Page 36 of The Suit

“Because I realized something over the weekend. I realized that as much as we hate each other, Friday was the best sex I’ve ever had in my life, and I know it was for you, too.”

My eyes widened with shock and all the indignity I could muster. “God, you’re a pig! Don’t think because we’ve had sex that I’m going to fall in love with you. You made me come, big deal. You aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last. Get over yourself you arrogant bastard. I haven’t even thought about it, now fuck off!”

I may as well have had an illuminated sign above my head flashing LIAR.

His grin got wider, more knowing. “Oh, Holmes, you really must get better at lying, especially in our profession.”

He was so close I could feel the heat of his body, unless that was my body, my heat.

“Are you going to deny it?”

Yes,I wanted to cry.Yes, I’m going to deny it!But somewhere between that and the sigh that escaped instead I lost my words, and all I could do was close my eyes and wish this wasn’t happening. The softness of his lips ghosted across mine, along with what I knew was one of his smugger grins, and then it was gone. When I opened my eyes, he was standing once again, taller and more commanding than he’d ever been.

My veins flooded with hot, fresh anger.

“That’s for you by the way…” He nodded to the bag he’d dropped on the floor. “See you around.”

Then he left as quickly as he’d arrived; leaving my head whirring in confusion and the indignation he’d dared to waltz into my office with all his assumptions, regardless of whether they’d been one hundred percent accurate.

I hated him more that they had been.

I fell back onto the couch, my body liquefied and zapped of the strength and energy it needed to hold itself up.

“Beulah, whatareyou doing?”

I shot upright to find Blake standing in the middle of my office, looking at me like I would look at me if I’d walked in on this scene.

I swung my legs round so they hit the floor. “Nothing, I was thinking.”

He frowned but placed my coffee on the table in front of me. “By the way, Feather’s office has just called; they want you up there, now.”

That announcement did the trick to remove any and all thoughts of Rafe Latham from my brain.

I jumped up. “Right now, now?”

“Yes. Now.” He picked the coffee back up, “Sip this.” I did as I was told, then he opened his other hand, “now this,” I popped the Altoid into my mouth and crunched down.

I’d been in Maloney Feather’s office many times, both here and in Chicago, but I’d never been summoned. I’d never been ordered to come in a way that felt more like an ambush than a catch up, an update meeting or merely a wondering of how I was getting on.

My fears were confirmed when I walked in to find Johnson Maynard sitting on the couch under the window, grateful that years of containing my emotions didn’t give away the tickle of anxiety creeping into my belly.

“Ah, Beulah, take a seat.”

I perched on the end of the couch Johnson Maynard wasn’t on. I could already smell him.

“Sir, Mr. Maynard,” I nodded, “How are you both?”

Maynard leaned forward, way too far for my liking, “I want to know what’s going on with the case. Why isn’t it settled yet?”

Because you’re a fucking crook and your wife knows you’re hiding money.

I cleared my throat, “It’s taking a little time sir. Your wife…”

“My wife… he interrupted, “doesn’t know what she’s talking about. It’s your job to persuade her of that.”

“I’m trying, sir… but she’s convinced you have money hidden. Something I’m working hard to discourage.” I sent another silent curse out to Rafe Latham. This was all his fucking fault.

Maynard’s eye twitched, and he turned to Maloney Feather.

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