Page 70 of Cruel Longing

“I’m not some kind of monster. I don’t want anything to happen to him, or your sister. Isn’t that enough?” She posed the question.

“It is. It’s plenty of reason to get them out of the country. I’m just glad we’re on the same page. Things are always better if we’re on the same page”

“We are. I’m not sure how we’re going to do it. The Petrovs have a tight rein these days. They’ve been grooming your brother-in-law to take over the steak empire.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not going to be pretty whatever we do.”

“It doesn’t have to be pretty. It only has to work.”

“I agree.” She walked to another corner of the open floor. “Which corner office do you want?”

“I do like the sunsets,” I answered. “How about the west corner? You take the east?”

Amara smiled. “And that room leaves the secret room in the middle.”

I laughed. “You agree we the plans I have for it?”

“I completely agree.”

Her phone dinged. “Hold on. That’s Enzo.” She stopped to respond to a message from him.

“Why don’t you have him come up?” I suggested. “Maybe we could call Katya. We could at least talk together. I noticed Ciro wasn’t lurking today. That’s a nice change.”

“He doesn’t lurk,” she retorted. “He is a bodyguard. Not a lurker.”

“Same.”

“He’s out for a while. Doing some security work. It’s his job.”

“I thought he just liked to follow you everywhere.” My teasing was beginning to make me sound like a dick. “Sorry.” I walked it back.

“I’m hoping some day you two kiss and make up.” She batted her eyes.

“That is unlikely.”

“I thought you would at least be happy he agreed to remove the tracker.”

“He did a shitty job. That mark is going to leave a scar.” I didn’t like the idea of Ciro taking a knife to any part of her body.

“I have plenty of other scars. You’re just upset you can see this one.”

She texted Enzo. “Oh shit. He can’t get up here without the key.” She handed me the glass of champagne. “I’ll ride down and bring him back up to this floor with me.”

“I can go,” I offered. “Why don’t you stay and take in the space? Make plans for how you want the conference room to look. Matching his and hers executive chairs sound good to me.”

“No. Let me just talk to him for a second. Okay?” She walked toward the elevator bay. I followed her, pressing the button for her. The doors opened. “I’ll be right back.”

I leaned toward her, sliding both hands around her waist. She tilted her lips upward.

“We’re having dinner at my place tonight,” I explained between kisses.

“Your place? Or with your mother?” she questioned. “I might need to take a raincheck on dining with Anna.”

I chuckled. “No. The new place. You’ll see. Anna is not on the guest list.”

“You’ve already moved out of the Vieux Carre?” she questioned.

“I have. I thought it would be nice to have something permanent in the city. A place for you, love.”

I ran my thumb along her jawline. It was hard to let her walk in the elevator, even if it was only for five minutes. My heart pounded in my chest.

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