“If you do me a solid and let me know when he leaves, I’ll talk your mother into pizza instead of meatloaf tonight.”
“Solid deal. Well played, old man.” I finished washing my hands while he blew me a kiss from the stairs and shrugged out of my lab coat, trying to make myself look presentable. Greg doesn’t dress to the nines, but he doesn’t do his side of the business looking like a nerd on career day, either. I grabbed the clipboard and went upstairs, checking over all the orders, and only two are supposed to be here today. I checked the first suite…empty.
I walked into suite three, already sensing someone in the room and saw the casket in my peripheral as I looked over the details on the order and continued walking down the aisle. “Johnston funeral?” I asked, not looking up from the paper.
“Think so. It’s only my second week.”
I stopped dead.
No…no fucking way.
My heart is having it the fuck out with my sternum. My arms feel loose. My face kinda feels hot, but also tingly. I’m scared to death to look up from this invoice. I dunno when I finally decided to throw in that towel. My eyes slowly took ina pair of fairly new black chucks, black slacks and a tucked in polo…two arms covered in tattoos, a shamrock under a pair of fiercely green eyes and ginger hair…
And a smile that hasn’t left my head for months.
“You look beautiful, Viper.”
I can’t speak. I’m trying, but…nothing is coming out. I don’t have a clue how long I stood there, staring at him in shock…until my legs started storming in his direction. Malek’s hands shot out of his pockets, blocking my clipboard as it went straight for that gorgeous, stupidface. It thwacked against his hands, his forearms, his shoulder, until my arm got tired and I was outta breath.
“What the hell are you doing here?!”
“Christ!”he giggled, infuriating the hell outta me. “What does it look like? I’m workin’! Why are you soangry? Is it that time of—”
“Don’t youdare…finish that sentence, Malek Byrne.” I dropped my arms and tried to catch my breath, and he lowered his warily. “What is this? I thought you swore to leave me alone? Thought a deal was a deal?”
“Ihaveleft you alone, Sev. Probly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I swear to God, I’m only here to make the delivery. No stolen truck, no hidden agenda. Filled out a tax form and everything.” I spotted the logo on his shirt and shook my head in disbelief.
“And out of all the jobs out there…you went for this one? You expect me to believe that?”
He reached up and patted the oak casket. “I actually didn’t. Did you know Simon is an accountant?”
“Huh?” I cocked my head. “No?”
“Yeah, we’re pretty chummy. He tried to take me under his wing and learn somethin’ that would steer me straight. It’s an honest livin’, but…I really fucking hate math.”
My palms started sweating and I tossed the clipboard onto one of the pews, crossing my arms. “You don’t even need money, Malek. Why do you need a job?”
“It’s not about the money. It’s aboutnottakin’ up old habits and gettin’ my mind off—things.” He leaned against the casket and pocketed his hands again.Me. Getting his mind off me.“I got a call to come in for an interview at a job I didn’t even apply for. They said my reference spoke really highly of me, and…that’s really it. I knew I’d eventually run into you, and the past two weeks have made my stomach hurt with fuckin’ nerves. But I swear…I’m not here to push you into anything, and if you’ve got somebody, I’d really rather not know. I’m trying to turn a leaf, but I’m still human, Seven. Some demons like to rattle the cage. It’s enough just to see you and know you’re well.”
Greg. Greg did this. Sly little bastard.
I swallowed, trying not to look at the eyes that were taking me in, and shifted on my feet. “How is Bridget?”
“Annoying. Nauseating. We sold the house. She took off with Declan and they’ve got a place together. She calls me every five minutes, bitching about the most recent pain in the ass thing he’s done.” I smiled to myself.
“What about you? Where are you staying if you sold the place?”
“I’ve got an apartment in Fort George.” I watched his eyes drop to the penny hanging around my neck and we both swallowed loudly, locking eyes. His jaw feathered, and he turned towards the casket, lifting the lid. “I just need you to look it over, match the order numbers and sign my approval slip for the boss man. I’ll get outta your pretty hair.”
I did my job…no—I didGreg’sfucking job—and he folded the slip in half. There’s so much I wanna say, but I can’t find a single word.
I miss you…
There’s never gonna be anybody else…
I made the wrong move…
…I love you too…
