Page 33 of Tempt My Heart

"Christopher—"

"You want to protect me, the company, I get that. I love that. But not at your expense, Ali. I promise you that Jared is going to pay—so, for now, let me protect you." By the time he finished speaking he was back in front of her, his breath whispering across her lips and his warmth invading her senses until she had to close her eyes before she sank into temptation.

"Okay." If they hadn't been standing so close, she never would have felt his sigh of relief. But she did, and she wasn't sure what to do with it.

Her eyes opened again slowly and she instantly wanted to close them again because the sight of Christopher, of her boss, standing there and looking like he'd burn the world to the ground if it meant protecting her was almost enough to crumble any strength or sense of self-preservation she had left.

She took a step back and the mask of calm fell over his face once more. Good. It was for the best.

She'd been far too free with her heart in the past. This time, she wasn't going to be as foolish.

ChapterEighteen

"You don't need to worry about me, sweetheart. I've got Caleb keeping me company."

"I'm glad," Ali said, rolling her eyes as she folded some laundry on her bed and shifted the phone to her other shoulder, tilting her head to keep it in place. "Just promise me you're not going anywhere without him."

Her mom gave what could only be described as a girlish giggle. "Trust me, we're joined at the hip," she said slyly and Ali laughed.

"Safety first."

"Exactly. How're things with you though, kiddo? How's work?"

Work, of course, made her think about Christopher. It had been... Well, to look at Christopher you would think the last week and a half had gone perfectly after he'd cajoled her into staying atHorizonsfor a while longer. The truth was that it was awkward. He'd looked at her a little too closely and seen more than she wanted. There was no undoing it. Her only consolation was that she'd got close enough to see the version of himself he normally kept locked down under a facade of confidence and calm.

The main problem? She'd liked what she'd seen, even if she shouldn't want it. Even if whatever she was feeling for him would only end in heartbreak because this was supposed to bepretend, damn it.

"Sweetie?"

She cleared her throat, realizing she'd been thinking too hard for too long. "Work is fine."

"Has anything more happened with that bastard?"

Ali knew exactly who her mom was referring to, it was the same thing she always called Jared now whenever they spoke. Though truthfully, her mom had never been a fan of him. "It's being handled." She hoped.

"Okay. Well, keep me updated. You know I worry."

"I know. Love you," she added and felt a little better when they hung up.

* * *

The invitation arrivedthe same day that her first message from Jared did. She hadn't heard from him since they'd met atArthur’sa week and a half ago. He kept it brief and to the point.

Jared:Outfits, guests, I want pictures. She has a white folder filled with wedding details, find it and take photos.

Attached to his message was a photo clearly taken through her mom's front window, but after an initial flood of panic she stilled and peered closer, zooming in.

"Huh," she said aloud, tilting her head. Sneaky bastard. Jared wasn't anywhere near her mom's place—Ali would bet her life on it. Because in the corner of the photo, just in frame, was the vase her mom had broken last week while she was on the phone with her—leading to an hour-long rant about getting older and her ass getting bigger. It wasn't the kind of lecture she could forget fast. So he must have taken this photo a while ago, probably while they were still together.The betrayals just keep piling up,she mused morosely.

She locked her phone with a sigh and felt her head rest against the cool wood of the desk for a moment before the soft sound of a throat clearing made her sit up.

"I'm guessing you've heard the news then."

She shot her boss a look as he leaned against her desk, looking far more attractive than he had any right to be. "It's Rose DuLoe and David Blake’s engagement party, I think it's probably already hit the radio stations.”

"Has he messaged you?" Christopher asked, deciding to ignore her sarcasm.

"Yes," she said a little more quietly. "He wants me to go and take photos. He said something about a book of wedding plans?"

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