Page 172 of Heartless

“Do you think you can leave work early on Friday?”

Her curls moved with her nod.“I’ll call Sherry right now and ask for the afternoon off.Which means I’ll have to do more work tonight and tomorrow.”

“I’m going upstairs to get you some real food—”

She chuckled, and the sound went straight to my cock.“I have some soup if I’m hungry.I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

The light was back in her eyes, and her curls bounced.“Yes.”

“Okay, baby.I’m having drinks with Sile before he leaves.You need anything, you text or call.”

“Where is he going?”

“Italy.”

Getting on her feet, she picked up her cell from the low table.“Give him a hug for me.”

I got up and pecked her head.“I’ll tell him you said, hey.”

****

Seated in the crampedback office of the sports bar, Sile shook his head.“Her own fucking doctor.Fuck.”He tipped his tumbler to his mouth.“You got back up out there?”

Leaning back, I crossed my ankles on the desk and confirmed I did.

“She’s going with you.It’s a win.”Sile’s chin jerked.“But you look pissed.”

My gut twisted.It wasn’t anger.I was fucking scared.Scared of losing the woman who’d come to mean everything to me.I gulped down my drink and let the heat of the bourbon slide down my throat.

After refilling our glasses, I settled back in my chair.“What are you going to do about Bianc?”

“I have a plan.”

“Plans tend to go to shit with the women who own us.”

“Ain’t that the fucking truth, brother.”He lifted his drink in a cheer.“To them.”

“To them.”

****

Alittle before five, Sienna opened the door.

“Good morning, I’m just sending an email and then we can go.”She started toward the living room before twirling to face me.“Would you like a coffee before we leave?”

She was her luminous self, but her eyes were shadowed.I shut the door behind me.“Did you work late?”

Her ponytail swished at the shake of her head.“No, I did some writing, and I got lost in it.”

While she slid her laptop in her purse, I tagged her bag.“Can I read some of it someday, or will I have to buy a copy of the book?”

At that, she jerked up straight and gaped at me.“I didn’t think you’d be interested.”

“If it comes from you, baby.I am.”

Her smile pierced right through me.“All right, but you are so going to regret saying that.”