I’m halfway out of the building, only barely recovered from the meeting, my head still swimming with possibilities, when the sound of my name stops me halfway down the street.
“Cassidy.”
Of course, Lark is still here. He must have waited for me—there’s no sign of Sheryl in sight, but I can’t help checking for her. Can’t help wondering how she must be feeling about all of this.
“Thank you again for the investment,” I tell him with a tight-lipped smile. “Although I suppose I should be thanking your… girlfriend, I guess, based on the lack of rings? Or are you one of those married couples who don’t do jewelry.”
“What?” Lark blinks, staring at me.
I cross my arms. I’ve had more than enough of the innocent what-do-you-mean defense to last me a lifetime. “I heard her on your intercom this morning,” I reply. “That was Sheryl, wasn’t it?”
He hesitates. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Confident actually do that. When he speaks again, the confusion on his face has cleared, replaced by understanding. “I see. So, when you left in a hurry…”
“It’s because I don’t do cheating. I don’t do going behind people’s backs.”
“Something I understand and completely respect,” Lark speaks up quickly, “but Sheryl and I aren’t together, Cassidy. She’s my ex-wife.”
My eyebrows climb to my forehead. “Your business partner is your—”
“We started Anderson Investments together,” he interrupts. “Years ago. You know what they say about mixing business and pleasure?” He gives a rueful laugh, then shakes his head. “Look, Sheryl and I split over a year ago. There’s nothing between us anymore, trust me. But we are still joint owners of this company, and we’ve been making the business relationship work, so…”
My shoulders, which I hadn’t realized were tensed up around my ears until now, slowly relax. That’s better than I’d been dreading, at least. So maybe he’s not a cheating asshole.
But he’s still in a messy situation. A messy situation that reminds me far too much of the one I finally disentangled myself from. I told myself that after Norman, I’d learn my lesson. Be done with anything not simple and straightforward. I meant it.
I run a hand through my hair, hesitating. Lark takes the opportunity to move closer to me, one hand outstretched, hovering in midair between us like he’s thinking about touching my shoulder, pulling me close. But I fire him one look, and he lets his hand fall again, a wounded expression crossing his face. A moment later, his features smooth, so quickly I might have just imagined it. But… I don’t think so.
“Cassidy, listen…” His voice drops lower. Softer.
God. Standing this close to him, I can smell him again. The same scent that enveloped me last night, heady and powerful. It makes me want to cave. To move closer, let him take me in those strong arms. Let him carry me back to his apartment like he did last night, toss me onto that big bed of his, and kiss my whole body, until I feel ready to burst.
Just the thought makes my thighs tighten involuntarily, my pussy giving a single tight throb. I’m still sore from his thick cock. Deliciously, delightfully sore. It’s an ache I should be savoring today; I should be riding high on that post-sex glow, enjoying life.
Instead, I’m standing on a sidewalk outside one of the most important meetings of my life, being made to feel utterly conflicted again. All because of this man.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says, his eyes catching mine. There’s fire in them. The same fire I allowed to burn me, ignite me last night. “All I wanted to do this morning was drag you straight back into my bed and keep you there as long as you’d let me.”
My pulse picks up at those words. God. I’m already wet again. How does he know how to do this to me so easily?
But it’s a trap. I know that now. I take a step backward, even though doing so takes all the willpower in my body. I start to shake my head, slowly.
“I can’t do this.” My voice comes out a lot stronger than I feel, at least, a lot more certain. Guess I’ve got practice at staying strong in the face of temptation now.
There’s that brief flicker of hurt again, marring Lark’s usual confident, I-get-what-I-want expression. But only for an instant. “Because of Sheryl?” Lark lets out a faint laugh. “I told you, there’s nothing there. Trust me, Cassidy.”
“Why should I?” I raise my chin, narrow my gaze. “You weren’t honest with me from the start.”
“So we were supposed to have the exes talk on night one?” Lark lifts an eyebrow, smirking. “All right, your turn then. Who’s in your past?”
I grimace. “Don’t try to change the subject. I don’t work with my ex. I never even speak to him anymore; it’s different.”
“If you did, though, I wouldn’t mind.” Lark shrugs his shoulders. “I’ve realized recently how complicated life gets. I don’t hold it against people, if they’re in confusing situations.”
Complicated. Confusing. “That’s just it,” I say. “Complicated and confusing are the exact things I swore off from now on.”
“I see.” He tilts his head. Takes a step toward me. I mirror him, moving backward, but not before I catch his scent again. My body reacts to his with an animal instinct. It wants him, regardless of what my head is screaming. “So, what I’m hearing is that you thought about me too, didn’t you? Otherwise, you could’ve just written this off as some harmless fun. A hot one night stand, no strings attached.”
“You’re putting words in my mouth,” I protest, my voice coming out high-pitched, too shrill, because damn him, he’s hitting far too close to the mark.
Why didn’t I just assume this was a one-off thing? Why, even after I thought he had a wife he’d been cheating on, did I continue to daydream about the way he touched me, the feeling of his cock inside me, driving me all the way to the edge?
My throat feels dry. I try to swallow.
“If it was just meaningless sex, you won’t mind hooking up again.” Lark smirks.
“So it was just meaningless to you, then?” I counter.
His eyes flash. “I never said that.”
“There you go, then.” I cross my arms. My lips are dry too, so I wet them, and his gaze drops, tracking the motion. Shit.
I expect him to make another move. I’m not entirely sure I could resist him this time, if he did. But he takes a step backward, lifting his palms in the air, mock surrender. “All right,” he says, surprising me. “If you don’t want to do this, then I’m not into persuading women they belong in my bed.”
A sharp pulse of desire sparks in my belly at those words. But I hold my ground, keep my mouth shut, because if I don’t, I’ll blurt out something stupid. Something I shouldn’t say.
“I’ll see you around,” Lark says. Then he winks. “Business partner.”
I don’t stop holding my breath until he disappears around the corner. Even then, the very idea of breathing feels dangerous. What have I gotten myself into?