Page 48

“Have courage, sis. You can do it.”
The next day, I rose early, feeling a weird energy surging through my body. It was a little bit like going to a new amusement park ride and being uncertain if it was going to be fun or terrorizing.
I dressed and headed into the office. I spent most of the morning handling calls and meetings with the Mastercraft acquisition team. The SEC had approved the sale, now we were just waiting for the final paperwork to come through on the government’s end.
I knew that Stan was looking to get the project through quickly, so I worked harder, trying to clear every remaining hurdle so he could get what he wanted.
Especially if what he wanted was me.
The skies clouded over and spat out thin rain over the city. Not enough to wash the streets clean, just enough to make it miserable. I sincerely hoped it wasn’t a portent of what was to come.
I heard the door to my office open. Stanley walked in, and instantly a smile blossomed on my face. I rose on instinct to go to him and put my arms around him.
I hugged him, and he went stiff. He tilted his head out of the way of my kiss and it landed on his fuzzy cheek instead of his lips. He hadn’t shaved that morning, and from the looks of the bags lurking under his eyes he hadn’t had much sleep, either.
“What’s wrong?” I took a step back and swept his bangs away from his forehead.
“Nothing,” he said, deflecting my wrist away. “Nobody’s watching, that’s all.”
I took a full step back and put my hands on my hips.
“Nobody was watching us the other night. Or the night before that, either.”
Stan closed his eyes, his jaw set hard. He sucked in a long breath through his mouth and let it out slowly through his nose.
“I think maybe sleeping together was a mistake.”
I felt as if he'd thrust a knife into my heart.
“A mistake?” I said in a small voice.
“Yes. It confused the issue.” He turned away from me and walked over to the window, staring out over the rain-swept cityscape. “This was never supposed to evolve into… whatever it has. We need to pull the trigger on the endgame before one of us gets hurt.”
I blinked away stinging tears.
Too late, I thought. Way too late. I was hurting badly, aching all the way to the very lining of my soul.
“If that’s what you want, Stan,” I said. I was proud of the fact my voice didn’t break. It felt as if I’d been punched in the gut with a fist made of ice. Stan was acting so cold, so distant. He wouldn’t even look at me.
“Look at me,” I said softly. “Look at me, Stan.”
He continued to stare out the window, his broad back facing me.
“Look at me,” I said more firmly.
He turned to me with great reluctance. I could see him waging war against himself. His gaze clouded over with the conflict, and his limbs trembled slightly.
“Now, tell me that you want to end… everything between us. Look me in the eye while you do it.”
His facade cracked. For a moment, his feelings bled through his gaze. Stan’s sensual mouth opened, and something akin to a strangled gasp came out.
Then he armored up. His eyes grew hard, and cold. His face twisted into a mask of anger.
“I. Want. It. Over!” He snapped.
I nodded, a tear streaming down my cheek.
“Okay,” I said, my voice sounding strangely calm and even in my ears. I was falling apart on the inside. How could I sound so calm? “I believe you.”