Page 94 of Red Flag
“Because my heart is anxious,” I said quickly. “It’s always racing.”
“You want to work with Frank,” he stated.
“It would mean I didn’t work with you.”
“Because you don’t fuck your clients?” he asked, brows high.
“I don’t,” I confirmed with force. “You happen to be the exception.”
His fingers skimmed my silk blouse down my chest. “Because I’m just so irresistible?”
“Something like that,” I teased, my mouth a whisper away from his.
“Mmm,” he mumbled and glanced down at my lips.
“Duty calls,” I said, pushing away from him, my hand on his bare chest.
He caught me, holding my hand to him. “You’re such a tease,” he moaned and kissed me quickly. “I’ve got plans for us this evening, so I’ll meet you at the office.”
“When?” I asked.
“Just text me half an hour before you’re done.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “This doesn’t sound very planned.”
He kissed me on the mouth. “Don’t be too late.”
Chapter 21
PR Princeton had offices in Chelsea. It took half an hour on the tube to get there from Stratford, but going later in the day after rush hour meant that the carriage was far less packed.
Often on my ride in, a man named Neil would sit opposite me and eat a raw onion like an apple. It always put me off my iced coffee and breakfast bagel.
I didn’t miss my old job, but I missed the routine: after-work drinks with my friends, meeting my brother for lunch, even Neil’s nasty eating habits.
Ever sinceVinny’sdeath, a lot had changed.
Including me.
But the office hadn’t. I walked into the reception area with a wave at Tracy the receptionist. She stood, mouth open and lunged to hug me. “Livie!”
“You’re making me feel like the celebrity,” I joked, hugging her back.
“You basically are around here!” she laughed. “Heard we’ve got some lawyers coming in, and some of us are being summoned as witnesses?”
“Just three of us,” I told her. “But, obviously, there are over 400 articles to go through, so I’m here to find the worst ofthem.”
She squeezed my arm in comfort. “It’s not like you’ve been through enough.”
My smile was weak. “Yeah, I’m a bit worried about the media frenzy this case will be,” I admitted. “I think they’re going to make an example of this.”
She nodded gravely. “I should hope so. It’s awful.”
I agreed just as Adam walked in.
He’d been expecting me. I’d emailed his assistant, telling her exactly when I would make it in but he straightened when he saw me, went to speak and stopped.
I’d been in love with him. Or close.
