Page 48 of Quinlan

“This…” I lift one hand, wave it in his face. My neck heats before I let the words tumble out. “Your possessiveness. It’s hot. We just met, and you’re not fucking around. I like it. But I’m not a doll. You can’t boss me around.” I gulp. “A lot.”

Some of Rome’s anger simmers. The creases on his forehead smooth over.

Less fire, more ice.

“No more running today.” He presses a kiss to my nose. I almost faint. “Straight home from here, sweetheart. It’s getting late.”

A second later, he’s gone. Rome’s wide shoulders and his seriously cute butt are all I see as he takes off.

CHAPTER TEN

Liam

I’ve watched dozens ofpeople conducting shady deals. Been there to witness a man confessing to being on the brink of losing his business. A woman talking to her accountant about how her startup would pick off the ground if she just had someone investing in her business.

That’s the nature of my job. Watching. Spying. Gathering information that would help us decide whether we’re going to waste our time and resources on a company or not.

It’s taken me years of doing this to develop my innate instincts. Hours of paying careful attention to detail. To companies. To people.

Me and my research department don’t always go about it the legal way. More often than not, we don’t. That’s just business.

What I’ve been up to over the last thirty minutes has nothing to do with corporate espionage. Stalking Rome and watching him interacting with Quinlan is personal.

I had to do it. My curiosity nagged at me. The need to observe was a compulsion I couldn’t resist.

Ten minutes after Rome left the office, I followed him.

My team had reports to walk me through. Due diligence of a company I’d had my eyes set on for a while to show me. A crumpling retail company. Its decay had been slow and continuous. One unfortunate business decision followed the other. Your Home & Co.’s financial projections—insiders informed them—would be catastrophic. Real estate would be all that’ll remain of them after they declare Chapter 11.

This wasn’t the first time I’d be seeing these reports. I convinced Rome and Damien to wait before we pounce on them. Hold out until they reached that delicate spot between rock bottom and salvageable.

They were there. Glossing through the reports was all the evidence I needed.

Far more interesting research was waiting for me out there. Rome and Quinlan. Dame asked me to stay to tell me about the stupid double date and his plan to derail it. It wasn’t necessary. I overheard his and Rome’s conversation and I let him know.

Damien laughed it off while he walked me to the elevator. This doesn’t surprise him about me.

Being a voyeur is a part of me. This isn’t just about sex. It’s who I am. Plain and simple.

And thank fuck for that. Otherwise, I would’ve missed this. Sneaky fucking Rome, bringing her here. I was close enough to hear him demand that of her.

I’ve been Rome’s friend for over two decades. I understand why he insisted.

He wanted to fuck with Rex. Wanted to have Quinlan proving to him she’d rather be with him than with her brother.

Two birds, one wrecking ball in the shape of Rome.

He’s kissing her and, yes,fuck. I’m silently rooting for him when he kisses her. When she kisses him back, it’s over before it’s even begun.

Rome stalks off without sparing a glance in Quinlan’s direction. Her lips stay parted as she stares at his back.

Rex isn’t there to comfort or shake her out of it. A client demands his attention inside. By the looks of it, she yelled at him there. He wouldn’t chase her for the world. Not tonight.

Over a minute passes when Quinlan snaps her mouth shut. Then she shakes her head and turns to the direction of her apartment.

Her bouncing sandy blonde ponytail is the last thing I see.

She’s gone.

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