Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Awere didn’t
tak
When Sabine cleared her throat, hagering with the hem of her blouse like she was about to confess to murder. 1 expward him to arch & brow, set on demand blood.
Tad he leaned back in his chair slow, cool like he’d been waiting for this moment all night.
“You re Bagering. Subine,” he said, not even looking up from his glass. “That usually means you’re about to confess something”
Connor chuckled. Sabine paled.
Aaron finally lifted his gaze, bored and sharp at the same time.
“No.” he said, “which one of you is going to say it first p>
Sabine blinked. “Say what p>
“That you’re together.” He glanced between the two of them. “Dating. Sleeping together. Whatever you want to call it. I was wondering how long you’d both drag this out p>
My jaw nearly dropped.
Sabine stared like he’d grown a second head. “Wait, you knew p>
“I suspected,” he said with a shrug. “Connor doesn’t start attending art shows for no reason. And you don’t suddenly ‘drop by’ his office five times in a week unless something’s going on p>
Connor didn’t even try to deny it. Just smirked. “So… you’re not pissed p>
Aaron’s smile was small. Dangerous. “Mad? No. But if you hurt her, I’ll ruin your life p>
Connor raised his hands in mock surrender. “Understood p>
Aaron stood then, calm as ever. Like that whole threat had been a side note. A joke.
But I saw the flicker in his eyes. The fire underneath.
“You two are disgusting,” he muttered as he walked off, “and no one’s allowed to touch
my
wine p>
Then he disappeared down the hall.
Sabine’s phone rang, and she excused herself from the table to answer.
Leaving me.
Chaps
The sermd day we won he turned to wie with these nuriatingly knowing look he always wore when
To do when to go too houer Toy weg’ NOR
So he said he’s working with Doner
You will hung up on the
3 have to be he shrugged, like it explained everything Then he added. “You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?
linked Who?
“You heard me
I let out a forced laugh, light and defensive. “That’s ridiculous”
He just raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “You’re a terrible liar, Venus p>
I looked away, fingers tightening around my wine glass. My chest burned.
Connor leaned forward slightly, voice dropping. “He’s trying, you know. In his own way p>
“By ignoring me? He makes it a point to remind me every time that we’re only physical. Nothing more p>
“To remind you,” Connor murmured, “or to remind himself p>
1 froze.
He went on, calm and certain. “By letting you stay. By not stopping you from working for Dorian. By sponsoring the trip with Sabine. By remembering the fact that you’ve only been to Rome and smiling when you told him you’re dramatic during turbulence. By letting you close to Rosemary. He loves her. He’s protective of her p>
I snorted. Of course he’ll introduce me to his mom we’re in a fake marriage. I didn’t say that tho.
“He doesn’t let anyone get close,” Connor said. “But he hasn’t stopped you. That means something p>
I looked at him then, wary. “What’s Dorian got to do with this p>
Connor studied me. “Andrea, they used to have something sometime ago. She was feeding Dorian inside information about the company. Selling him out for months. And Aaron didn’t even stop when you said you were working for him p>
My stomach dropped.
Sabine had told me about Andrea back at Rosemary’s. And I hadn’t even thought about what it meant for him to hear Dorian’s name on my lips and still let me go.
Chapter 78
11 Anty. The that himwy Twp Abererting*
tramd
持
1 bude dosen ihm harkat You where there. Yoy ene fine he redeter
Aux Connel sold Bin Islan kouex the appearing onlnerable. And he doesn’t let people in easily. bochard and (abyline terreinized Him enough
I allowed hard
treamart hud told me ones than he never spoke about what Richard and Caroline did to him while she was in sonia. And now I knew why
He never let anyone in
Aaron wasn’t reckless with people he was calended Guarded Cold. But with me: He let things slide. Said linte Did more. Let me get too close even while pretending not to care.
Connor reached out, resting a hand lightly over mine. He has a heart, Venus. Don’t make the mistake of thinking he doesn’s. And whatever you do… don’t give up on him p>
“Am I interrupting something p>
His voice was smooth and low, but with an unmistakable edge.
1 flinched.
Aaron stood at the threshold, hands in his pockets, the top of his shirt undone like he’d just thrown it on. But there was nothing casual about the way his eyes landed on Connor’s hand over mine.
Connor didn’t budge. Just grinned. “Yes. I was trying to convince your wife to leave you and come work for
me p>
Aaron’s gaze didn’t waver. “Try harder. She’s already halfway there p>
I managed a smile stiff and fake. My insides still reeled from everything Connor had just said. About Andrea. About Aaron’s quiet trust. About the ways he cared without saying a word.
And now… here he was.
Acting like none of it mattered.
“Sabine’s still on the phone,” he said, looking only at me now. “But we should head out p>
I nodded, standing. Connor’s hand fell away, and with it, the air shifted like something invisible had snapped.
Aaron didn’t take my hand.
Didn’t reach for me.
1801 THE Jan 1
Chapies p>
Bite walian
At the Boy. I glued took a CHAN TN Went her. Freyr werk Enbeing.
Tier 1 futh Aid
The ride house was quiet
* mense just full Thick with dinge wheeld Aaron drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gearshiff, s fand on the round like it we the only thing that expued
Bu his fingers feard once like fo we thinking of reaching for me.
Then they stilled nguin.
And for the first time in weeks, I didn’t expect him to
I didn’t need the hand
I needed the meaning behind it.
And I had it. In bits. In moments. In flashes of him questioning Dorian but never stopping me, of him remembering Rome, of offering to buy me a car just because he didn’t want me getting into strangers” vehicles. Because I mattered.
Even if he didn’t say it.
Even if he never would.
He pulled into the driveway. Killed the engine. The silence stretched-long and potent.
I turned to him, voice soft. “Aaron p>
He looked at me.
And maybe it was the dark, or the lingering hum of the car still cooling, but I didn’t feel weak when I said it.
I felt whole.
“I’m not giving up on you p>
His breath caught, just slightly.
But I noticed.
I always noticed.
He didn’t say anything poetic. Nothing dramatic.
And this time
Because I’d made my choice
I’d try for him.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.