Page 67 of So Close

“Haven’t you ever wished that we hadn’t met at all?”

“Never. And I know you wouldn’t change that either.” You study me intently. “You said I wouldn’t have Baharan. Were you serious? You wouldn’t care if I sold our shares?”

“Not if it made you happy. That’s all I want. If rebuilding Baharan hasn’t made you happy, get rid of it.”

You kiss me hard. Then let me go. “If I don’t resist you now, I’ll miss all my morning meetings. Maybe even the afternoon ones, too.”

I shake my head, amused. “Go. Conquer the world. I’ll take care of coffee.”

You hop out of bed with boundless energy and head toward your closet with your long, easy stride. “The creative is on the tablet,” you toss over your shoulder, “in the file-sharing app. You’ll find it. Be sure to look at both the marketing and social folders.”

I push up onto my elbows. “Why are they separate? Shouldn’t social fall under marketing and use the same creative for cohesion?”

You stop at the threshold to the closet and face me, leaning into the jamb. You’re unabashedly naked. And why not? You have the most perfect masculine form. You’re a dream realized.

“Two different divisions,” you reply. “Marketing is in-house. Social is, too, kinda. It was Amy’s company, and we merged it into Baharan after she married my brother. We haven’t fully integrated yet, as far as I know, so they’re separate for now.”

My brows arch. “As far as you know?”

One of your powerful shoulders lifts in a careless shrug. “My mother oversees that end of things. As you know, she came up with the Baharan name and logo, so branding is just something I’ve left to her.”

I remember the frosty looks the two women exchanged in the library and Aliyah’s reaction to Amy’s emergency at work. I remember some other things, too. “She has feelings for you.”

An emotionless mask drops instantly over your features, hiding your thoughts. “My mother? That’s debatable.”

“You know I’m not talking about your mother,” I chide.

You scrub a hand over your face.

I wait for you to either say more or turn away. I won’t push you. I don’t need to – I saw how Amy responds to you.

“For a fraction of a second,” you say gruffly, “she reminded me of you.”

I knew it but am still unprepared for the blow of hearing it. I drop onto my back and return my gaze to the coffered ceiling, where my chaotic thoughts latch on to the perfect symmetry. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Kane.”

“I caught her in the periphery of my vision on a rough day,” you go on. “One of those days when you were the only thing on my mind. It was one night. Less than a night. She ended up meeting Darius because of it.”

My disappointment is fierce. But not for the reason you might suppose.

“You’ve every right to be upset,” you tell me.

“No, I don’t.”

“I’m murderous at the thought of you with anyone else.”The words drip with molten fury.

We’re both quiet for a long time. Ages, it feels like, as my thoughts dance with my demons.

“Can you forgive me,Setareh?” you ask softly.

“Kane …” I shake my head. “You’re asking the wrong woman. You should be apologizing to her.”

You exhale in an audible rush. “That’s fair.”

“I can’t offer you absolution, but your wife was dead, and you were lonely. Give yourself grace – you’re human. That said, try not to forget you’re like catnip for women. Tread with care.”

“I hear you.”

I nod. “I find it miraculous that you aren’t married with children.”

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