Page 38 of Deceit & Desire

Finally, I couldn’t hold myself together anymore, and I shattered around him.

“Fuck yes, Roman! I love you. I’ve always loved you.” I sobbed the words through clenched teeth, shaking and clinging to him with the force of the orgasm he’d just wrung from my body.

“I love you, too, Zoe, more than you’ll ever know.” Roman whispered the words. Quiet, determined, almost solemn, but his thrusts quickened, turning ragged. Finally, he stiffened and groaned, capturing my mouth in a hungry kiss as he did. “I love you, I love you, I love you. I never stopped loving you, not even for a second, and I never will, no matter what happens.”

* * *

With just threedays left until my father came home from the hospital, I had a hell of a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it in. Roman had been hard at work for a couple of hours by the time I woke, and now it was my turn. I grabbed my cell phone, made coffee, and headed straight into my father’s office across the hall from the master bedroom to get down to business.

The moment I stepped inside, the room seemed to wrap around me with its familiar weight. I set my mug down on the edge of his old wooden desk, its surface scuffed and scratched in a way that told stories of long days and late nights. Lowering myself into his creaky leather chair, I let the seat cradle me as I took it all in: the scent of leather, cedar, and dust, the sturdy bookshelves lined with worn ranching manuals and ledgers, and the French doors framing the corrals and barn outbuildings below. I reached over to a notepad lying on the desk, tapping my pen against the paper as I gathered my thoughts.

I took a breath and dialed Kat’s number, glancing out at the wide-open Montana sky as the line rang. Kat picked up almost immediately.

“Zoe! Good to hear from you.”

“Kat, hey.” I kept my voice calm and even, letting the pen drum against the paper in a steady rhythm. “Before we get into anything, I need you to keep this conversation completely confidential.”

“Of course,” she said without a second’s hesitation. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not coming back to Miami,” I said, letting the words hang for a moment. “I’m staying here in Montana for good.”

A beat of silence passed before she replied, “Alright. What do you need me to do?”

I leaned back, adjusting in the chair, and let out a breath as I mentally ticked off each task. I stretched my neck for a second, sighing when it cracked and some tension released.

“I need you to take care of a few things at the apartment. Sell anything that doesn’t hold sentimental value, and as for my wardrobe—keep or donate most of it. I won’t be needing much of it out here.” I paused, thinking through the checklist. “Then terminate the lease and make sure we get the security deposit back. Also, get Alex’s vet records transferred to a Blackwell Clinic out here—not the one Miss Jackson runs. I don’t like her.”

“Got it,” Kat replied, her tone shifting into that no-nonsense efficiency I’d always trusted.

“One more thing.” I took a moment, picking up the pen again and twirling it between my fingers. “I’d like to offer you the same position you have now out here at Twisted Creek Ranch. There’s housing, too, but I understand if you’d rather not. I know things were getting serious between you and Thomas.”

A sigh drifted through the line. “Actually, I was looking for a way out. Things with Thomas… they’re not what I thought. He’s got a temper, Zoe. It’s been getting worse, and honestly, I’ll be glad to get the hell out of Miami as fast as I can.”

A knot I hadn’t known was there loosened in my chest. “Alright, then. Bring my car and Alex. Leave as soon as you can. Use the credit card I gave you for errands and stay at pet friendly hotels as needed on your way out so you’re not exhausted when you get here. I’ll be here waiting for you. I’ll send you the address.”

“Will do. I’ll take care of everything and be on the road out there in a couple of days.”

“Thank you, Kat.” I felt a surge of relief, the kind that came from knowing someone truly had your back. I made a note on the pad, underlining her name. “See you soon.”

The second I hung up, I rose from the chair and began pacing in front of the desk, dialing Greg’s number. My second-in-command answered on the second ring.

“Greg, it’s Zoe. I’ve got a proposition for you.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I’m supposed to get a six-million-dollar bonus for closing the Seven Palms deal. If you can wrap it up for me by the end of the week, I’ll split the bonus with you fifty-fifty.”

There was a stunned pause. “Zoe, are you serious? You trust me to handle this?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.” Leaning my hand against the edge of the desk, I tapped my fingers absently as I spoke. “I have things I need to prioritize here, so if you can get it done, it’s yours to close.”

“You got it. I’ll make sure it’s finished by Friday,” Greg said, his voice threaded with respect.

I hung up with a small smile, scrolling down to Stanley’s number. This call would be harder.

Settling back into the leather chair, I let Stanley’s familiar voice come through. “Zoe! How’s Montana treating you?”

“Stan,” I said, swallowing hard. “I’m not coming back. My father… he has lung cancer, and he needs me here. I love my job, but family comes first. I’m giving my two weeks’ notice.”

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