Torrid Little Affair (Forbidden Desires #3)

Corinne

I’d given him everything. I hadn’t meant to, of course. But Cooper owned every part of my body, my soul, my thoughts, my smiles, and even my heart-even though I’d promised us both that could never happen.

The truth was I’d fallen for him, desperately. And worst of all? He still didn’t know the truth.

I hated myself that I’d let things get this far, that I’d never grown a pair and actually told him, explained the whole sordid mess like Mauve had encouraged I do.

“Corinne?” Alyssa’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, pretending I was focused on something on my computer screen. “Of course. Why?”

I attempted a smile, but it felt wrong on my lips. My stomach was queasy and my palms were sweaty. If Alyssa thought something was wrong, Cooper would know in an instant. He’d read me like a book from day one. Best to avoid him today.

Alyssa’s features scrunched up in disbelief. “Because I asked you three times if you want to try that new sushi place for lunch, and it was like you were far away or something.”

“Sushi sounds great. Sorry, I was trying to get through these invoices.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Thankfully, she nodded and didn’t press me further, which was rather unlike Alyssa. Normally, she was like a dog with a bone, but maybe something in my solemn expression told her to leave it alone. And for once, she did.

We worked in silence and later went to lunch together, where she kept the conversation flowing about the semi-annual sale she’d shopped over the weekend, updating her wardrobe for a steal. I was only half listening, shoveling bites of cucumber roll into my mouth, even though I wasn’t hungry. In fact, it was a wonder I got anything down at all. My nerves were shot.

As I sat there in the bustling sushi bar, one thing became abundantly clear. I had to cut Cooper from my life. One quick, clean slice. Rip off the Band-Aid. Sure, it would be painful at first, heart-wrenching even, but as the months passed, I felt confident Cooper and I would fall into a rhythm again as boss and employee, and nothing more.

It was the safest thing to do for everyone involved.

My phone buzzed in my hip pocket, and I pulled it out, revealing Cooper’s name. Ignoring his call, I went back to nodding along to whatever Alyssa was saying.