Page 10 of Fatal Love

Michael pointed toward the coffee table. “It’s on the table.” He watched as she moved into the living room. “Rachel.”

She held her hand up. “No. It’s not my business.”

Michael stepped in front of the door, blocking her path. “I owe you some kind of explanation."

"You don’t owe me anything.”

He grabbed her wrist. “Stop. We kissed Rachel. And seeing me kissing a man has to leave you with questions.”

She tried to tug free. "It doesn't matter. The kiss was a mistake—obviously."

“I’m bi-sexual." Michael blurted out, shocking both of us. "I’m attracted to men and women."

She blushed as she glanced at me. “And he's ok with that?”

“Yes. He's fine with it." My brows knitted together at the fact he didn't out me as being bisexual as well. "I’m attracted to you, Rachel. I know it’s more than you want to hear, but I needed you to know the kiss meant something to me.”

“What about him? That’s kind of awful to him, isn’t it?”

“Rachel.” My voice cracked. “I need to tell you something.”

She turned toward me. “I don’t need to know what your relationship with him is, Antonio. Again, it’s not my business.”

Michael nodded, silently begging me to tell her the truth. “I know you’re not being followed by my family because I’ve been watching you and I didn’t tell your boss about your meeting with Michael.”

“What do you mean, you’ve been watching me? Is that why you were at my house, acting like a contractor?” I held my breath. Everything was unraveling in front of my eyes at record speed, and I didn't know how to stop it or if I even wanted to. “Well?”

Her voice jerked me to the present. “Look. I want to tell you everything, but I need to get to the hospital. Fuck.” I ran my hands through my hair frustrated with the timing of all this.

“Tell her, Antonio.” Michael pressed his palm to my shoulder.

“Tell me what? For Christ’s sake, you two are looney. I’ve got to go.” She shoved the bag up over her shoulder and pushed past Michael.

“It was me last night.” My words halted her steps. "I'm bisexual too, Rachel."

“It was you last night, what?” She searched my face, a moment of confusion. But as she searched her memory, the realization struck hard. “You were the man in my house last night. The man I…” Her voice trailed off. "Oh fuck."

“I tried to leave, but you were adamant. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw your picture. I think a part of me agreed to go undercover and watch you because I needed to get close to you—and not entirely for the reasons you think.”

“You fucked me.” She pointed her finger at me and then at Michael. “And you kissed me. Do you see how messed up this is?”

“It wasn’t planned. You know that.” Michael stepped behind her, his chest pressing against her back. “Deep down, you can’t deny our attraction.”

Rachel's eyes closed as she took a deep breath. “It’s wrong, Michael. I slept with an Anastasi. A man who's related to the woman I'm trying for manslaughter. Not to mention a man I fired from the job—a job he was doing to get dirt on me for.”

I stepped in front of her, hoping she'd felt the connection between us last night—the connection that was burning in the room now. “But how do you feel?”

“I—” She glanced up, licking her lips at my nearness. Her eyes flashed with confusion, and I watched as she stepped out from between us. Clutching her bag to her chest, “I’ve got to go.”

Michael and I watched as she ran down the steps and jumped into her car, her vehicle disappeared down the drive before either of us spoke.

I exhaled “I fucked everything up.”

“No, you didn’t. I know you feel it, so does she. But this is a lot right now. Hell, her career is about to implode, and she doesn’t know how to handle that.”

“What if she never talks to us again?” I turned to look at Michael.

“She will. Give her time." He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. "Let’s go. We need to see about Vincenzo and Riley. This whole situation reeks of Dmitri Ivanov."

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