Page 25 of Ghost

A smile lifts in the corner of her mouth as she gets back to work. It edges the line between sweet and devious, and I’m pretty sure she caught me staring at her ass.

Do I care?

It’s not like I’ll do anything about it, and she knows that. No matter how much I want to circle the desk and walk up behind her—to sink my fingers into her lush hips and drag my palms up the inside of her thighs until I’m lost in her scalding sunshine—I won’t.

No matter how hot my blood runs when she once more starts to sway her hips or how badly I want to break this tension, I can’t.

“Done.” She snaps to standing, spinning around.

I was a dick to her last night, and I’ve been a jerk to her all morning, but still, she fucking smiles at me.

I glance at the screen behind her. “Sapphire Rise is still out of focus. I can’t read a single license plate in the parkinglot.”

Luna’s smile falls, and her eyes narrow. “I was talking about the club perimeter. I haven’t gotten to the Strip yet.”

“Hmm.” I turn back to my screen, starting another download while Luna’s eyes burn into me from across the room.

“Do you even need my help, Ghost?”

“With what?”

“With anything?” She waves her arms out. “Because you sure don’t act like it. You know I can do more than adjust cameras and watch surveillance. It’s a waste of my skills.”

“I know.” I avoid her eyes.

“So give me something more challenging.”

“I don’t need help with anything else.” And even if I did, I wouldn’t risk her life involving her in it.

“Of course you don’t.” She huffs, adjusting her ponytail. “You never need me for anything, apparently.”

The last part is mumbled, and when I look up, her gaze has fallen, and she’s biting her lower lip.

“You helpthe club, Luna, and that’s all that matters.”

Her jaw tightens. “If you offered me this job out of guilt for not telling me what was going on in Albuquerque, I can just ask Steel for something different.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because lately, all I do is bother you.”

“Who said you’re bothering me?”

“No one needs to say it. It’s obvious.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and she might be waiting for me to say something, but I don’t. “I’ll just ask Steel—”

“No,” I cut her off.

She hitches an eyebrow. “No.”

“No.”

“But why—”

“I’ve got to go.” Anywhere but here.

I stand up so fast that I almost knock my chair over.

Luna is too smart, and the more I say, the easier it’ll be for her to see straight through all my bullshit. I’ve been hiding behind the facade that she’s just like any other employee of the club, but now she knows the truth. I risked it all for her, and if I’m not careful, she’ll think this can be something it can’t.

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