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Sipping from my coffee, I scrolled through a document sent to me to review first thing in the morning, and I did my best to try and focus despite how easily my mind slipped back to Friday night—to potentially both the best and worst decision I’ve ever made.

There was no denying how intense and perfect my time with Damien had been. It was thrilling and passionate, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for longer than a few minutes at a time. Having sex with him was more than I ever could’ve imagined myself.

But at the same time, I was supposed to be a professional. I never should’ve entertained the idea in the office. That was beyond reckless and something I never thought I’d do.

I took my job seriously, and I never wanted to risk my position in any way, but there was something about Damien I just couldn’t resist, as much as I wanted to at times.

No part of me regretted it, especially not when it was the best I had ever had, but I knew I had to be more careful. I couldn’t keep putting myself in outrageous situations and not expect to face repercussions at some point.

It seemed that ever since Damien started hanging around, I was only ever finding myself in compromising positions.

He was aggravating, entitled, and presumptuous but too damn attractive to ignore.

I both wanted him and wanted to hate him, yet as much trouble as he was, I couldn’t help but think he might be worth it.

My phone vibrated on my desk, and I immediately checked it, wondering if it might be Damien.

A jumble of relief and disappointment moved through me when I saw Gemma’s name. A part of me wished it had been him, as I kept wondering when he might text me next, and still not hearing from him was starting to make my stomach drop.

But at the same time, I knew it would be easier that way…not having to contend with him being a distraction. I needed to focus while I was at work, even if my mind kept straying within those mixed feelings I had for him.

Pushing it all aside, I forced out a breath and read the message from Gemma, asking me to come see her as soon as I could.

Wasting no time, with the hope of further distracting myself from that annoying craving to hear from Damien again, I got up from my desk and made my way to the elevator. I kept my head up, smiling at my coworkers all the while I shoved that frustratingly handsome face out of my head.

Eventually, I reached the floor that housed her office and continued forward, eventually reaching it in the back. I gave a small knock on the cracked door before entering.

“Oh good, come in,” Gemma said with a more relaxed smile as she sat in her chair and gestured toward the one in front of her desk. “You got here pretty quickly.”

It was an interesting thing to be friends with my boss, but while we were sure to be as professional as possible at work in front of my coworkers, I noticed how she tended to slip into a more casual demeanor whenever it was just the two of us. In a way, it almost felt like we were an exclusive club, like we knew something the others didn’t. Fortunately, it made the arrangement nicer than one would expect.

Grinning back easily, managing to mask the real reason I didn’t delay, I took a seat. “I figured it was better to pop in before I got too engrossed in other work. What did you need?”

Gemma took a breath as if collecting herself and trying to sort out the scramble that was her mind on a Monday morning. “Okay…so I have a new assignment for you. It’s pretty big, but I figured you’d be up for this one.”

My interest was immediately piqued as I leaned back in my chair. “What’s the subject?”

She grabbed a folder from her desk and handed it across the space between us, the tone becoming more serious as she got right to it. “There’s been a string of crimes in a specific area lately, and I’d like you to check it out. The cases aren’t cold per se, but for whatever reason, the police don’t have very many details or suspects. Go to the neighborhood, do some looking around, and scope out any potential leads. This one might be more of a marathon, so take your time and be thorough. I’m hoping we can get to the bottom of this and find out if there might be connections between this activity and others in the city.”

Taking it all in, I nodded, then glanced over my shoulder before leaning a bit closer, keeping my voice down. “Do you think this has to do with any crime families?”

Gemma let go of a breath and tapped a finger against her chin. “That was my thought, but I couldn’t confirm it in my initial research. I ran it by Ben, and he didn’t know anything about it. He’d like to know as well and see if we can connect these crimes to any up-and-coming groups they don’t know about yet.”

It was another story that could end up helping the Levovs in the end, and while it was daunting, I found myself growing more intrigued by the story as I carefully sifted through the initial evidence and information she had for me.

I wasn’t thrilled about potentially meddling in more mafia territory, but I figured that if Gemma was trusting me with it, then it couldn’t be too dangerous.

Even if it turned out to be, I was a journalist at heart, and I wanted to dive deeper. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could break the case in a sense.

“Alright…I’ll see what I can do.”

Gemma smiled at me and nodded. “Good, I’m glad to hear it—”

A sudden knock at the door pulled us both out of our conversation, making me jump slightly. But upon glancing over my shoulder and seeing Damien standing there in the doorway, a thrill moved through me.

He had been stupidly attractive before, but with the secret knowledge that I had seen him in a different way…I felt him, tasted him, and became much better acquainted than I ever imagined I would…it was almost impossible to not feel a certain type of way while I took him in all over again.

Without uttering a word to me, the way his eyes settled on me for a beat before flickering to Gemma seemed to say it all. Suddenly, it felt like I was in a second exclusive club, knowing an inside joke between the two of us.

Although, that joke was a lot more serious than I think either of us considered before jumping right in.

A part of me still couldn’t believe it happened in the first place, but overall, even thinking about it made me squirm.

“Damien,” Gemma said in acknowledgment. “What can I do for you?”

Glancing between us again, Damien wore a faint grin. “I heard someone’s being tasked with a job that has the potential to be dangerous…I was wondering if I could do something to help with that.”

That was when it set in. When I realized that Damien had been listening for God knows how long.

Maybe it shouldn’t have bothered me, but knowing he had been there eavesdropping, apparently waiting for the moment to insert himself again, it made me bristle.

He seemed to assume I couldn’t handle it—like he didn’t think I could do my job.

The idea grated against my nerves.

Gemma lifted a curious brow in his direction. “How so?”

“I could escort Sky to scout the area and conduct these potential interviews,” he said simply as if he wasn’t encroaching on my work all over again—and right when I thought we had at least found a common understanding. “If there are any bad actors around, I’ll be around to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

I sighed from my place, trying to be dismissive enough for him to take the hint. “It’s fine, really…I’ve been in worse situations.”

Damien didn’t seem to like that notion as his eyes narrowed fractionally before correcting himself.

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Gemma asked, eyes on Damien as if she were considering it.

Seeing that look in her eyes, I felt my heart clenching.

He shrugged as if it was no problem. “Not at all. I can spare a few hours.”

I wanted nothing more than to shut him down, but I didn’t want to let my mask slip.

Without a doubt, I was attracted to him. God, I thought he was gorgeous, and I couldn’t get our time together out of my head, but it felt like he was trying to interfere where I didn’t need him to. He was getting in the way of my work, almost like he felt I couldn’t be trusted to look after myself.

Maybe it was just my pride talking, but my job was mine. Not his. I didn’t want to be made out to be incompetent.

“Really, it’s fine. Don’t we need you here in the office?”

As the words left my mouth, I felt a confusing jumble of irritation and hope.

It didn’t make sense—nothing about him or how I felt was making sense anymore.

Damien’s gaze slid over to me again. “I’m sure nothing disastrous will happen while we’re gone. Besides, there are more than enough cameras here. If anything happens, I’ll know it.”

I wanted nothing more than to scoff at him, but I held my tongue.

“Really, it’s not a bad idea,” Gemma said, tapping her pen against the desk for a moment. “It would make me feel better sending you out there…”

My heart was clenching as I tried to understand those mixed signals I was giving myself, both wanting him there and wishing he would stay out of it. I had never experienced that kind of back and forth with myself before, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

“Alright…it’s a good call. Damien will go with you for the interviews.”

Something in me wanted to snap at Damien and make him stay in the office while I went on my own, but I didn’t say anything. Instead, I managed a faint understanding smile and nodded to Gemma.

Regretting looking at Damien the moment I did, I caught his veiled smugness, and it irritated me all over again.

I couldn’t understand how he was so good at both intriguing me and getting under my skin, but he certainly took the cake in both of those things.

He was always far too satisfied with himself whenever he got his way, and it pissed me off.

I was into him…that wasn’t a secret I was trying to keep from myself. But he was overstepping again, and I didn’t want him sticking his nose where it shouldn’t be.

Before we slept together, Damien admitted to essentially guarding me. He was watching over me and making sure I was safe despite whatever ‘unsafe’ thing was happening in the workplace, and in a way, it sounded a lot more like he didn’t think I could handle my own.

Regardless of what he thought, I could take care of myself. I didn’t need him looming over me like a guard dog, prepared to interfere at any moment.

Even so, it seemed he would be tagging along thanks to Gemma’s agreement, and it was only another excuse for Damien to loom over me.

I only hoped he would mind his own business beyond his new side task, and let me do what I need to.