Page 97 of Game Change

“Busy by day and cuddling in our hotel room by night,” she says.

“Suite,” I correct. “It will be more like an apartment.” She puts her head on my chest, and I feed her some dessert. We’re still a month away from our trip, but I’m relieved at the thought of taking her away for a few days.

She’s not bothered by her stepbrother, but I am. He sounds desperate, and desperate people can be dangerous.

Chapter 49

Brynne

“Oh, look,” I whisper to Colin. We’re the only two in the office breakroom, and while I wait for the coffee to brew, I shove my personal iPad in his face. “Sexy.” I show him three different lingerie sets I'm considering. "Sweet,” I say of another two. These two are white, and while sexy, they’re more tame. “And these are my favorite. They’re giving me nasty ass ho energy.” I show him a lacy thong teddy in black and another one in red.”

“What kinds of things does the nasty ass ho do?” I know the look he’s giving me. If we weren’t in this kitchen, his hand would already be down my pants.

“You’ll have to wait until we’re on vacation to find out.”

I show him more things on my iPad; mostly the clothes I have in the cart from one of my favorite stores. He looks at everything as if what I’m showing him is the most important thing on earth, but then again, he acts that way about everything I have to say or do.

“What the hell?” I hear Heath say as he stomps inside. “Did you guys not see the note?” He points at a sheet of paper that says, ‘Get Heath if you want coffee.’ “This is my machine.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I manage to stay stoic.

“This machine is for the office,” Colin says.

“I’ll make you whatever you want.” He gives me the side eye. “You too, Brynne.”

That takes me by surprise. We’ve stopped sniping at each other, but we’re not friendly, and I’m fine with that.

“Really?” I ask. I’ve never admitted it to anyone, but the drinks he makes for everyone except me and Ernestine look good.

“You can’t be that bad if my uncle likes you.” He grabs the coffee pot we brewed and pours it down the drain, then gives us his back and grabs his French press.

“You have a meeting,” Colin says. He takes my iPad from me and says, “I’ll bring your coffee and iPad to your office. Go.” He looks around and gives me a kiss. His mouth lingers on mine, and I run my tongue across his bottom lip. “Go. Now.”

Over the past two weeks, I’ve signed on as the head architect for three new projects. It’s not lost on me that that can derail my plans for leaving this position in a year, but I was sought out, and these residential projects are where I excel.

As I’m looking at a sketch on the table in my office, my door opens, and it’s Colin.

“You want to go to lunch?” he asks. He's already taken my coat off the hook, but my cell phone rings. I recognize the number. It’s from the main office in my condo building.

I hold a finger up and answer. “Hi. This is Brynneka,” I say.

“Ms. Barber, this is Chad from your building. There’s been an incident. Someone broke into your unit. Your neighbor from across the hall let us know.” I stand abruptly while the words sink in.

“What happened?” I ask.

That alerts Colin, who rushes to my side.

“Your door was jacked open, and there’s some damage done inside. We’ve called the police, and they’re on their way.”

After telling Colin about my apartment, I don’t think we speak again. It takes twenty minutes for him to drive me to my building. He parks illegally outside, and I hop out of his car. He’s beside me in seconds. When I get to my floor, there are two cops and the security guard looking around my living room.

“Oh my God,” slips out of my mouth. The sofa is slashed, and my lamps are shattered.

My plants are destroyed. My curtains are pulled down and my blinds torn, but none of that bothers me as much as what I see on the floor.

I put my hands to my mouth and feel my body shake. “No, no, no!” Tears stream down my face. Colin puts his hand on the base of my neck.

“We can replace everything.” He rubs my neck.

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