Page 138 of Time Stops With You

“Where,” I rub my forehead, feeling like an idiot and yet I push the words out, “where is he?”

“He’s at Adam Harrison’s research lab in the mountains. Cell service is really spotty out there, but I’ll be sure to pass on the message that you’re waiting for a call from him.”

“No, no.” I blurt. “It’s fine. As long as he’s alright.”

“Yeah, he’s great.”

“Oh. Okay. Yeah, that’s okay. Thank you for letting me know.” I hang up.

Sara confirmed that Cullen’s okay. I don’t have to worry anymore.

And still…

No, it’s fine. Cullen’s fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.

I try to go about my day forgetting about Cullen, but I can’t. Every drive with Roger, every food delivery from Ashley, every thud of the hammer as the construction guys prepare to build the elevator—I see Cullen.

He’s stillhere.Haunting me. Staring at me from the shadows like a ghost.

Maybe that’s why I feel like I’m in limbo, waiting for him to come back. Even if Sara assured me, I won’t feel one hundred percent at ease until I see Cullen with my own eyes.

The days fly quickly.

Today’s Friday.

I have a PTA meeting at Josiah’s school to attend.

Sunday, I have Sunny’s party. She called yesterday asking if I was going to attend as a guest. I couldn’t tell her I wasn’t. I doubt anyone can tell Sunny Hastings ‘no’.

With all these outings on my schedule, Ihaveto do something about my hair.

I’m in the shower, trying to figure out how I’ll tackle this task with one hand, when the doorbell rings. I assume it’s Ashley again with another batch of her amazing pre-cooked meals. Excitedly, I throw on a bathrobe.

“I’m coming!” I say. Maybe, if I beg, Ashley will help me out. Throwing the door open, I call, “Ashley, thank goodness. Could you help me with my hair for a… sec.”

“I’d love to,” a deep, male voice says.

I tilt my head back to meet Cullen’s silver eyes. He smirks at me, his gaze sliding down my face to my bathrobe and bare feet. On instinct, I clip my fingers over the bathrobe, but that only makes the bottom half pucker open.

Cullen steps in, his overwhelming presence forcing me back a step.

“Hello, Nardi,” he says.

“C-Cullen, what are you doing here? I thought you were on a business trip?”

“Just came back,” he says, his gaze lingering on my robe.

My pulse jumps and I move back another step. “Wait out here a sec.”

To my surprise, Cullen hooks his long, pale finger in the pucker of my robe and drags me toward him. “Where are you going?”

Heat explodes from the tiny patch of skin his knuckle is brushing. He can’t see anything beneath the robe, but the fact we’re both aware that I’m naked right now is making me burn like I’m stepping on an active volcano.

“I… I’m going to put on clothes.”

“Don’t bother,” Cullen says, his voice huskier than usual.

Desire stirs in the pit of my stomach.

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