“That’s a mite dry, just how I like it.”
Great news. Hers was super sweet, but the drugs had a bitter aftertaste, and she’d known that crushing two pills into the liquid would alter the vino’s flavor.
“I want to toast new beginnings because on my way in, Thorpe and I reached a bit of a truce,” he explained.
“That’s great!”
If they weren’t at one another’s throats once she’d fled, then maybe no one would be going to prison for murder. Thorpe would discover her gone, and it should be obvious that Sean had not helped her escape. He might be angry that Sean had been unable to stop her, but no way Thorpe could blame him. They might each look for her for a time. Separately, of course. They didn’t like one another well enough to do that together. But eventually, they’d give up. Their lives would move on. Hers would be forever marked by a few distinct events: her mother’s death shortly after she’d turned six, her family’s murder ten years later, and the day she’d left the two wonderful men she loved.
“It’s a start, anyway.” Sean shrugged. “I can’t say that I like the fact that you work for him and live under his roof. I know you have feelings for him, just like I know he wants you between his sheets.” He looked at her so intently. “I love you, Callie. You say you have feelings for me, too. But for us to work, you’ve got to choose.”
Oh, she’d chosen. Now she just had to muster up the will to go through with her plan. And never lose her resolve about not looking back.
“I know. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought.” Callie downed her wine for some liquid courage, hoping it would encourage Sean to do the same.
“And?” he asked, then took another healthy swig of wine before setting his stem on the dresser and focusing on her.
No! He needed to drink more—all of it. But when he grabbed her shoulders and tugged her closer, she knew that wine was the last thing on his mind. Now, she could only pray that he’d imbibed enough of the drug.
Callie set her own glass beside his, then looked up into his strong, familiar face, doing her best to remember every detail. Soon, she’d have nothing left of him or Thorpe but memories.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
That was the last truth she could ever give him. Now she had to release him.
Falling apart inside, she threw herself against Sean’s broad chest, feeling the stalwart beat of his heart, and pressed her lips to his.
Sean ate at her mouth for a moment, his tongue ravenous, his lips possessive. Then he pulled back, panting and staring, seeming to pierce her soul. “I feel like I’ve waited half my life to hear you say that. Come away with me.”
His soft demand shocked the hell out of her. “What?”
“I mean it. We’ve never even seen one another outside this club.”
“I live here.”
“We’ll find a new place, room enough for two.”
She gaped at him. “I-I work here.”
“You don’t need this job, lovely. I’ll support you.”
Dumbfounded, she stared mutely. He cared for her that much? It broke her heart to shake her head.
“Callie, hear me out. We can’t truly grow together if Thorpe is always in our way. We need time alone, just the two of us.”
“I . . .” The offer was tempting, in a way. Maybe she could start over with Sean. Maybe he would agree to move somewhere else and . . . Harbor a woman wanted for murder? Hide her when his whole life would come crashing down for it? He already asked too many questions. Sean wasn’t dumb; it wouldn’t take him much longer to figure her out. “I can’t.”
Just like she couldn’t stand to break his heart now. If his feelings were genuine, he would hurt enough once he woke to find her gone.
Frustration flashed across his face. He clenched his fists. “Don’t you understand? As long as he’s dictating the terms, we can’t really be together. We can’t grow.”
If she wasn’t running for her life or also in love with the man Sean was trying to wrest her from, she might agree. She didn’t have that luxury now. “I’ll think about it. I just need time. This is really sudden.”
He sighed. “All right. I’ve been pondering it for weeks now and I’m ready to have you all to myself, but . . . I’ll try to be patient.”
“Thank you.” She batted her lashes at him. That was false, but she caressed her way up his shoulder and wrapped her fingers around his nape. Under her hands, he felt so very real.
“You’re mine, you know,” he declared, his tone strong and gruff and insistent. “I won’t give up.”