Page 52 of Stolen Dreams

I press one and close my eyes when I hear his voice.“Hey, Lilah, it’s Derek.”His voice is low.“I’m…” He stops talking.“I’d like to talk to you.”The hair on the back of my neck stands up.“If you can, call me back.”I close the phone right away and put it down on my desk before I walk back to the barn.

I’m about to go around the corner when I hear the whisper, “Yeah, I don’t know.”I hear one of the guys say, “They live together now, there is no way they aren’t fucking.”

“He pretends he doesn’t like her”—another voice snickers—“but she probably rides his dick every night.”I swallow back the bile that is rising and walk into the room.“She probably made it all up so she could finally fuck him.”The two guys laugh.

“Hey, guys,” I greet them, pretending I didn’t just hear them gossiping about Emmett and me.

“Hey, Lilah,” Freddy replies, holding up his hand, “how’re you doing?”

“Great.”I smile at him.“It’s a nice day, isn’t it?”

I walk deeper into the barn to Emmett, who is talking to Sammy and Bobby about something.“Hey,” I interrupt, “this is the list Charlie wanted me to give you.”I hold it out for Emmett.“It’s for the next load of horses coming through.”

“Thanks.”He grabs it from me.I turn on my boot and head back to my desk, trying not to let their words bother me as I focus on my work.But their words do get to me, especially since Emmett and I haven’t spoken about the elephant in the room.I have no idea what the fuck this thing is between us.I didn’t care before, but now, now the gossip is spreading to my colleagues and they're talking about me like I did this on purpose.I think maybe it’s time to head back home.

The thought alone makes my heart speed up.I get up from my desk and head toward Charlie’s, finding him behind his desk.“Hey, can I have a second?”I ask, and he looks over at me.

“What’s up?”

“It’s been almost a week,” I say, and he leans back in his chair.“When do you think it’s safe to go back home?”

“Why?”He sits up.“Did something happen with Emmett?”

“No,” I refute immediately.“It’s just that I feel like I’m in his hair,” I lie to him.“He and Lucy just got to know each other.”

“Pops wants to send someone over to your place and put in some cameras and stuff.”

“Okay, do you know when he’ll do that?”

“He said it would be done soon, but I can see if he can have it done this weekend.”

“Thanks, Charlie,” I tell him, “and if it’s okay, can I head out early today?I’m not feeling so hot.”

“What happened?”He gets up.“You either tell me or I’ll go to Emmett.”

“Nothing.”I shake my head.“I’m working on my thesis, and it’s weighing on me,” I lie to him, and I know he knows I’m lying, but he lets me get away with it.

“You can clock out now and come in later tomorrow,” he states right away.“I’ll handle it.”

“That won’t be necessary.”I smile at him.“I’ll be back tomorrow.”I turn to walk out of the office and head to my desk, grabbing my purse and my phone before heading out the front door for once, not wanting to see the guys again.

I unlock the door, and when I open it, I see the single red rose on the passenger seat.I look back into the barn but see no one there.Smiling, I get in the truck and pick up the rose, bringing it to my nose.“Well, I’ll be.”I close my eyes and put my head back.“Isn’t this nice?”

ChapterTwenty-Eight

EMMETT

“Hey,” Charlie says, walking into the barn as I pick up my cup of coffee from beside me.The clipboard is in my hand as I go over the horses that will be leaving tomorrow.

“Hey,” I reply as he looks around and then looks back at me.“What’s wrong with you?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.”His voice is low as to make sure no one else can hear our conversation.I look around, making sure no one is around or lurking.“Lilah just left my office.”Something about his tone doesn’t seem right, and I’m suddenly very alert.

“Okay,” I say, not following where he’s going with this.“She gave me the paperwork already.”I hold up the clipboard in my hand, while I reach over for my coffee mug, bringing it to my lips.

“She asked me about moving back to her place,” he explains, and everything in me stops.My hand grips the clipboard in my fingers so tight, my knuckles are white.“I can see from your face that you had no idea.”

“You would be right about that,” I almost hiss, turning and placing the clipboard down on the desk beside the cup before I throw it across the motherfucking room.“Where is she?”I try to push down the nerves running through me.

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