Page 82 of Boss Level

“I love you,” I said. “I love her, and I’d told her that before what happened today, but our lives are complicated. I hope I still get the chance to tell her.” And that my words mattered if she and Xander kept not speaking to each other. Yes, I wanted them both with me, but it wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t both with each other as well. “What you two tell each other, that’s not up to me. But if you said to me what you said to her, I’d be pissed off too.”

Xander clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared. “Think about it a little longer and maybe you’ll understand.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for years—the fact that you think you have to protect her from you—and I still don’t get it.”

“I can’t help that.” Like that, Xander pushed the tension away.

And that meant he wasn’t going to hear a word I said. “I suppose you can’t.” Not any more than I could make him listen to me. It frustrated the hell out of me, but I couldn’t force him and Judith to do anything they didn’t want to, including admit they loved each other. I also wasn’t willing to give Xander up. Yeah, I wanted Judith to be a part of that, but I was holding onto the love I had for all it was worth.

The less-than-satisfying end to ourdiscussionbled into a night of saying very little to each other, and going to bed.

The muted mood led into the next morning. We’d been together long enough that silence was comfortable for us, but what lay underneath this particular lack of conversation… I didn’t care for it.

“We should go out to breakfast.” As I said the words, I wasn’t sure if they were brilliant or idiotic, but they weresomething. “Near the law office. As a couple.”

Xander’s smirk told me I’d picked correctly. “We should, yes.”

A giddy kind of anticipation hummed under my skin as we drove to one of our favorite breakfast places, a block or so away from where I worked.

Where I used to work. With everything else, I hadn’t even dealt with the details of my walking away from the law firm. I’d start later today, making calls to current clients. Reese. Sonya. Others who worked directly and exclusively with me.

When Xander and I stepped from his car, it was both foreign and familiar to slide my hand into his. We’d beenoutthe entire time with our friends, but we kept the public displays of affection to those places we knew weresafe.

The spark when Xander brushed his lips over mine was potent, even though the kiss lasted less than a second.

I liked this. A lot.

The waitress was one we saw a lot, and she greeted us with a warm smile. Her gaze dropped to our intertwined hands, and a pause hung in the air. And then her smile was back, looking as genuine as ever. “Your table’s free.” She nodded toward the booth in the back.

“Thanks, Maribel,” Xander said before leading me in that direction.

We still sat across from each other. I’d rather look him in the eye while we talked and ate than one of us claim the other the same way someone might claim a suitcase.

“Y’all want your usuals?” Maribel asked.

Xander and I exchanged looks, and both nodded. “Yeah. That sounds great.”

“Perfect. I’ll be back with coffee.” She turned away. There was another pause, and she glanced over her shoulder at us. “It’s about time.” She walked toward the kitchen.

My cheeks heated and I let out a light laugh. “Did we ever really fool anyone?”

“Ourselves, maybe.” Xander winked.

The same way you’re fooling yourself about Judith.The thought was real. Valid. But this wasn’t the time for it. He and I deserved moments that were ours, as much as she did with each of us.

We came here all the time, yet, as we ate, I found myself examining every little movement. It was like watching a witness in a courtroom, or studying someone during a contract negotiation. Except thatsomeonewas me.

Had Xander always poured my coffee when the waitress brought us a carafe? Did his hand really brush mine that many times during a meal? Was any of this normal? Was any of it abnormal?

“Hey.” Xander reached across the table to tilt my chin up with his finger. His arms were long, but he still had to half-rise from his seat to do so. “Are you here?”

“Of course.”

He brushed his fingertips over my lips before sitting again. “You sure? I don’t need to crawl under the table and suck you off to get your attention?”

It was such an absurd-but-arousing question, it shattered the shell that had formed around my brain. “Don’t let me stop you, but you’ve got my attention anyway.”

“Good.” Xander’s grin was sexy. Confident. Exactly what I expected from the man I’d fallen for.

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