Page 246 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

ROB

T here are three important things you need to know about Amelia Ortega.

She's extremely competent. She might not get her expense reports filed on time, and her desk is always a disaster, but if there is a problem, Mel will solve it. She's rock solid like that.

She's beautiful in a soft and understated kind of way. If I walked into a bar and Mel was there, she might not be the first woman who catches my eye. (That's because I can be a shallow, superficial twat.) But I also know that it would be impossible to look away when I notice her.

But the most important thing about Mel is that I trust her. And I'm a cynical asshole who trusts no one.

Which is why I'm sitting here, practically reeling with shock.

“You accepted another job offer? Who with?”

She tilts her head to one side. Her eyes flash with fire for an instant. I’m waiting for her to tell me it's none of my business, but she doesn't. “The Tremaine Group,” she says instead.

Tremaine? Well, at least it's not a direct competitor. Yes, Tremaine is in the hospitality industry, as are we, but our customers don't overlap.

Not that any of that matters right now. I’m doing what I always do—focusing on practicalities to avoid thinking about my emotions.

West is also trying hard not to look upset, but he’s only partially succeeding. “I didn't realize you were looking. Are you unhappy here, Mel?”

She fiddles with her nails. She doesn't look at either of us. “It’s not that,” she murmurs. “I've always been extremely happy at Fontaine I’m always honest about what I can and cannot offer. I always end things before it has the potential to become something deeper.

But I couldn't do that to her. Mel deserves so much more than I have to give.

West takes a deep breath, and he seems to collect himself.

“I hardly know what to say. If this is really what you want to do. . .” He gives a small shake of his head.

“Mel, thank you for everything. Since the day you got here, you’ve always done an amazing job.

If things don't go as planned with Tremaine, I want you to know that you always have a home at Fontaine & Yarrow.”

Her voice is so quiet I can barely hear it. “Thank you, West.”

She says something else, but I don’t hear it. There’s only one thought running through my head, and it’s drowning out everything else. This is it. This is goodbye.

There are days when the pressure of my job gets to be too much. Days when the ghosts of my past rear their ugly heads.

On those days, I head to the racetrack to burn off the excess tension. I lose myself in mindless speed.

I feel a sharp desire to be inside my car right now. Drive so fast that my entire focus needs to be on the road ahead of me.

This time, the racetrack won’t be enough.