His jaw shifted when I said more than once. Nice. I’d caught him off guard.
He leaned forward and propped his forearms on his knees. Right now, he looked like a normal man. A strong, powerful one with devastating good looks. But a normal one, nevertheless.
“I don’t have long,” I told him, keeping my voice steady. “If I’m not back out there in about ten minutes, more than one person is going to come looking for me. And you might have been able to convince the police you weren’t involved last time, but I have proof of who you are this time. You’re not going to be able to get away with it forever.”
Declan stood, a controlled movement that made my heart race in my chest. If he wanted, he could probably snap me like a twig right now, hide my body in the blink of an eye, and concoct a wildly convincing story that even my father would believe.
And even then, he’d have the city’s—maybe the world’s—best lawyers to defend him against any questions or uncertainties coming his way.
“I don’t like threats,” Declan said.
I stood. “I don’t like liars.”
To my surprise, his lips curved. “But you’re okay with hypocrites? Because I’m pretty sure your entire week at Dark Enterprises was based on a lie.” He lifted his eyebrows and took a step closer. “Isn’t that right, Royal?”
Alarm bells rang in my head. Shit. I forgot that if he knew my name, he probably knew other things about me. He might know about the cameras. He might know everything.
But then why did he kiss me in his office? Was it just a ploy to get me to spill my secrets?
Who cares! my brain screamed at me. He knows too much. You have to get out of here!
“I’m leaving. Right now,” I said with a shaky voice.
“I don’t think so.”
I made a split decision and ran. I darted around the backs of the chairs, aiming for the door.
A split second later, Declan was there, his body blocking me.
“Move,” I said, my breath coming in short spurts.
“We’re not finished here.”
I darted in the other direction, but he was too fast. I still had to try. I reached out to shove him, but he gripped my wrists to ward off a blow that would have been useless.
“Royal—”
“Fuck you,” I yelled, struggling. “You—”
“Dammit, calm down.”
“No! I—”
My breath rushed out when he moved, faster than lightning, and had me trapped against the wall. He pinned my arms to the space above my head and held my body in place with his, every hard inch against my quivering frame.
“If you hurt me,” I whispered, a stray hair fluttering by my mouth, “people will know.”
His eyes searched mine, both anger and confusion marring his beautiful features. “Hurt you? What the hell kind of person do you think I am?”
“I have no clue,” I murmured, but that was a lie.
In the light of day, with his body pressed against mine, I knew it. I could feel it deep in my bones that he didn’t want to hurt me. He would have tried already. He would have done it if he wanted to.
But beyond that? I had no clue what he wanted or what his intentions were.
“That’s bullshit,” he said, his fingers flexing on my wrists. Just short of being painful. “What the hell was that in my office then?”
“The kiss?” I nearly spat. “You tell me.”
“Kiss,” he scoffed. “Sure. If you want to call it that. You’re going to tell me that was just an act? That spark between us, the fire…” A flicker of vulnerability crossed his face before he tucked it away again. Despite my confusion, triumph raced through me knowing I had that kind of effect on him. The same kind of effect he had on me. “Believe me, Royal, no one is that good of an actress.”
He switched his grip, so he only held my wrists with one hand, while the other trailed over my cheek.
“Are you going to keep lying to me or are we finally ready to tell each other the truth?” he asked, voice soft.
There was no anger on his face anymore, just resignation. Sincerity. Maybe even a little hope.
Declan’s thumb brushed my lip, sending a shiver racing through my body. He released me at the same time and stepped back, seeing the instant I gave in.
I wanted answers. I wanted to stop running and chasing.
But more than that, at this moment, I wanted him.
“I have to tell Randy that I’m okay,” I said, tucking that stray hair behind my ear.
He glanced to the door. “Randy?”
“He’s my Uber driver.”
“You’re on a first-name basis with this Randy?” His eyes narrowed. “How old is he?”
It was such a normal, male reaction of jealousy, I had to laugh. “He’s old enough to be my father. And he’s married.”
Declan relaxed just slightly. “I see.”
“He’s a good guy—one of the best. He drives me to work every morning and…” I trailed off. Who knew what next week would look like or if I’d even have a job anymore.
“And he drove you all the way here, and waited because he was concerned for your safety,” Declan surmised, giving a nod. “He does sound like one of the good ones. I’ll make coffee.”
With that, he walked off toward the kitchen, leaving me to do what I needed to do.
He went from restraining me to giving me complete trust. If only I could switch my emotions on and off like that.
I walked back out to Randy to assure him I was fine and
