Chapter 8 - The First Kiss Was an Argument
Harlan and I kissed after argument about my security detail. I discovered he had assigned two men to follow me during meetings without telling me. I stormed into office.
“You do not secretly assign human shadows.”
“You received threat yesterday.”
“I can protect myself.”
“From armed men?”
“I can hire my own security.”
“You don’t know who to trust.”
“And you do? Your financial director stabbed Eleanor.”
Low blow.
He knew.
His jaw tightened.
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“I’m trying to stay a person.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means protection without consent still feels like control.”
Silence.
He sat.
“Okay.”
I blinked.
“That’s it?”
“No secret detail.”
“Thank you.”
“But I want you to meet independent firm.”
“Fine.”
“You choose.”
“Fine.”
We stared.
Then he said, “You are infuriating.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“I think about you constantly.”
“That seems unrelated.”
“It is making it difficult to argue.”
My heart stopped.
“Harlan.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know you’re not ready.”
“I’m not.”
“I know your life exploded four months ago.”
“Yes.”
“I know Belle loves you and that makes everything worse.”
“Correct.”
“And I know I should probably shut up.”
“Definitely.”
He did.
For five seconds.
Then I kissed him.
It was angry and soft and absolutely not planned.
When we separated, he looked stunned.
“That was confusing.”
“I agree.”
“Should we do it again to clarify?”
I laughed.
May you like
“No.”
We did.
