Page 39 of An Eye For Illusion

“Thank you.” I offer a smile, but I’m embarrassed.

Some fucking private investigator I am. A waitress with a cheeseburger snuck up on me. Thankfully, she doesn’t linger before walking away to greet a party that just sat down.

I lean to peer out the window to see if Vinny and that woman are still outside. Movement from my right catches my attention, and I turn to see Moore standing from his seat. He puts cash down and makes his way to the front door.

I quickly reach into my pocket and fish my wallet out before tossing a hundred-dollar bill on the table. I didn’t touch my food, but I was a bit of a pain for the waitress either way. I get up from my seat and walk casually to the front door. Moore is already on edge, so I don’t want him to see me walk out behind him.

When I get to the door, I scan the parking lot for any signs of them. In the little time it took for me to pay and gather my things, Moore, Vinny, and the brunette are gone.

With a sigh, I push the door open and walk to my car. As soon I slide inside and the engine roars to life, I make the decision to go see Jade.

Chapter 14

Jade

“ Ahh! What the hell?” I screech.

My right hand balls up in preparation to punch my attacker in the throat as the purse on my other arm drops to the floor with a thud from the sudden movement. Instead of landing a blow, I’m thrown back against the hallway wall, and my offensive arm is pinned to my chest.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to hurt me. I’m wounded, Ms. Foster.”

His voice penetrates first, then my eyes quickly travel the long column of his neck, rising over his Adam’s apple until I reach his slightly stubbled chin that has a little indention right in the middle. My gaze lingers on his smirk because, even though I’m embarrassed as hell, I can’t help but admire how damn sexy that smirk of his is.

I finally find my voice before my eyes find his. “Will you let go of my arm?”

His grip isn’t too firm or painful. Instead, I need him to let me go because being this close to him causes all the synapses in my body to fire at once. It’s like Colin triggers my body to go haywire, firing off tingles in every one of my nerve endings.

Instead of letting me go, he leans in closer. His nose grazes the edge of my jaw with the barest touch. The heat of his breath brushes against my ear. Much to my dismay, I close my eyes and turn my head toward his neck.

The movement seems to surprise him. Without saying a word, he turns his head so he looks directly at me. The seconds tick by as my body melts into his. My eyes search his for answers but come up empty handed. The grip he has on my arm loosens before he lets go all together.

Whatever this is, whatever is happening right now, neither one of us is willing to break the spell. I know as soon as one of us speaks the bubble will burst, and I’ll lose this feeling that only he seems capable to provide.

It’s lively, intoxicating, and very, very fucking dangerous.

His hands graze my hips on their way up to my face. My heart beats wildly in my chest. It skips a beat at the thought of his lips on mine, of his body pinning me against the wall, and of his hands exploring any place they deem worthy.

A brief jolt of reality rockets through me. Is that what I really want? I’ve dreamed of Colin ravishing me, but I never thought it would come to fruition. That thought alone both scares and entices me. I’m not sure which one is winning out right now.

His hands land beside my head on the wall, his stance casual, like he doesn’t have a care in the freaking world. His eyes, however, tell a different story.

They’re intense and focused, and they’re on me.

Kiss me… No, don’t kiss me… Oh, fuck it. Do it!

The barrage of indecision stops suddenly when Colin speaks.

“When I finally kiss you, you won’t be engaged to another man. You’ll be free but not for long. Because when that finally happens, you’ll be mine.”

Thanks to the sex-fueled fog I’m currently in, it takes my mind a few seconds to catch up to what Colin just said. When it does, my hands flatten on his chest as I shove him back.

I continue to push, even when I see the look of disappointment on his face. I push until he stands on the other side of the hallway with his hands in the air. He doesn’t fight me or protest, but his wounded puppy dog eyes only make me angrier.

“Excuse me? I get to decide who I kiss, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it would never be a man who just today sent my assistant flowers!” My voice is loud, but I don’t care.

How fucking dare he? I will never be anyone’s, let alone his.

His eyes widen with surprise before relaxing, his expression turning to one of understanding. His hands are still raised in some kind of surrender, or at least a gesture to make him seem harmless, but we both know that isn’t true.

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