Chapter 24 #2
“Yes, I know who Flint is.” And then her mouth goes wide and round all over again as it lands. “Oh. Oh. I knew I recognized him. I knew it.” Her voice drops to a hush. “He’s White Shirt. I didn’t even really look at him much that night, I was too—”
“You were too busy sucking face with Flint, and then you left.”
She doesn’t even pretend to deny it. She just nods, slowly. “Oh, my gosh. It’s him. He looks different in a suit and tie. What happened that night? Did you take him home and have wild monkey sex?”
I nod.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She drops her hands. Her tone shifts, just a little. Hurt around the edges. “I thought we were friends.”
“We are friends. I was a little embarrassed about it. I don’t hook up with guys, Carla.
I have never hooked up with a guy in my life.
It was so out of character that I couldn’t even bring myself to say it out loud the next day.
I told myself I’d processed it and I’d moved on, and then six months later he walks into my office in a suit and—”
“And you nearly died.”
“I nearly died. Yes.”
She laughs. “Did you freak out when you saw him?”
“Completely. I accused him of stalking me.”
She’s grinning so wide her cheeks must hurt. “That’s why there’s the vibe. It’s because you’ve seen each other naked.”
“Yep.”
She laughs softly, then claps her hand over her mouth again to muffle it. “This is so awesome. This is the best thing that has ever happened in this office. So you slept with him last night. After the function.”
I nod. “I really don’t want to get into it with you.”
“Just give me one thing. He’s good, isn’t he? That’s all I need. One word.”
“Of course he is.”
She laughs into her palm. “I knew it. So what now?”
I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “He’s leaving. He’s going to excuse himself from this assignment.”
“Why?” Her smile drops off her face. “That is nuts. Why would he do that? He really has got a stick up his ass.” She shakes her head.
“Actually, he wanted to stay. I asked him to leave.”
“Are you out of your mind, Robyn? Why would you do that?”
“Because—”
“You can have some fun while he is here. Unless he wants something serious and you don’t. Or the other way round.”
I shake my head. “Neither of us wants anything serious. He said that if he stays, we’re going to end up in bed again, and he proposed that we agree to keep having plenty of sex while he’s here and burn this attraction out, once and for all.”
“Robyn.” She stares at me. “That is perfect. That is literally the perfect arrangement. Why is he leaving? I don’t understand.”
“His other option was to excuse himself. To go to Councilor Reed and tell her we slept together, so they’ll send someone else to wrap things up.”
“That seems excessive.” She frowns. “He wants to lay it all out to Council?”
“Yep. I think it’s excessive, too. But it’s for the best. They’ll send another person to finish the assessment, and we can all move on. I told him that I didn’t want to have an arrangement. I’m not into casual sex.”
“What is wrong with you?” She narrows her eyes at me. “You just told me you enjoyed sleeping with him.”
“I did.”
“You said neither of you wants anything serious. So why on earth would you not say yes to a few days of really hot sex with a male who looks like that, and then send him on his way?”
“It’s complicated.”
“There is nothing complicated about this. Nothing at all. It’s the perfect arrangement, if you ask me.”
I sigh, feeling my shoulders slump. “I’m scared… I mean, what if I fall for him?”
She laughs at me. She slaps her thigh twice.
I stare at her. “Don’t laugh. It’s a thing. I can’t do the whole casual sex thing. It doesn’t work for me.”
“Robyn. He’s leaving in a few days. A week, tops.
How are you going to fall in love with someone in a week?
You’re not. You’re too smart for that. Would you miss the sex?
Yes, I am sure you would. Would you miss him a little bit?
Yes, probably, you’re human. Would your heart be broken after a week?
No. You quite literally can’t fall in love that fast. You would need to have some rules, like no sleepovers or cuddling. No personal conversations.”
“He hates small talk.”
“You see.” She widens her eyes. “Perfect.”
Could she be right? Am I being silly about this? Too cautious?
“And another thing.” She leans against the exam bed and crosses her ankles.
“I think Ridge could get himself in serious trouble if he goes to the Council and admits he slept with you. There has to be a rule against that. He’s here on assignment.
Part of his job is to keep you safe and fix the security here.
It has to be against a whole lot of regulations. ”
I nod slowly. I had not thought about it from that angle.
“And the fact that he is the commander makes it worse, not better. He could lose his job, Robyn.” Her eyes turn serious, holding mine.
I frown. “He told me it would be fine. He specifically said I wouldn’t be in trouble and that he would make sure my reputation wasn’t tainted.”
“It is against his rules, not yours. You’d be fine, sure. I’m not so sure about him.”
I feel a small sick twist in my middle. Is she right?
“And honestly. Do you want every single member of the Council to know about your sex life?”
“He said it would stay between him and Councilor Reed.”
“I highly doubt it.” She shakes her head.
“People talk. Council members talk. You know how it works. Robyn, listen to me. Live a little. Have some great sex for a few days. Off the clock. No one needs to know. You really are worrying over nothing. I would worry more about taking the other path. It could be seriously career-limiting for both of you.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. Definitely. Go and tell him before he opens his mouth to Councilor Reed. Tell him you’ve changed your mind.”
I pull in a long breath. I can feel myself relax a smidgen for the first time since our conversation last night.
“I would hate for him to lose his job over this. Maybe I am being silly.”
“That’s my girl.” She winks at me. “Go and get your man.”
“He is not my man.”
“For the next few days, he is.” She smiles.
I smile in spite of myself.
She grins back and gives me a little shoo motion with both hands.
I open the door and step out into the corridor, and I turn left, toward my office. I have a spring in my step.
The more I think about it, the more I’m sure that this is the better path to take.
I walk into my office, pulling in a breath, my eyes moving straight to the table in the corner, and he isn’t there.
I frown.
His things are gone too.
Shit!
“Are you looking for Ridge?” a huge guy asks me. “Sorry, my name is Smoke. I’ve been tasked with your safety.”
“Oh…um…hi. Where is Ridge? Has he left?”
Shit! Shit! Shit!
“Yes, I’m afraid so. He left five or ten minutes ago. You just missed him.” He looks down the hallway.
“Do you know where he went?”
Smoke nods. “He’s gone to Security Central.”
I huff out a breath.
I turn on my heel, pull my phone out of my purse, and dial him.
He doesn’t answer.
Crap!
I’m going after him. If I hurry, maybe I can get to him before he tells Councilor Reed.