you won’t believe any of that until you actually see it, honey.”

“No, you’re right,” she said. “I have some trust issues,” she admitted.

“I’ve noticed,” he said. “I’m not asking you to trust me until I prove to you that I’m trustworthy. I’m asking that you give me a chance. Your grandmother seems good with us being together, and Lydia loves me.”

“If you do say so yourself,” she teased. Her giggle filled the small office, and he couldn’t help but pull her into his arms. She stood between his legs and his cock sprang to life. Every time he touched Phoenix, his whole body hummed to life, and right now, she had to get back to work.

“Stay the night with me,” he said.

“Are you asking or telling me to?” Phoenix asked.

“Asking,” he said. He was pretty sure that was the right answer with the way Phoenix smiled at him.

“Well, Aggie did drive me in tonight. And now I need a ride. I’m starting to think that it’s not a coincidence,” Phoenix said.

“Um, she did stop by my place to tell me how Vin is doing, and she asked me to drive you home. Honestly, I think she plotting to put us together,” he admitted. He was sure that Mrs. Aggie wanted her granddaughter to be happy and for some crazy reason, she must have thought that Riggs would be able to do just that for her.

“So, what are we going to do about that then?” she asked.

“I say we let her set us up. I mean, you have already slept with me,” he teased. Phoenix giggled and slapped his arm. He pretended that it hurt, but it didn’t.

“I have not slept with you,” she insisted. “We slept in the same bed. There is a difference.”

“Sure,” he said. “And when I woke up with you practically laying on top of me, that was just you sleeping in my bed?” Yeah, he wasn’t playing fair, but he didn’t care. Having her sleep snuggled up against him all night had him hard and needy, but there was no way that he’d take advantage of her while she was passed out.

“Well, I’ll have to try harder to stay on my side of the bed,” she mumbled. Was she saying that he’d get a second chance with her?

“Does that mean what I think that it means?” Riggs asked.

“If you’re thinking that I’m telling you that I’d like to sleep with you again, then yes,” she said. “We’re thinking the same thing.”

“Thank fuck,” he breathed. “When I drive you home tonight, how about you stay with me at my place?” he asked. “And this time, you won’t be passed out.”

She rolled her eyes and groaned, “Don’t remind me about last night. I’m still hungover.”

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