Page 23 of Tempt My Heart

"We have time," Christopher reassured them both, placing a hand on her shoulder before letting it drop.

"Good, because I'm going to need it."

"So once you get into his cloud, what then?" She bit her lip, not wanting to think about what else Jared might have stored on there.

"Anything that's on his phone or laptop will be on here, unless he's storing it offline, which I doubt—he wouldn't want to lose anything with no backup in his line of work. So once I’m in there, it’s a simple matter of wiping it."

A glance at Christopher found his face impassive so she looked back to Denver and said hesitantly, "Ah, you won't have to watch the video will you?"

Denver glanced over her head to look at her boss before focusing back on her. "Of course not."

"Won't he be suspicious if everything suddenly disappears?"

Christopher frowned. “If he's blackmailing you, who knows who else he's doing this to? He might heavily suspect, but it’s possible that other people have motive too."

Denver blinked and turned back to his laptop. "Okay, well, you guys just pretend I’m not here and do whatever it is you do. As soon as I’m able to access his cloud I’ll let you know.” Christopher moved back around the desk and clapped Denver on the back as he watched him type. “Seriously. Stop hovering.”

She bit her lip to hide her laugh. God, the last twenty-four hours had been ridiculous. True to his word, Jared had got his buddy on the force to drop the charges. Apparently, they’d reviewed the CCTV of the parking lot and saw the drugs being planted—they’d chalked it up to a prank. Aprank.At least it was over with for now. Christopher hadn’t been formally charged and was released from custody within four hours—that was considered speedy, according to Wayde.

"He's going to know it was me," she murmured and Christopher tilted her chin up to peer into her eyes. More than anything, she didn’t want to provoke her ex again. If Denver couldn’t solve this for them, she wasn’t sure what choice she had left except to leave.

"I won't let him hurt you, or anyone else."

Coming from him, it felt like objective truth somehow.

She nodded and stood, realizing she needed to get back to her desk if she wanted to actually get some work done. "Thank you for this, Denver. I appreciate it, and I owe you one."

He waved off her words. "Please, I've heard so much about you I feel like we're already friends."

Now that surprised her. Christopher had been talking about her to Denver—it had to have been him—but why? What had he said?

She decided it was safer not to know right then. She needed to focus, and around Christopher she became more distracted than ever.

"I'm going to get some work done," she said quickly. "Let me know if you need anything else." She could feel their eyes on her back as she walked out of the room and softly let the office door close behind her.

She could only deal with one thing at a time, and next on her oh-shit list was the fact that she was going for a likely very-public dinner with her boss. He might touch her, all for the ruse, of course, but she wasn't sure how she'd react all the same. As much as she hated to admit it, perhaps for this one she really did need Jesse and Freya's help on what to wear. She should have laid down the ground rules with Christopher back in his office like they’d suggested.It was likely they wouldn't be necessary anyway, she told herself. Christopher may be helping her, because they were friends and he was a good man, but it didn't mean he wanted her. Dinner and drinks between friends pretending to be lovers. Easy enough.

Ali caught Christopher's eye as she sat down at her desk and looked up, the heat there making her mouth dry.

Easy, indeed.

ChapterThirteen

The place Christopher had picked for dinner was built for spectacle, and she felt like she'd already had enough of that tonight. Freya and Jesse had watched her get into the dark town car with Christopher, peeking around the curtains of the window in their living room as if she couldn't see them. At least they meant well. She wasn’t sure she could say the same of her colleagues at the office—word had definitely gotten around that she was seeing the boss and the reactions had been mixed. Some people clearly thought it was inappropriate, judging by the dark looks she’d received, others wanted to kiss her ass. Mostly, she wished it would stop.

The Hummingbirdwas the kind of venue you attended when you wanted to be seen. It was exclusive enough that Ali had never set foot inside, but the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed—though chic. It was owned by none other than Annabelle DuLoe—Rose's mother, and that had Ali on edge. Christopher was clearly laying the groundwork in case things went wrong and she really did end up attending David and Rose's wedding as his plus-one.Or, she considered,he just likes it here because he's friendly with the owners.

Despite her concern that they might run into the infamous couple themselves, Ali had to admit that the simple luxury of the bar was stunning.

Christopher placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to a booth on the far end of the room opposite the bar in the center. He moved with an ease that spoke of familiarity, and when the bartender nodded in his direction she realized this booth must be his regular. It was lit by what could only be described as mood lighting—dim enough to be flattering but bright enough to read the swirling font on the small menus.

It had been a while since she'd been on a night out. First, her father had passed away and then she'd had the breakup with Jared... she supposed she just hadn't been in the mood for it in a long time.

Her boss looked like a dark god sprawled against the deep purple velvet of the booth, watching her intently like her face was the most fascinating book he'd ever read. She eased out of her jacket and watched him swallow as he took in the steep neckline of the deep blue top Freya and Jesse had bullied her into. It was one of those items of clothing she'd bought because it was pretty and a good color for her, but that she'd never actually been bold enough to wear. It was a strange but nice sensation to watch Christopher run his eyes over her creamy, freckled skin as if he were starving. She pretended not to notice, instead reaching for the menu in front of her and quickly lifting her fingers away from the table when their heat made the glass top fog.

"You're a regular." She didn't phrase it like a question, but he nodded anyway and the faint breeze of the AC made his dark hair sway until a piece dropped onto his forehead to be carelessly brushed away.

"Yes. Plus, I know Annabelle DuLoe so the news that I'm dating again will definitely make its way into the ears of the right people."

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