Page 66 of For Wrath and Redemption
“Yeah.”
“What did he want?”
She blows out a slow breath, then shakes her head. “It’s work-related.”
“I’m your work.”
“Other work. Nothing to do with you.”
She stands from the couch, her movements stiff, and walks into the bedroom. My ire for my father burns in my chest. I don’t know what he’s said to Claire, but it’s hurt her. I’m certain she lied. It’s not about work. It’s about their relationship. That pisses me off even more.
At him and at her.
I place my glasses and book on the coffee table, then follow her into the bedroom.
“You’re taking the rest of the day off,” I say to her. “We both are.”
“No.”
“Yes, Claire. Grab your swimsuit. There’s a heated saltwater pool on the roof. It’s closed to the public while we’re here.”
“No, Jonah.”
I close the distance between us and put my hands on her shoulders.Pride surges when she doesn’t push me away. I hold her gaze, then I smile.
“You’re coming with me. I need someone there if I drown.”
Claire rolls her eyes and shrugs me off her. “You can swim fine.”
“It’s been a while.” That’s not a lie. It’s been years. When she doesn’t respond I poke again. “Did you bring a swimsuit?” Her lack of response tells me she did. “Put on your suit. Come swim with me on the roof of this luxury European hotel. If you do, I’ll behave for at least the next two countries.”
She looks up at me through her lashes. Her face is blank and unamused. I sigh and go with the truth. She responds best when I give her honesty. She doesn’t have to know it’s heavily filtered and carefully chosen.
“You’re still mad at me. I deserve that. I was a prick. It’s hard for me to deal with my feelings for you.”
Got her. Her eyes widen. “Towardme, you mean?”
“I said what I said. I told you in Lisbon that I want you. Almost having you has only made it worse.”
She shakes her head. “Sex will complicate our working relationship.”
“I know. But I can’t change what I feel.” I reach up and pull one of her curls, then smile. “I told you that I pay attention, Trouble. I like what I see. As long as you’re here, it’s going to fuck with me. But...” I shrug. “I need you here, so we’re at a stalemate.”
Her eyes soften. Her lips twitch at the corner. And then she turns away.
“Fine. Get out while I change.”
“I’ll meet you on the roof.”
I leave the bedroom and shut the door behind me. I smile the whole way to the pool. A small voice in the back of my head whispers to be careful, but just like every other reasonable warning my subconscious has tried to send me, I squash it. Hedonism is the word of the day, and I plan to embrace it.
“Those are underwear.”
I glance up from my lounge chair and almost swallow my tongue. I’ve seen her completely naked, but this simple black one-piece issparking carnal urges. And her hair? Those dark curls are thrown up into a messy bun on the top of her head, the antithesis of everything she pretends to be every other day.
This look. This casual, carefree, disheveled look...
It will star in my fantasies for years to come.
