His apology and peace offering cleared the air between us. I didn’t know what it was like, entrusting your kid to someone else’s care, but I imagined it came with a whole lot of worry about whether they were good enough, responsible enough, honest enough.

“I hadn’t realized,” he said, gesturing to one of the chairs. The cool leather squeaking as I slid into the seat.

“She had a lot of fun at the snowball fight. It was nice to see her playing with other kids.”

“She doesn’t do that very often. Thanks for getting her out. She loves to stay cooped up in the house and I don’t push her to do more,” he said, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like for you. You’re doing the best you can,” I said, cringing. Of course, he was. He had more money than God. Esme had the best of everything and above all else, she had a daddy who she knew without question loved her. He didn’t need my seal of approval. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Now that I know Esme’s safe. That you’re safe. I’m sorry if I scared you before.”

“It’s okay. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my own kid.” Was this what my mom felt that day at the grocery store? That clawing panic that threatened to bring you to your knees?

“The fact that it’s happened twice in the past couple of months has put me on edge.” The ice rattled in his glass as he gazed out the window. “I must be the world’s worst father.” He drowned the pain in his voice with another sip.

“Don’t think that. Don’t ever think that. You have no idea how terrible some parents can be. None. Esme is healthy, happy, warm, safe and loved. That’s more than a lot of kids could ever hope for.” I said it emphatically, probably more than I needed to.

“I’ll get you another drink,” he said, again not asking. I was beginning to get used to his controlling nature. Sometimes he just seemed to know what I needed, even before I realized it.

When Rhys stood in front of me to take my glass, our fingers touched as he took it from my outstretched hand. Once again, I froze, staring into his eyes, as he towered over me. He put both our glasses down on the table behind him and ran his hand along my jaw.

“I don’t know what we’d do without you, Mel.” His touch sent a tingling down my spine as he said my name again. The way it rolled off his tongue. I licked my lips and his thumb ran along my chin, just under my bottom lip. I don’t know if it was instinctual or if I just really wanted to do it, but I couldn’t help it. I dipped my tongue out and ran it over my lips. The fire was back in his eyes now, the fire that made my stomach somersault and my core throb.

He sucked in a breath and ran his thumb over my wet lip. A hint of his flavor danced on my lips and I couldn’t hold back anymore. Maybe it was the highly charged emotional day I had, or maybe it was the fact that I’d wanted him since the moment I saw him, but never thought it possible. I wanted comfort. I wanted his comfort, in whatever way I could get it. I stuck my tongue out and licked his thumb, drawing it into my mouth and sucking on it. A mix of scotch and Rhys hit my tongue. I longed to taste even more of him as he groaned. I loved that I could draw that out of him, make him putty in my hands. Wielding a power I didn’t even know I had.

Rhys pushed his thumb into my mouth deeper and I sucked on it harder, keeping my eyes on him, not wanting to break the trance we were both under.

“You’re playing with fire, Mel,” he warned. When he said my name like that I couldn’t help but turn liquid under his gaze. I let his thumb fall from my mouth.

“I know, but I can take the heat,” I said, resting my hands on his belt buckle. I was out of my mind, but I was past the point of caring. I needed this, and I think he needed this too. One second I was looking up at him, and the next, my back was pressed against the top of his desk, my legs wrapped around him and his heavy weight settled on top of me. I savored his body on top of mine.

He kissed his way along my neck. His lips like liquid fire, threatening to consume me. I tilted my head to give him better access. He nipped my neck and I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him in closer to me. Everything was Rhys. Every smell, every taste and everything completely focused on him and what he was doing to my body. I thrummed with a pounding energy that couldn’t wait to be set free.

A loud knock on the door broke us apart. I was still in a daze on top of his desk before I realized he was gone. The cool air of the room hit me, and embarrassment settled in. Did I really just do that? Suck on his thumb like that? What was I thinking? He glanced back at me before opening the door. Derek stood there with a file folder and I knew our time was over. I hustled out of the room with my cheeks on fire.

It was hours before I fell asleep. Staring up at the ceiling, wondering what would happen now. Now that I’d thrown myself at my new employer like that, and now that he’d been more than happy to take me up on my offer. My stomach was still aflutter from what happened in the office. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him. What surprises would tomorrow bring?

* * *

RHYS

Derek kept his face a mask of professionalism as Mel raced out of the office like her hair was on fire.

“What?” I said, snatching the file out of his hand. Everything I’d tried to do to prepare myself with her being so close was thrown out the window. I wanted her. I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything in a long time. All the things I’d told myself about her and how I needed to stay away blared even louder in my head and I didn’t know how much longer I could resist.

“I didn’t say anything,” he said, shrugging. He folded his arms across his chest, standing like a sentry. I flipped open the folder.

“What’s all this?” I asked, turning each page, not making sense of anything in there.

“This is what Allan’s been up to for the past few years. I had the file put together, so you’d know what was going on.”

“How did he find her, Derek?” That worried me more than anything. He’d known where to find Esme, and approached her. Scared her and Mel half to death. Scared all of us. What was he trying to do?

“You’re not exactly low-profile. Where you live isn’t a secret.”

“What a clusterfuck. What did you say to him?” I closed the folder. Nothing in there told me anything I needed to know. What had he said to Esme? Had he said anything to Mel?

“I wasn’t exactly having a conversation.” He tugged at his sleeve. “He scared Esme, and Mel freaked out. I wasn’t just going to pat him on the head and let him go on his way.”

“Did the cops get involved?” That would be a media circus.

“No, I smoothed that over.”

“Good,” I said, the tightness in my chest relaxing the smallest bit.

“The costs were high, though,” he said, glancing up at me. The worry in his eyes was plain as day.

“How much?” He told me the amount and I started running calculations in my head. Looked like I would be doing a lot of donating over the next few weeks. A lot.

“We’ll keep them safe, don’t worry about that. I’ll work off the clock if I need to.” The glint in Derek’s eye told me he meant every word of it. He’d become so much more than a security guard. He was a friend. Probably my only friend at this point.

“I appreciate it, Derek. But I’ll make it work.”

I only hoped that Allan popping up didn’t mean he intended to be around. I hoped he was passing through or this was a momentary lapse in judgement. If he intended to stick around, I was prepared to reign down everything in my arsenal to ensure he didn’t do any more harm to my family than he’d already done.

And I needed to keep away from Mel. I saw how she helped Esme after what happened. She got her talking again in a matter of hours. I couldn’t risk screwing this up and having her leave. Esme needed her and I needed her here. If I had to keep my distance, then that’s what it meant because I wasn’t going to drive away the one person who’d given my daughter back to me.