Page 122 of The Gift
My eyes rush all over her. She’s got bags hidden under her expertly applied makeup. A slight pinch to her red lips tells me her shoulder is giving her shit, but it’s the guilt in her eyes that hit me like a train.
“Bailey girl, you sure you don’t want to do this on a conference call or a Zoom? We can use the boardroom, it’s how we do our Alliance stuff,” I ask, my hands on her hips as I drag her closer until there’s no space between us.
She once described what it was like meeting Koda. Her analogy that he was a magnet and her nose was stuck to him is so incredibly accurate to describe how I gravitate to her. If she walks in a room, I can’t not touch her. Shit, she pulls me out of the deepest sleep when she has nightmares.
“I need to do this,” she says, resting her head against my chest. Not hiding how tired she is, or how taxing the past few days have been.
“I know. Let me see you properly.” I try to unstick us, but my hands won’t let go until she shoves me away. And then I see her hiding in a dark blue suit. I missed it before, getting so caught up in her that I didn’t see what she was wearing.
“No. We’re not going if you feel like you do.” I take a step back. Not angry at her, angry for her; this beautiful woman carries too much baggage that is not hers to hold.
“I lied to people, Ashton, I feel crap for doing it,” she replies, her eyes and voice falling away.
My feet take me straight to her again, my arms holding her in case she falls apart. She won’t. Not over this. But I still need her to completely understand she is not alone.
“To survive and protect yourself. Not because you’re a manipulative bitch. There is a big difference. I’m sorry Bailey, but no. We’re not going.”
“Ashton!”
“Bailey! You work your ass off for them. You make them a lot of money, and let me be real frank with you: they need you. Exposé was nothing before you started. They had a few lucky breaks with a couple of reality stars, quick flash in the pan stuff, but the minute you walked into that station you became their pot of gold.”
“Which still does not change the fact I lied to them!”
“You’re right it doesn’t. But you do not feel guilty because of doing it.”
She wiggles out of my arms, the more we talk.
“Like that makes so much sense,” she bitches, throwing her chin up. Her stress manifesting in volume, and snark. If she’s feeling it, it’s warranted, I just wish she wouldn’t.
And of course, Reno and Koda come out of their offices to see what the noise is about. If Henley was home he’d be here too.
“Do not bring them into this.” She jabs her painted nail at me. Which reminds me, I need to book her manicure lady to come over next week.
“Bails, why aren’t you wearing the dress you asked me to get out for you?” Koda asks, leaning against the door jamb of his office. I can see his hands clenching inside his jeans pocket as he wrestles with himself not to run to her.
“Is your shoulder hurting, Bailey?” Reno asks, studying her face.
“Yes! No! Oh, for fuck’s sake!” She throws one arm up and disappears back down the stairs to her room.
I run my hands through my hair, blowing out a steady breath before pulling up to look at them, hoping for a bit of direction. The shady fucks are both pointing down to where she went, glaring at me too.
“She feels guilty,” I growl.
“Well, she shouldn’t go if she does,” Reno says quickly in response.
“Really? Fuck, Reno, you should be a detective or some shit, I never thought of that,” I bite back before turning around and chasing my girl.
“Ash, I didn’t mean to insinuate you didn’t see what was going on.”
“Yeah, I know. I hate seeing her like this,” I admit to him, pausing at the entrance to her zone.
“You and me both. Want me to come with?”
“Yeah.”
“No need, you gossiping shits. I’m coming back up in a few minutes. I was having a meltdown. My hormones are all over the place, I think I might chuck up because I’m so nervous, and I wish we were finished already.”
I’ve never, ever been a patient person. And I’m not starting now. I run down the stairs and am in her walk-in closet, my hands cupping her breasts within a few seconds. I have to stop, which is a fucking shame, as I work off the sling, supporting her arm as I undress her.
