Page 36 (1/2)

“Because Rhys was going to be there,” I said, matter-of-factly

“How did you know that?” she whispered

“Because you toldinto hers She had to know any infor to be our little secret There was a reason ere doing this There was a reason for all of it It was strictly business with a little fun drizzled on top

I had to keep telling et just like it see that game too? I couldn’t let myself feel more It wasn’t possible I had a plan My mom’s words tomyself to look at for years, but the words were branded on ht up in the web she wove, no

24

RACHEL

I sat there frozen for a few seconds, not really co When had I told hiala And then it hitup a dress and babysitting Anger stabbed at ht about what else I ht we had so on Maybe this wasn’t just a little dance ere playing with one another, and then this

He used rabbed htened

“Where are you going?” he asked, dropping the ice to the couch The cubes fell out of the towel and scattered on the floor

“I’ moron

“You’re not leaving, Rachel,” he said, pulling me closer

“I aot into a fight with my boss”

“You’re not leaving, Rachel,” he repeated, like he had a say in what I did “Do I need to reone, replaced with soer at my weakness Why did I let him do this? Because I’d never felt erously

Everything I’d built was at stake If Killian got his way, effectively sabotaging Rhys, I’d lose ain, I wouldn’t be co behind your boss’s back and sleeping with the enemy weren’t exactly ways to prove your loyalty, no

Killian was like fire chasing afterInstead, I’d turned around and crept closer The fire threatened to consu his grip on my wrist