Page 25 of Beneath the Surface

“Okay, fine. I live in Colorado. But like I told you, I’m here for work. I travel a lot.”

My brow rises. “And what is it you do again?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve already said all I can with that. I sign multiple contracts when I take on clients.”

Blowing out a breath, I attempt to shake off my anxiety and bob my head. “Okay.”

He moves toward me. “Let’s just chill today before you make any decisions.” He keeps walking until he’s directly in front of me, my eyes meeting the space just below his chest.

Jesus, he’s tall.

“Spend some time with me. Let Chase spend some time.”

Glancing at the floor, my tongue swirls around the cinnamon gum, unease chomping at my back. His finger presses under my chin, lifting my face to his, the cool metal of his ring sending a chill down my spine. “I understand you don’t trust me. Honestly, you shouldn’t.”

I huff.

He chuckles. “I just mean it’s smart. It makes you a good mom. But, Lily, what are your other choices?”

Hopelessness stretches across the middle of my chest as I admit to myself that he’s right. I have no options—stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’ve backed myself into a corner by only trusting Susan, because now, there’s no one I can call when I need a hand. It’s soincrediblystupid to become dependent on one person when there are so many things that could go wrong.

But I’m always trusting the wrong people.

I exhale, my anxiety ramping higher with every second. “Look, it’s not that I don’t appreciate you showing up. But as much as you wink, and flirt, and charm your way into my thoughts, Idon’tknow you. You’re… mysterious, and aloof, and any time I’ve ever tried to ask youanythingyou evade the question, which tells me you’ve got practice in avoiding answers.”

He smirks, his finger moving from under my chin until his entire palm wraps around my jaw. A flare of heat spikes through me at the change in position.

“You’re like a damn politician.”

His smile drops, his body pushing into me harshly. I stumble, the counter digging into my lower back as his hips pin mine.

“Take it back,” he rumbles, his eyes sparking.

“Which part?” I breathe.

He leans his body weight into me farther, and my stomach jumps into my throat. His mouth grazes my ear, his hand squeezing my jaw until it hurts, the smell of leather and birchwood lighting up my senses. An ache settles between my legs from how roughly he’s handling me.

It’s sick, what turns me on.

His head angles down, his nose barely skimming the length of my neck, making goose bumps sprout along my arms. My heart steals my breath from how fast it’s pounding.

“I’m a lot of things, little bird…” His voice vibrates against my skin. “But I amnota politician.”

“O-Okay,” I stutter, trying to keep the heat from spreading through me at his touch. At the way his body has me completely immobilized against the counter.

My hands come up to push against him, but he doesn’t budge.

“Say it,” he rasps.

“You’re not a politician,” I whisper.

He’s still for a few long, tortured seconds, his breath puffing out against my throat, before he snaps back, running a hand through his tousled hair.

“Good.” He smiles wide. “Iamyour new babysitter, though.” He winks.

The corner of my mouth twitches as I bite back a grin, attempting to shake off whatever the hell just happened.

This is a terrible idea. Idon’ttrust him, and I definitely don’t trust myself around him… but he’s right.

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