Page 35 of Crazy Thing

I glare at her across the desk.

Then she laughs some more, clearly unable to help herself.

That just annoys me. “So, that’s funny to you?”

She shrugs. “You don’t exactly come across as a sentimental, dewy-eyed man.”

“If you must know, the waterfall is where my father used to take my brothers and me fishing when we were kids. It’s where we taught my sister to swim.” My eyes fall to Ziggy’s lips. “It’s where I had my first kiss.”

Her cheeks grow red, and she hops up to her feet, suddenly finding her notepad very interesting. “Are we done here? I need to get back to work. I have to follow up with Mr. Laurier, and there’s a delivery of—”

I push forward despite her excuses. “I’m sure you have memories of your own there. Or did you push those memories to the back of your mind?”

More red rushes to her cheeks and I know I’ve got her cornered.

“Repressed memories aren’t good for you, Fairy Girl.” I hold back a smirk.

And Ziggy tries to hold her chin high. “What are you getting at, Darius?”

“What am I getting at?” I hike an eyebrow. “I’m getting at the day we kissed.At the waterfall. Are you going to keeppretending like it never happened? Because I feel like it’s a big ass elephant in the room every time we’re alone.”

Her delicate nostrils flare as she speaks through gritted teeth. “The nerve of you to bring that up.”

I rise out of my chair, rounding my desk to stand right in front of Ziggy. “The nerve? Why ‘the nerve’? We should discuss it. Get it out in the open. It’s getting in the way of our work.”

“I don’t know about you, but it’s not getting in the way ofmywork,” she balks. “I’m fine. Completely fine.”

I exhale, willing myself to be nicer. To be more patient. To quit pissing her off. “I hurt you, Ziggy. All those years ago, we were kids, figuring things out, and I hurt you. But now that I’m older and I look back on everything, I feel like shit for what I did. And I’m…I’m…” My voice drops to a whisper as I take a small step closer. “I’m sorry.”

Ziggy looks away, swallowing noticeably. “That was a long time ago.”

I reach out, touching her cheek with the back of my fingers. “Don’t pretend like it doesn’t matter, Ziggy. You still hate me…and I understand. I deserve that.”

“Look, I was never the type of girl you were attracted to,” she says bitterly. “No need to apologize for that. Everyone has their type, and I’m not your type.”

That’s not true. She’s all wrong. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I need to clear the air. “For some reason, you think I don’t find you attractive—”

Ziggy scoffs. “Forsomereason?”

“Right.” I drop my head. “Look, I just want to let it be known that you’re gorgeous, Ziggy. A woman like you…you are one of a kind. ‘Beautiful’ is too tame a word for what you are…You just take my breath away every single time I see you.”

She stares up at me, her forehead crinkled. I watch as her mouth opens and closes, like she’s unable to find the words she’s looking for.

Standing this close to her, I don’t know what comes over me. The next thing I know, my lips are on hers.

I’m kissing Ziggy Beaumont. For the first time in over a decade. And I’m instantly fifteen again.

She sighs against my lips and I’m taken back to that afternoon we spent next to the waterfall with the sun peaking through the canopy shadows.My eyes fall closed and my senses are saturated by nothing but her.

Ziggy’s lips part and I steal the opportunity to taste her. Fuck. She tastes like lemons and dreams and—

The moment I begin to move my tongue against hers, she pulls away.

My eyes blink open and I’m greeted by nothing but fire and contempt.

“You are my boss.” Ziggy takes a step backward. Then another. “I’m not doing this with you. I’m not.” She hugs her notepad to her chest. “Now, Mr. Brighton, is there anything else we need to discuss before I get back to work?”

I’d like to discuss bending you over my fucking desk and sticking my head under that multicolor skirt of yours.

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