Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 105825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“What about the cash you withdrew?” I asked, rubbing my stubble. “Can’t all have been for drugs.”
“Rehab.” Miles looked at Lorna. “I wanted to get clean but I didn’t want anyone to find out, so I took the money for the clinic out in cash.” He shook his head. “I never checked in. We were too busy. There was never a good time.”
“Dad found out you were using drugs,” said Lorna slowly. “That’s why he changed his will.”
Miles nodded. “I didn’t know he knew, until that day in the lawyer’s office. That’s why I was so mad. He died worrying I was an addict.” His eyes filled with tears. “If I’d known he knew, I could have talked to him about it, I could have got clean!”
“I thought you were mad at me, because he made me CEO,” said Lorna in a small voice.
Miles shook his head. “I was mad at myself because I knew it was my own fault.”
Lorna grabbed his hands, blinking through her own tears. “I never even wanted the job.”
Miles leaned closer, “I know! I know that! I’ve seen how hard it is for you and I knew it was because I’d messed up.”
Lorna threw her arms around her brother and the two of them crushed each other close, tears spilling down their cheeks. I could feel the tension between them melting away.
When they finally released each other, Miles wiped his face on the corner of his blanket. “I’ll check into a rehab place tomorrow,” he said solemnly. “I might not be around for a few weeks.”
“Whatever you need,” said Lorna. “We’re here for you.” She hugged him again and I leaned forward and patted his back.
Lorna and I got a cab back to The McBride Building and stumbled through the doors of the penthouse. Both of us were in just our underwear beneath our hospital blankets: I had my soaking tuxedo in a plastic bag and Lorna’s dress was still at the bottom of the bay. The place was mostly in darkness, with just a few lamps throwing out warm pools of light. Cody was staying over at a friend’s house and Paige must have hooked up with someone and gone home with them because her room was dark and empty. We were alone.
And in the dark stillness, the adrenaline drained away and the feelings I’ve been crushing down inside me for the last few hours finally broke free.
That moment at the ball. As the music came to an end, I’d looked down at her in my arms and I was suddenly overcome. The dance was over but I didn’t want to let her go…ever.
I’d fallen for this woman completely.
And tonight, I’d nearly lost her.
Lorna had wandered over to the big floor-to-ceiling windows and was standing with her back to me, looking out at the lights of New York. Her hair was in damp tangles and she was wrapped in a blue hospital blanket. She’d never looked more beautiful.
I dropped the plastic bag containing my wet clothes and took a silent step towards her.
The pain and guilt took hold. Don’t. I didn’t deserve another shot. It’s my fault they’re dead.
Lorna gave a little shiver and hugged the blanket tighter around her. She’s freezing. My chest went tight. She needed to be wrapped up in my arms, to be warm. I took another step.
Don’t. I couldn’t abandon them. They were my forever.
I was close enough now to see the pale skin on the back of her neck, jeweled with water. One more step, and I could kiss it.
Don’t—
My foot lifted to take the final step…
My hands tightened into fists, my whole body tensed…and I stopped. I forced my eyes away from her, made myself stare out at the city. My heart was slamming against my ribs. Just a few seconds, then I’d be under control enough to march off to my room.
That’s when I saw her reflection in the window. Her pale curves, revealed by the split of the blanket. Her soft lips. Those gray eyes, glittering in the darkness, beautiful and liquid and so very, very lonely.
Something gave way inside me.
I grabbed her shoulders, spun her around, and kissed her.
33
LORNA
The room blurred as I was whirled around. For a second, all I could see was JD’s broad chest. I frowned, looked up…and his lips met mine.
The kiss had all of his brute determination in it, all of his raw power. Everything he’d been bottling up since the day he first met me. His hard upper lip forced me open and spread me, his lower lip gorgeously soft against mine.
The kiss rolled and moved, scarlet pleasure earthquaking from my lips down through my entire body, and I panted against his mouth. The force of the kiss was bending me backward a little and with his big hands still gripping my shoulders, I felt deliciously small and helpless.