Page 44 of The Broker

He sighed. “But things are different now. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Thatwas what this was? Guilt?

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to tell my dad about it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He frowned, but I didn’t want to see it.

Instead, I picked up my discarded clothes, dropped them on the counter, and then got to work pulling my pants back on. I hated this pattern emerging with him, how he’d give me a mind-numbing orgasm, which was quickly followed by me getting dressed in frustration.

He sighed again, only this one was louder and filled with surrender. “I’m not allowed to kiss Shannon.”

My hands slowed as I tugged my bra down over my breasts, and anger grew a lump in my throat. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because when Patrick said I couldn’t kiss her, I didn’t care. I like kissing and all, but I wasn’t bothered by this rule. I don’tneedto kiss her.” His eyes turned stormy. “But when I found out you’re Ardy’s daughter and I can’t kiss you anymore? I was fucking pissed, Charlotte.”

I turned to stare at the spot where I’d just lain naked on the counter for him. “I... I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either.” He said it begrudgingly, annoyed with himself. “I can compartmentalize a lot of things and keep my feelings out of it, but if I kiss you again? I don’t think we can stay friends.”

An invisible fist tightened in my chest.

“That can’t happen.” His expression was resigned. “We both know it won’t lead anywhere.”

Because I worked for him. Because my father was his boss. And because Noah was thirteen years older than me and didn’t have time for love. There was a mountain’s worth of reasons why we wouldn’t work.

But my stupid heart did not care.

It wanted him, regardless.

“We have to stay friends,” he said as he delivered a sad smile. “Hell, since I moved back, you’re one of the only friends I’ve got.”

He’d probably meant for it to sound like a joke, but I heard the truth buried in his words. The connection to him lashed tighter around me. I still had a few friends around from high school, but we were on different paths. They were all in college, in serious relationships or engaged, and had moved on with their lives. They weren’t stuck or floundering like I was.

Coming home had made him lonely, and no one understood that better than I did. The only time I hadn’t felt that same loneliness was when I’d been here at his house.

“Tell me I didn’t fuck this up,” he said quietly. “Tell me we can still be friends.”

My voice was unsteady. “Friends who watch each other fuck, but don’t kiss.”

His shoulders lifted with an enormous breath. Maybe he was thinking about what a terrible idea that’d be, but it was overruled because of how badly he wanted it. He peered at me with an intense look and slowly nodded.

My gaze dropped to the floor, and I stared at the tile, wanting to collapse on it and pout about how truly unfair this all was. But rather than throw a tantrum, I swallowed my disappointment and formed a plan.

I couldn’t have him now, but I could bide my time and convince him. I wanted this—and things usually worked out for me.

“Fine,” I announced, pressing out a tight smile. “I can do that.”

TWELVE

Noah

I lost my goddamn mind when it came to Charlotte. The girl put me off balance. No, worse—she made my brain stop working.

My afternoon with Shannon had been enjoyable enough until I’d spied Charlotte lurking in the doorway. Her face was flushed and her mouth hung open, and it was shameful how quickly my focus shifted to her. I’d expected the girl to back away with disgust when our gazes had met, but no.

She’dlikedwhat she saw.

It wasn’t shock making her cheeks red or her lips part, it was desire.

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