Page 50

A full laugh bursts past my lips. Both hands seal over my mouth to keep the noise to a minimum. “That, and stupid. What if we get caught? We both know what's on the line.”

“We just have to be careful, Mess. It's not just the sex I miss, it's you. The real you, not the one you allow everyone else to see.”

“This will all be over soon, and then—”

“Then it will be something else, then something else. I'm fighting for us, Randi, how I can. I need you to fight for us too. Don't close me out. Don't keep your distance anymore. I can't take it. It's breaking me every day I don't get you.” His wet lips press hard against my shoulder. “I love you.”

After assisting in situating my thong back to its rightful place, he smooths down the skirt of the designer dress. Without another word, he tugs the door open. The bright light of the hallway blinds me. I hold a hand over my closed eyelids to dampen the visual assault.

When I find the nerve to move my hand away, I blink at the person holding the door.

“Where'd he go?” I ask T.

“Back where he should be.” His words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I suck in a quick breath, and his eyes flare with realization. “Tonight. Where he should be tonight, right now. He's a fool sneaking you away, but I also know he couldn't hold back any more.”

Stepping into the bright hallway, I smooth down my hair and run a finger along the edge of my lips to wipe away any smudges.

“I noticed,” I say with a satisfied smile. For the first time in weeks, I take a deep breath. “I needed it as much as him.”

“Damn, you two have it bad.”

Slowly, we make our way back down the hall toward the craziness I've sold my life to.

“Lust?” I say, hating the word because of the cheapness it offers.

“It's more than that and you know it.”

With the high fading, the realization of what we just did, what could’ve happened, sinks in. “Sam….” I don’t know what to say other than just his name.

“Don’t worry. We knew to keep this discreet. Since we still don't know who the leak is, I sent the other guys to the perimeter except them.” I sneak a peek over my shoulder. Champ and Walsh match our steps, their attention scanning the hallway for threats. “I trust these two. It's why they're here and no one else.”

Turning back, I slow my steps, giving us time to finish the conversation before I reenter the ballroom.

“We'll find the guy,” T assures me.

“It's odd though, right?” I raise a hand to my lips to nibble at the already too short pinkie nail. “You'd think we'd have felt something… off with someone by now. Or at least had some kind of hint. Maybe it is someone on the beta team, and that's why we don't have a good read on them because we're not around them every day.”

“Could be. I'm having their team lead look into each agent. Listen.” He rests his large hands on my shoulders. I smile at the comfort it offers when just a year ago, I would’ve shied away from his touch. “Don't worry about it. You keep working with Sam, do what you can to keep my best friend from jumping off the deep, and I'll focus on the leak. Deal?”

“Deal.” The AC brushes against my hot skin the moment he removes his somewhat sweaty palms. I shoot a nervous glance into the packed ballroom. Immediately my gaze falls on Trey, who has his arm wrapped around Jessica's waist. She's laughing, smiling up at him as he animatedly gestures between himself and another couple.

“He can't stand her.”

“I know,” I whisper. “Doesn't make the jealousy go away. We've never even had a date, you know.”

T remains silent.

“One day I'd love to be able to show him off, to go out like this with me on his arm.” I fill my lungs with a steadying breath. “You think we can do it? Get the information we need to impeach Kyle?”

“Honestly,” T says, making me rest my chin on my shoulder to face him, “I think you can pretty much do anything you put your mind to. You're not alone in this town, Randi. Lean on your friends, on the alliances you've already formed. Everything else will fall into place.”

Turning back to face the room, I step across the threshold. The clinking of glass, the growing chatter, and haughty laughter fill my ears as I shoulder through the crowd in search of Sam.

“Walmart.”

I freeze in my tracks. Kyle's soft chest brushes against my shoulder and arm as he moves around, stopping in front of me.

“Kyle,” I murmur in greeting while fighting to keep the hate from bleeding into my dry tone.