Page 101 of Burn It Down

“Of course, Governor.” If he was hoping that threat would be enough to break me, he’s sorely mistaken. With Dylan at my side, nothing can break me.

Martin turns and walks out of my office — thankfully without spitting on my floor first. I follow in his wake and throw the deadbolt on my office door, tired of all the uninvited guests. Idoactually have work to get done. Except, now Dylan and I are alone and I’m exhausted from the adrenaline spikes and I just want to melt in his arms.

Reading me like a book, Dylan faces me and wraps one hand around the side of my neck, his thumb rubbing back and forth along my jawline as he runs his nose and lips up the other side of my neck, his warm breath calming my erratic heartbeat.

I cling to his waist, curling my fingers into the unbuttoned green and black plaid shirt he’s wearing.

“What are you doing here?” I finally manage to ask. I know there’s no way he’s caught up on work at the shop after I took him away this past weekend.

“I wanted to see you in person after the interview aired…to try out our newin a relationshipstatus, I guess. And,” he reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out a flash drive. “Iwanted to bring you these. They’re the financial records of our shop. The files were too big to email so I put them on this.”

“I trust you, Dylan. I don’t need to see the records.” As far as I’m concerned, the two million dollars I’m about to payout is worth every cent.

“I know, but even if you’re going to be silent, you’re still a partner, and I want you to see exactly what you’re getting for your money.”

Unable to stop myself, I reach forward and grab him through his pants.

“I already know exactly what I’m getting.”

He laughs and bats my hand away. “You’re insatiable.”

“I’m in love,” I correct.

“With my cock,” he teases.

“Withyou.”

He kisses me again. “I know. I’ve gotta run. It’ll be late nights for me the next couple of days until I get caught up from the weekend. Would you mind if I stay at my dad’s? It’s just, with Cassie moving out and them selling their portions of the shop, I feel like I need to hold on to what little time is left.”

“Of course I don’t mind. But I’m coming with you.” No fucking way am I spending another night without him. Unless I’m forced to because I’m at the fire station.

“Jake, that’s crazy. Your penthouse is five minutes from here.”

“Yeah, but it’sthirty-five minutes from your dad’s and I won’t sleep if we’re that far apart.” I don’t care if it makes me sound needy. Hell, Iamneedy. “Besides, Cassie asked me to help with her resume. She wants to start working on that plan you promised her.”

He can’t hide his smile even though he rolls his eyes and pretends like he thinks I’m ridiculous. “Fine. But you have tosleep with clothes on. If Cassie can’t sleep, my room is the first place she’ll go.”

“Deal. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

When we get to the lobby, I kiss Dylan deeply while my hands possessively cradle his head because his earlier words have stuck with me.

Don’t you think the legacy should reflect you too?

Perhaps my dadisgoing to fire me and cut me off completely, but this kiss is a statement and a promise. I’ll never hide myself again, especially in the lobby of a company I’ve worked my ass off for.

“What time should I come over?” I whisper, pulling away.

“Head over anytime. I’ll be home by eight.”

I watch Dylan leave through the front doors of my family’s high-rise building and as I turn back toward the stairs, I spot my dad watching me from the glass elevator as it rises.

He holds his coffee cup up in a mock salute and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A storm is coming. I’m sure of it.

Chapter 28

Dylan

---