He crosses the room with large steps, stopping once he’s a few inches from me. The emotion dancing in his eyes isn’t one I can decipher, but it’s not anger.

“Is that how you knew where to find me?” he asks quietly.

“Yes.” There’s no point in lying.

“How’d you know where I live?”

“Your, uh… your employee file.” I avert my gaze, unable to look him in the eye. His fingers come up, thumb and index finger gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“You’re kind of a creepy stalker, you know that?”

My throat plummets to my gut, knowing this will finally be the time he kicks me out.

Except he doesn’t.

Closing the remainder of the distance between us, fingers still holding my chin steady, he sucks in a breath, making eye contact before pressing his lips against mine. Time stands still. I’m dizzy with his scent swirling around me, and the feel of his soft, supple lips on mine. It takes my mind a minute to catch up, but as soon as it does, my hands find his hips and my lips move in time with his.

His tongue slips into my mouth, tangling with mine, and the vodka he drank earlier fills my senses. Kissing Cash has always felt like a euphoric experience all on its own. His lips were made for mine, molding together with absolute certainty.

Breaking the kiss, he pulls back, glossy eyes taking me in before he whispers, “Good thing I happen to like the creepy stalker vibe.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

Cash DeMarco

This is not where I thought I’d find myself tonight when Stone showed up at my doorstep, drenched and disheveled. Every single thing about this night since the moment he showed up has been completely unexpected.

I want to be furious with him. I want to kick him out and tell him to never come back. But I can’t. I simply can’t. Not when he just bared his soul to me, told me his worst nightmare, and allowed himself to be incredibly vulnerable for me. Not when he’s clutching onto me like I’m his lifeline, his only source of saving.

None of this magically makes the last five years disappear. The words don’t make everything better, but whether I like it or not, it does change things.

Yes, he still left, but he didn’t leave me. He didn’t leave because he didn’t care.

Yes, he still gave me absolutely zero communication in the matter.

But… but his reasoning isn’t what I thought, and it sounds like he wasn’t in his right mind when he left. If it were me in his position, I can’t say with a whole heart that I wouldn’t have done the same damn thing.