Page 112 of Over the Moon

But this was different. If he knew about my relationship with Clark, it would bring him into an already sticky situation.

“I know that. Everything is fine.” I let out a long breath. My stomach wrenched, and I chewed on the corner of my lip. The guilt over lying to my father was taking a toll.

“All right, well I’ll see you tonight. Looking forward to spending some time with my girl.”

I smiled even though he couldn’t see me. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Of course. See you later.”

There was another knock on the door just as I ended the call.

“Come in.”

Clark strode in like he owned the place, closing the door behind him, and all I felt was relief.

His sage green eyes had a way of soothing me.

“Hey,” he said, studying me for a moment and standing in front of my desk. “You okay?”

I moved around the desk, brushing past him as I walked to the door and locked it. I turned back toward him, his arms openand ready, and I walked right into them. He wrapped his arms around me, and I breathed him in.

Cedarwood and mint.

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said, his voice low and deep.

“This is just—harder than I thought it would be.”

He held me there, resting his chin on top of my head. “I know.”

“I have to have dinner tonight with Sebastian and my father.”

He stilled at my words. “Who set it up? Your dad?”

I pulled back to look at him. “Sebastian set it up, but he did ask my father first. I’m sorry, I know we had plans.”

“Hey.” He stroked the hair away from my face. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s just a shit situation. But I’m telling you, the dude is interested in you. I can’t confront him because he doesn’t know we’re together, so I can’t blame the dude for wanting you—because of course, he fucking does. He doesn’t know you’re taken.”

I groaned. “He doesn’t want me. It’s not like that. But all of these secrets are making things messy. I don’t like it.”

“I know. This isn’t sustainable, Weeze.”

My eyes widened at his words. Was he already throwing in the towel? “What does that mean? You’re already over it?”

I took a step back, and he frowned. “Of course, fucking not.”

He moved closer, wrapping a hand around my waist and tugging me against him.

“What options do we have?”

“I’m working on it,” he said before he dipped his head down and kissed me.

I was so stressed out that I didn’t even care that I was now kissing him in my office. He tilted my head, taking the kiss deeper. Both of us were frantic and needy.

He pulled back suddenly, staring down at me, his tongue sliding along his bottom lip.

“Look at me,” he said, his voice deep and commanding as my gaze locked with his. “I fucking love you. So whatever it takes to be together, I’m willing to do it. This isn’t a fling for me, Eloise. This isn’t something that I need to wait and see where it goes anymore. I want it to go the whole way. I want you. All of you.”

My heart raced, and my eyes welled with emotion. I blinked several times as the first tear broke free. “I love you, too. I love you so much, and I don’t know what to do.”

---