Page 134 of The Rules Of Attraction
He laughed. “Okay, I won’t go into details though.” He pulled in a slow breath. “I’m worried that when it comes down to choosing I won’t choose to do the right thing. I’ll choose me.”
Now that was an interesting thing to say.
“Well, if you know that could happen just make sure you do the right thing.”
“I don’t know if it’s that simple. It could mean repercussions for me. There’s only two things that have ever mystified me this much.”
“That’s specific?” I gave him a little smile.
“Yes. Getting the senior partnership has been something I worked for my whole life. I didn’t think it would be this hard for me.”
“I think it will all work out.” I squeezed his hands. “I really do.”
“It’s thehowthat bothers me. The case has taken the meaning out of it. Preston never had to do anything like this, and if you’d seen how I managed the Cartwright case you’d know how I feel.” His cheeks flushed.
This was the part where I would have loved to share how hard I worked at Ashfords only to lose everything. But I couldn’t.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, or thought he’d fire me. It had gone past that and was more the fact that I’d kept it hidden for so long. It also looked like I’d taken steps to hide it and with Eilesh being my friend that added to the guilt.
“Don’t worry about what Preston had to do, or that it’s different for you. Sometimes having to go through more makes you stronger. I know it’s easy for me to say, and it’s not me having to go through it, but from what I’ve seen so far you always seem to do the right thing.”
He looked grateful for my advice and support. It was the best I could offer right now.
“Thank you.” He gave my hands a gentle squeeze. “Come here, angel.” He tugged on my hand, pulling me to stand.
I moved over and lowered into his lap, placing my arms around his neck. He held me, bringing me closer and pressed his face against my chest. I wished he would give me more details about whatever was troubling him.
“I need you.” He breathed against my skin.
“I’m here.” I stroked his hair.
He looked up at me with that appreciative look again but there was something else. It was that spark I’d started seeing recently. The same look Eilesh highlighted.
It reached out to me.
“Summer.” He whispered my name with adoration.
I ran my hands down to his chin and across the stubble on his chin. “What else mystifies you Alex Sullivan? You said there were two things. Is it that weird cheese you bought at the supermarket last week? I swear I saw you staring at the ingredients for a good hour before you decided you’d use it.” I thought I’d try to cheer him up.
It seemed to work because he laughed. “No, I was just interested to see how they smoked it in the earth with the chili peppers. That’s not what mystifies me Summer.”
“What is it then? Many things mystify me. You’re lucky you’ve been able to narrow yours down to two.”
He held my gaze and smiled. Taking my hand, he guided it to his lips and kissed it again.
“You.”
“Me? What me?”
“You mystify me.”
Me.
“How? Am I that hard to work out?”
“It’s not that.” His smile widened. “It’s the fact that I’ve never met anyone like you, anyone who made me feel like this.”
I searched his gray eyes trying my best to hold on to that line I’d drawn under our relationship.Attraction.
