“I love you. I can't help it.”
Her gaze searched mine. “There's nothing else you're worried about?”
I knew exactly what she meant. She wanted to know if I was still worried about her and my father. I wasn't. I was worried he would find a way to compromise her safety. “Not about you. About him. I don't have enough information, and that concerns me.”
“He came at me once, and he failed. Actually, matter of fact, I have a lead on that.”
I lifted my brow. “What kind of lead?”
She kissed the tip of my nose. “Don't go getting cagey on me, but I started doing some research after your father handed me that bullshit file. I was looking for witnesses to find out if anyone paid them off or if anyone remembers something that maybe they didn't tell the authorities about back then.”
“That sounds like the kind of thing we should let my lawyer handle, doesn't it?”
“No, Bridge. Besides, I have a client in Windsor, and I'm just going to pop through and have a quick conversation with one of the witnesses while I’m there. I will have security with me. And the bonus is that I can't possibly be in anymore danger than I already am.”
“You recognize that doesn't set me at ease, right?”
She leaned forward again, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I know. But I have a good idea of something else that might ease your tension a little.” And then she sank to her knees.
Sixteen
Emma
When the helicopter dropped us off at London Lords the next morning, I reminded Bridge I wouldn’t be seeing him at midday. "Don't forget, I have an appointment in Windsor today, so I won't be available for lunch."
Before I could deal with our mysterious caller, I first wanted to see if I could ease some of Bridge’s concerns. I could see it yesterday when we were having lunch at his office and again when we’d returned to the mansion last night. He’d been off. Distant. At first, I was concerned that he was still worried he couldn't trust me, but the way he held me in bed was like he was afraid I was leaving.
So I was going to make the most of my Windsor trip, and I had every intention of following the rules for once.
He’d wanted to accompany me, but maybe that wasn’t the best course of action. He had that broody, intimidating thing going on, and it was hard to get answers that way.
I deliberately told him on the helicopter so that he wouldn't be able to immediately start asking me questions, but the moment we were in the car, the interrogation started.
"Who's the client again?"
"Antonia Mente. Standard corporate separation stuff. It's messy, so I'm going to meet with her. After that, I’ll follow up on my lead."
He frowned. "Antonia Mente. Someone I need to look up?"
"She's a client, Bridge. I do have to respect people's privacy.”
He scowled but let it go. I could see the tension in his jaw though, in the way the muscle ticked back and forth.
Once we were alone in the elevator, I turned to him. “You okay?”
“I'm fine.”
“You don't seem fine.” I tilted my head so I could meet his gaze. “Do you not trust me?”
His brow furrowed, and his dark gaze searched mine. “Is that what you're worried about? No. That's not what this is. I trust you. I'm just thrown for a loop. One I can't shake that easily.”
“I get it. And I'm sorry. But let me go and see what I can find out, okay? I know that's not how you would like things done, but I will have guards with me. I'll be fine.”
“What if you find something that makes me look bad?” His voice was soft, and he was still gazing into my eyes directly. He was telling me he was worried. Worried that this was bigger than us.
“Then I will see it for the bullshit that it is, okay? But we need something to go on. East and Telly haven't had any luck. If I can poke around and ask questions, I will. But I promise, nothing dangerous.”
He gave me a tight nod. “I know. Jacob and Tyler have strict instructions to stay on you like glue. But again, you're not what I'm worried about.”
I sighed. “Try not to worry all day, okay?”
He lifted a brow. “I'll do my best. Although, considering how tense I am, I wonder if there's anything you can help me do to alleviate that?”
I coughed a laugh. “You're incorrigible.”
His grin flashed, quickly giving me a rare peek at his dimple. “I mean, you helped so much in my office yesterday, and I haven't had my daily fix yet. Wanna change that situation?”
I rolled my eyes. “You're not distracting me with sex this morning. I have to get on the road, and first I need to check on a couple of things at the office. How about I promise to help you alleviate all the tension when I get back. I'm sure I'll be pretty tense myself.” I rubbed my neck. “I can feel it already in my neck and my back.”
“Your pussy and your crack? Are all those places you want me to kiss you when you're back?”
“Mmm. It's a good place to start.”
Bridge snorted a laugh. “Duly noted.”
His mood was lighter, and I slid my hand into his as the elevator dinged and deposited us into the London Lords lobby. We went hand in hand to the car, but I could feel his tension building again the closer we got to Middleton Communications.
We stopped in front of my building, and as usual, he stepped out of the car, walked around to open the door on my side, and reached a hand in to help me up.
Every touch from him was like a stroke over my clit, and it was next to impossible to hide it. With a deep breath, I smiled up at him and then took his hand. His thumb immediately flipped my hand over and pressed the inside of my wrist, and my breath hitched. “Why are you deliberately trying to turn me on?”
He smirked. “So you’ll hurry up and come back to me.”
"I wish we had privacy and didn't have to put on a show. Then we'd see who had the upper hand."
“That would be me, sweetheart. Always me.”
“I just hate that some of this show is for him.”
"Believe me, I know. But if he's watching, and you and I both know that he is, he expects me to be possessive with you, to stake my claim." He eased closer, and the next thing I knew, his hands bracketed me on either side of the car. "There are a lot of things he expects. So for now, there are some things that need to be public. But like I promised, there will be several things tonight that will be very, very private."
My skin heated, and I swallowed hard. "You're killing me, Bridge. Please, just give me a quick kiss and be gone."
His thumb dusted over my cheek, and heat and color steamed the path where he touched my skin. And then at my jaw, he clamped just a little bit harder. All I could do was stare at him wide-eyed.
He gave me a squeeze. Not gentle, but not painful or harsh either. Then he just pulled me forward, and when he slanted his lips over mine, there was no room for air, no room for thought. All of that disappeared, replaced by an onslaught of need. He eased one hand down, and the other pressed at my neck ever so slightly with his thumb over my clavicle. And then he eased his whole hand up under my jaw and angled it just so. His tongue was sweet and sure.