Page 62 of Hunted Temptation
“I just… can I go with you?”
My lips twitch into a smirk. “Goldie,” I rasp, “it’s a jobsite. I have to do measurements and get everything to put together a quote, and then I’m back here. You’ll be safe.”
“I’m not worried about me,” she whispers.
“Yes, you are.”
She shakes her head a couple of times. “No, really. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Pulling her close to me, I hold her against my chest, touching my lips to the top of her head. I inhale her scent, letting it fill my nostrils and consume me.
“There is nothing to worry about. Find your dress, and tomorrow, we’ll get the wedding details worked out. Hopefully, by the end of the day, we’ll be married.”
I release her and take a step backward, then extend my finger and touch the center of her chin. My gaze focuses on hers. My cock twitches beneath my jeans, and I want nothing more than to fuck her right here in the middle of this room.
“Be a good girl while I’m gone,” I murmur.
She doesn’t say another word, and I don’t give her the opportunity to, either. I turn around and walk out of the office. If I don’t leave now, I’m going to fuck her again, and then I’ll miss the window of time that Theron promised the new client.
ELODIE
I have a bad feeling.It’s deep in my gut, twisting and turning, coiling like a snake. I’ve never felt like this before, but a shiver of terror slides down my spine as I watch Vaughn walk out of the office door.
I wish he would stay here and sit at his desk and work. That’s what I wish because I feel like something is going to happen. Something bad. I have no idea what it could be, but something just feels… off. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s my own trauma. I try really hard to ignore it all, and if Vaughn senses any danger at all, he doesn’t show me anything.
“Is everything okay?” Nadine asks, her voice soft and lyrical.
Tearing my gaze away from the empty room that Vaughn just walked out of, I look over at her. I can see the concern in her face. She clearly notices that I’m feeling off, but I try not to say anything. I don’t want to seem overly nervous.
“I’ll be fine,” I lie.
“Liar,” she says, calling me out on it, her lips curving up into a grin.
“I just have a bad feeling, but I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything. I’m being overreactive.”
Nadine shakes her head and moves toward me, and then I feel her arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me in for an embrace. Letting out a sigh, I accept the hug. I feel comforted by her, by this hug.
Other than Vaughn, I’ve never really had much human interaction that wasn’t painful. This is refreshing, and I feel absolutely at peace. The hug also makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. Whatever my fears are, they vanish almost instantly.
“It’s going to be okay. This whole thing is just stressful, especially with that investigator watching your every move,” she murmurs. “And now you’re going to have a quick wedding. It’s a lot for anyone.”
“What are we hugging about?” Lucille’s voice calls out, interrupting Nadine’s comforting speech.
We both turn our heads and glance at Lucille, who is standing in the doorway with a drink carrier full of iced coffees and a playful smile plastered on her lips. She is dressed elegantly and looks like she should be running a Fortune 500 company.
She’s a bad bitch to the highest degree, and she’s got the formidable personality and brains to back it up. I wish I could be more like her… more like any of these three women. But I don’t think I could ever be. I’m not smart enough, not strong enough, and not mature enough.
“Elodie is getting married tomorrow… well, maybe tomorrow. We’re going dress shopping after lunch,” Nadine interrupts my thoughts.
Lucille’s eyes widen at the same time her mouth curves into an even bigger grin. “Nice,” she hisses. “Getting rid of bad guys, getting married, all at the same time. I am so here for it.”
Nadine and I separate as she turns toward Lucille, slipping the drink carrier from her hands. A few moments later, Colette walks into the office, and the four of us drink our coffees while they discuss the wedding, or rather, the nonwedding.
But I can’t concentrate on anything because I can think about nothing but Vaughn’s safety. The comfort and peace from the hug have vanished, and I’m back inside my own head again.
I’m not even sure what the conversation around me is about. All I can hear are voices swirling. Then someone asks me if I’m ready for lunch. I shake my head, my eyes blinking a few times as I come out of my head. As I’m brought back out of my thoughts.
“Lunch?” I ask.
