“Okay.”
“What do you want to do about the heightened security around your family?”
“Let’s keep it for now and see where this goes with Hyde. We have no idea if he’s working alone or with someone.”
“Okay. I’ll report back when I’ve heard from my contact.”
“Great. Thanks.”
I check my e-mails. There’s one from Sam letting me know that he’s been inundated with press inquiries about last night. I respond, telling him to send all inquiries to the King County PD press office.
Taylor enters. “Good morning, sir.”
“Did you get some sleep?”
He blows out a breath. “A few hours. Enough.”
“Good. We have a great deal to cover.”
He pulls up a chair and we run through my to-do list.
“…and, finally, get a carpenter to fix the door.”
“Will do. Briefing at ten with the entire team. I’ll let them know,” Taylor says.
“Please.”
“Sawyer and Ryan are in their racks. I’m assuming they’re still asleep. Prescott is sifting through the CCTV from last night to find out how Hyde got into the building.”
“Good.”
“Sir,” he says, in a way that gets my immediate attention.
“Yes?”
“I’m grateful we came home last night. Maybe you have a sixth sense or something.”
I’m taken aback. “Taylor, I was just mad at my wife.”
His sudden smile is wry and world weary. “Happens to us all, sir.”
I nod, but his words are not reassuring; he’s divorced.
Don’t go there, Grey.
“Thank God Ana and Gail are safe,” I add, as I get up. I’m hungry for my breakfast.
“Yes, sir.” He follows me out of the study.
“I’ve made you an omelet,” Gail says to me, and she gives us both a huge smile.
Maybe Taylor and Gail will tie the knot.
Who knows?
Ignoring them, I take a seat at the kitchen counter, and once Taylor has left the room I ask Gail if Ana ate. “She did, Mr. Grey. An omelet, too.”
“Good.”
As if I’ve conjured her by mentioning her name, Ana appears in the doorway wearing her jacket.
“You’re going?” I ask in disbelief.
“To work? Yes, of course.” She moves closer. “Christian, we’ve hardly been back a week. I have to go to work.”
“But—” I rake my hand through my hair, feeling anxious.
What about yesterday? Hyde! The kidnapping!
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Gail leave the kitchen. “I know we have a great deal to talk about,” Ana continues. “Perhaps if you’ve calmed down, we can do it this evening.”
“Calmed down?” I whisper and I’m immediately incandescent again. This woman is pressing every single button I have this morning.
She flushes, embarrassed. “You know what I mean.”
“No, Anastasia, I don’t know what you mean.”
“I don’t want to fight. I was coming to ask you if I could take my car.”
“No. You can’t,” I snap.
“Okay,” she says, quietly.
And just like that all the wind is out of my sails, and I’m no longer mad, just tired. I was expecting a battle. “Prescott will accompany you.” My tone is softer.
“Okay,” she says, and she steps toward me again.
Ana. What are you doing? She leans up and kisses me, sweetly, at the corner of my mouth. As her lips press against my skin, I close my eyes, savoring her touch. I don’t deserve this.
I don’t deserve her.
“Don’t hate me,” she whispers.
I grab her hand. “I don’t hate you.” Ana, I could never hate you.
“You haven’t kissed me,” she whispers.
“I know.” But I want to.
Damn, Grey. Carpe diem.
Standing abruptly, I grasp her face between my hands and raise her mouth to mine. Her lips part in surprise and I pounce, pushing my tongue into her mouth, tasting and testing her.
She tastes of heaven, and better times and minty toothpaste.
Ana. I love you.
You. Just. Drive. Me. Crazy.
I release her before she can properly respond. I know she’ll never get to work if I don’t back away. I’m breathing harder. “Taylor will take you and Prescott to SIP.” I fight to recover my composure and dampen my desire.
Ana blinks at me, her breathing labored, too.
“Taylor!” I call.
“Sir.” Taylor is standing in the doorway.
“Tell Prescott Mrs. Grey is going to work. Can you drive them, please?”
“Certainly.” Taylor turns on his heel and disappears.
Feeling more myself, I look back at Ana. “If you could try to stay out of trouble today, I would appreciate it,” I mutter.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Her eyes shine with amusement, and it’s impossible not to respond.
“I’ll see you later, then,” I reply.
“Laters,” she whispers, and leaves with Taylor and Prescott in tow.
After breakfast I head back into my study and call Andrea. I tell her I’ll be working from home, as I wasn’t planning to be in the office anyway. She puts me through to Sam and we have a tedious discussion about “owning the message” with regard to Hyde’s break-in.
“No, we don’t, Sam, not in this instance.”
“But—” he protests.
“No buts. This is a police matter. All press inquiries about this incident to them. End of discussion.”
He sighs. Sam is such a publicity whore. “Very well, Mr. Grey.” He sounds sullen, but I don’t care. I hang up and call my dad to tell him about Hyde. We agree to keep up the security for the next week just in case.
“Will you tell Mom?”
“Yes, son. You take care.”
“Will do.”
I hang up and my phone buzzes with a text from Elliot.
ELLIOT