Page 45 of Tempting the President

Before I could get a word in edgewise, Bobby had already switched her attention to the biker, wary surprise in her gaze as she asked, “Umm, what are you doing here?” Bobby shook her head. “Oh, never mind. I really have to go. Don’t flirt with her, Kellion!”

Wait—-

I wanted to call out for Bobby, but the girl had disappeared as quickly as she had shown up, leaving me all alone again with Afxisi’s VP.

Behind me, Kellion Argyros drawled, “Well, fuck. You’re not Deaf, are you?”

I froze.

The whole world froze.

It couldn’t be. No, it couldn’t be. But I knew my ears weren’t deceiving me.

It was him.

It was him.

The one who had saved the Deaf person from being bullied.

The one who had saved...me.

Trembling, I turned to face him. I looked at him, really looked at him, and every thought I had of Kellion Argyros disintegrated, turning him into something both beautiful and abstract.

His green eyes were on me, intense and watchful. Did he look at all girls this way? Did he know that the way he looked at me made me feel like I was the only girl in the world that existed for him?

Muscles in my throat, unused for years, started to work. It took me several tries, but in the end I got it out.

“No.”

My first word in such a long time.

My first step away from the past.

My first step towards the future.

In front of me, life blazed brightly like a ray of sunlight. The radiance of it hurt, but the pain was vibrant and beautiful, like the first time I saw Ashton and his tiny hand had gripped my little finger.

Oh God,

Ashton.

Is this your work again?

As a sob tried to claw out of my throat, I whirled around, snatching my paycheck from the counter before running away, never looking back.

I’m sorry, kiddo, but I just don’t want to start living again.

Chapter Three

Dear Ashton,

I met a guy tonight. And yes, yes, I know it’s unusual for me to talk about a guy.

But I think you would have...liked him. And he would have loved you.

Love, Your Big Sis

I RAN LIKE THE DEVILwas after me, but the Devil was fast, even without his bike, and I wasn’t too surprised when I felt fingers suddenly curl around my wrist—-