Page 121 of Catch You

“I’m working, Corey,” she fumes.

“I know. I know, I just … I need to explain.”

She turns to look over her shoulder. Everyone is busy chatting, enjoying the drinks being passed around, and a few are heading towards the other room where I assume the silent auction is.

“This is incredible, by the way. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Reese had to finish it,” she mutters. After a few seconds, she turns to me. “This had better be good.”

Reaching out, I take her hand in mine and pull her back to the door I entered through only minutes ago.

That last person I was expecting to find at the other end of my buzzer earlier tonight was Fletch, holding a suit bag.

He’d been sent on a mission by Reese, and as much as I wanted to ignore him and continue hiding like the little bitch I was becoming, I couldn’t.

Safe to say his argument was convincing, because I’m now standing here in a bloody tux, about to rip open my chest and bleed out for the woman I’ve realized owns my heart.

“Where the hell are we going? Out there would have been just fine.” She points out toward the hotel reception we just walked through as the lift doors close behind me.

“I’m not doing this in public, Harlow.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but when her eyes land on my face, she closes it again.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“I’m … I’m terrified, okay? There are things I need to explain to you. Things I haven’t told another living soul, and …”

“It’s okay,” she says, placing her warm hand on my forearm and squeezing gently.

“It’s not. I need you to understand. I need you to know everything.”

“Okay.” She swallows nervously as the lift dings to announce our arrival.

Pulling the card out that Fletch handed me, I look for a room number, only instead I find a name.

That fucker gave me the key to a suite.

Glancing up at the signs, I turn left.

Harlow follows me to the first door, and, after tapping the card, I push it open.

“A little presumptuous, don’t you think?” she asks, looking around at the vast space.

“I didn’t have anything to do with it. Fletch gave me the key, told me it was mine for the night to do with as I wish.”

“So he’s the reason you’re here right now then.”

“Partly,” I say, stepping toward her. “He gave me a push. But the real reason I’m here is for you.”

“Okay, so …”

Blowing out a shaky breath, I find the minibar and locate a bottle of scotch. Grabbing two glasses, I lower them to the coffee table.

“Drink?” I ask, looking up at Harlow.

Her lips press into a thin line. “I can’t drink, Corey.”

“Oh, fuck. Yeah. Sorry. Do you mind if I…?”

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