Page 175 of By His Play

She sparked something inside me. Something I don’t need or want or have time for.

But despite all those things, it’s there and it’s growing.

What’s the saying? Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Fuck. I need her.

Melissa smiles softly at me.

“If you need anything?—”

“Thank you, Melissa,” I say sincerely before taking off toward Kian’s office.

“Kingston is right,” she calls after a couple of seconds. “Make sure you knock.”

I chuckle, more than aware of what kind of business my brothers get up to inside their offices.

Lifting my hand, I rap my knuckles on the door.

The windows have been tinted, not allowing me to see inside, and the last thing I need right now is to see a couple getting hot and heavy while I’m getting absolutely fucking nothing.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Kian says when I poke my head inside.

Thankfully, he’s sitting behind his desk pretending to be king of the world, while Lori sits opposite him with a notebook and pen in hand.

“Kieran,” she says softly, before abandoning everything on Kian’s desk and coming over to hug me. “How are you?”

“Good.”

“Liar.” Kian snorts.

“Whatever,” I say, releasing his girl and moving toward one of his fancy couches.

They share a look that instantly has my hackles rising.

“What?” I bark.

“Do you know what?” Kian says, pushing his chair back. “We should call it a day and go for a drink.”

Okay, now I really am concerned.

Kian Callahan never actively chooses to go out day drinking over work.

“What’s going on?”

They share another look.

“Stop that. Speak with actual words.”

Fuck me, couples are annoying.

“Nothing is wrong. It’s just been a long day and?—”

“It’s three in the afternoon,” I point out, interrupting Lori.

“Kieran, you look like a fucking mess. We’re going for a drink,” Kian states, pulling big brother rank.

My mouth opens to argue, but I quickly discover that I don’t have anything to say.

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