Page 87 of Keep Me Close

His brow ticks up. “Are you now?”

“Yes,” she says with a cool smile. “Whatever it is will have to be discussed at a later time.”

Something that looks suspiciously close to amusement flickers across Hugh’s face as he takes half a step farther inside the office. “I think you’ve been avoiding me.”

“That’s not true at all. I’ve been busy.”

“With team business?”

“With life,” she says flatly.

His gaze drifts over her face, as if it’s possible to pick through her private thoughts and figure out the truth. “Those aren’t the same thing.”

For one second, the cool polish in her expression cracks. “I’m sure whatever this is can wait.”

Hugh’s mouth curves, but there’s only sadness in his expression. “That’s the problem, Evelyn. It’s already waited long enough.”

The atmosphere turns even more tense. I just want to escape before the situation becomes any more uncomfortable.

Have I heard rumors about the team owners? Sure. But I’ve never put much stock in the gossip. Only now do I realize I might be wrong about that. These two have enough chemistry to blow the world to smithereens.

Although, I’m not interested in sticking around and watching that happen.

I clear my throat. “So, I’m, ah, going to take off. Thanks again, Ms. K.”

Neither glance my way as I slip into the hall and close the door. For a second, I stand in the corridor before pulling my phone from my pocket and checking the notifications.

No new messages.

The urge to call Chey and hear her voice hits hard and fast. Just to check in and make sure she’s okay. And maybe because I want to.

Fuck.

Instead of giving in to temptation, I shove the phone back into my pocket and head for the exit, picking up my pace.

What I want right now is to get home.

Back to the penthouse.

Back to her.

And the fact that it no longer feels strange?

That might be the craziest part of all.

31

Cheyenne

The penthouse is quiet except for the music floating through the space. I’m standing near the windows with my phone in hand, the instrumental track spilling through the speaker as I repeat the same verse for the third time.

Outside, the city glows in the fading light, but in here it’s just me, the lyrics, and the stillness I’ve been craving all day.

Singing has always been the one thing in my life that makes everything else fall away.

No cameras, producers, or expectations.

It’s just the melody and the way it settles inside me when I stop thinking.