Page 73 of Dare to Love Again

“How did you know I’d be here?”

“I didn’t. I pinged your phone.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Do I even want to ask how?”

“It’s probably best if you didn’t.”

“You shouldn’t have come, Keiran. I’m swamped and can’t talk right now.”

Something flashed in his eyes at her use of his first name, probably because she’d never used it before. But he didn’t comment, his gaze shifting to her desk, empty, the way she’d left it Friday at five o’clock when she’d emptied her inbox. Caught in a fib, she felt the heat of embarrassment slowly rise in her cheeks.

One dark brow arched. “What did I say about honesty, Esme?”

“I know you know about Andrew. Val told me. But it’s not something I discuss with anyone—ever.”

“Which is part of your problem, lass. You can’t keep such an awful thing bottled up inside you, but I’m sure Val told you that.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “You didn’t close your eyes last night, did you?”

“You’re wrong. Closing my eyes wasn’t the problem.”

“Bad dreams?”

She nodded.

“I can only imagine. What triggered them for you?”

“The club, it’s too much. I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I didn’t mean to lead you to believe that I could.”

“Bullshit.” Like a whip cracking, his expletive reverberated in the room. “You’ve been coming to the club for thirteen weeks without having a panic attack and running into the street. I stripped you naked and spanked your ass raw and you didn’t freak out. And when I blindfolded you, chained you, and made you come in the middle of the dungeon, you were begging me to fuck you, not panicking.”

Her jaw dropped then snapped shut. “I think you should leave. I have work to do.”

“Not until we settle something first.”

“You’ll get me fired.”

“If that happens, you can come work for me. I need someone to handle a two-foot-high stack of contracts, but we can discuss that later.” He walked forward, circumvented her desk, and moved into her space.

She rolled back in her desk chair, but he followed.

“I need my job, and you’ve got a lot of nerve being so nonchalant about it.”

“You’re right, I couldn’t care less about your job.” He bent over, gripped the armrests, stopping any further retreat. “I’m only interested in you, lass. What you went through was horrific, unthinkable, but it’s in your past. You’re not yet thirty, you can’t let it stifle the rest of your life.”

“I can,” she whispered. “It’s safer.”

He caught her chin, and though she resisted, gently but firmly tipped her face to his.

“What are you afraid of, Esme? Is it me?”

She didn’t hesitate in her reply. “Yes.”

“I won’t hurt you.”

“Maybe not intentionally,” she whispered.

“Ever, darlin’. I have more control than that.”

Something snapped inside her, and she leapt out of her chair. Taking him by surprise, he rose with her. She leaned toward him, her voice ravaged with emotion when she refuted his claim.

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