Page 75 of The Photograph

“It’s so good to see you, Mitch. Where have you been?”

Mike shrugs. “Around.”

She places her hand on his chest, and her voice is soft and warm. “I know about the accident. I’m glad you’re okay, but I’m sorry we weren’t there for you when you were in pain.”

Michael wallows in her attention.You’ve seen her, held her. Now leave.

“Thank you, darling,” Mike says as he holds her tight. “I just wanted to say hey.”

Pushing off Mike’s chest, she lets out a throaty laugh that goes straight to my cock. I’m an asshole.

“Cara said you’ve just come back, but when you have a little time, I’d love to catch up.”

My lucky bastard of a brother grins at her. “I’d like that.”

Before he steps back, she leans in, and he pecks her head in a gesture that speaks of habit and trust. She waves at my baby brother who winks and closes the door.

I straighten up and force my shoulders to relax as she pivots toward me.

The light in her eyes is gone.

Approaching her with measured steps, I make my tone gentle. “Would you like something to drink?”

Her gaze locks onto mine, and she shakes her head. “I’d like to continue the conversation we started if you don’t mind.”

“Yes, of course,” I lead her to the sectional I barely use in the corner of the office.

She settles on the grey sofa and crosses her legs as I sit beside her.

After placing her purse on the wide coffee table, she clasps her hands in her lap and clears her throat. “First, I’d like to apologize for stealing from you.”

Aelin, don’t.“Aelin, I—”

Her fingers coil in her lap. “Please … can I please finish?”

When I nod, she tucks her hair behind her ear. “I should have talked to you first, instead of just assuming you’d agree for me to just take the leftover materials.” She lowers her eyes and pinches her lips before lifting her beautiful hazel gaze to mine.

That same gaze that used to warm up when she looked at me.

“My team and I are helping a charity called The Other Rainbow. They help families who suffered from physical and or sexual violence trauma to get on their feet.”

The Rainbow account was money they collected for a charity. I’m going to Hell.

She takes a deep breath.

“They’ve helped my sister and I when we felt no one would, and since then, we’ve tried to support them the best we can. I decorate their houses with recycled materials from the projects I work on and Cara cooks for them for events and holidays. We also raise money for them.”

The tightness in my chest returns.If I only had talked to her, stayed with her that night when she asked. Held her, but instead…

Aelin takes a letter-size envelope from which she extracts a page and a check she hands me.

I’m about to refuse, but she scoots closer, and I inhale her scent. Feminine and soft.

“I listed all the materials that were taken from Holloway and reimbursed thirty five percent of the gross price…”

Which is fucking ridiculous. “Aelin, that’s not—”

She tilts her gaze up. “Gabe, please let me finish.”

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