“Pierce,” I moan, feeling myself pulse around him.

“Oh, Lila. I could stay with you like this for the rest of my life and never get bored of you.”

He rolls his hips, and I completely fall apart around him. He completely loses himself inside of me.

He holds me close for God knows how long after. I hear him breathing. I feel his heart beating. “I love you, Lila. What ever happens after this, I want you to remember that.”

I freeze, unsure of what to say … of what I feel. One thing is for sure: when I feel unsteady, he rights my world again.

“I’m falling for you,” I whisper, kissing the base of his neck.

“I can accept that.” He carries me to the bed where I stay the rest of the night, wrapped tightly in his arms. Sleep eludes me, but contentment keeps me warm.

WHEN I WAKE UP, the bed is cold and bright sunlight shines through the window blinds. I reach behind me, feeling nothing but an empty bed.

I listen for a sound—water running, footsteps—but I hear nothing. Curious, I rub my eyes then open them slowly to guard them against the morning light. My dress lies against the back of the chair where I left it last night, but all signs of Pierce are gone.

Moving my eyes to the clock, I’m surprised that it’s past nine. I throw the covers back and roll out of bed. Pierce is with Wade, probably telling him that we’re off the project, and I can’t let him do that. We’ve both worked too hard to get here.

In less than ten minutes, my hair is pulled back, my teeth brushed and a belted royal blue dress covers my skin. Not the way I’d usually approach work when I’m in the middle of a high stakes business deal¸ but all that time and effort won’t mean anything if Pierce gets his way.

I grab my mood board and make my way out to the busy street. With no time to waste, I flag down my own cab, ignoring two bellboys who repeatedly ask if I need help.

I open the door to the first little yellow car that stops and slide onto the torn leather seat. “Where to, miss?”

I ramble off the address, focusing my attention out the window. The morning traffic is easier to navigate now than it would have been an hour ago. If luck is on my side, I’ll get there before the damage is done. I changed my life and dreams for a man once, and I promised myself I would never do it again. I want to think I’m stronger than my emotions … that my mind can overwrite anything my heart feels.

My theory is about to be tested.

I see Wade’s high-rise up ahead, but traffic has us locked up. “I can walk from here.”

“It’s not safe to cross in this—” he starts, but I cut him off by handing him a rolled up twenty; double what I owe him.

“Thank you,” I mutter, opening the door closest to the sidewalk. Traffic is a mess. Horns honk. Two cab drivers yell at each other out their windows. I carefully weave my way between cars, making sure I’m seen along the way. By the time my heels touch down on the other side of the street, my heart’s beating so fast, I feel like I might pass out.

But there’s no time for that.

Without pause, I open the door to Wade’s building, sprinting past the woman who sits at the front desk, straight to the elevator. The wait for the doors to open is agonizingly long. All I can do is pray that I’m not too late. Pray that Pierce hasn’t done something that can’t be undone.

The door opens and closes with only me inside. I will it not to stop until we reach the floor with the conference room I’ve come to know so well.

I run out as soon as the door opens. My heart pounds faster as I cross through the waiting area, and this time, I don’t get past the receptionist without her calling for me to come back. I block her out, continuing down the long hall toward the conference room I loathe. Nothing good ever happens in there.

My fingers turn the knob just as I hear the receptionist’s heels coming closer. I sprint inside before it’s too late. My eyes lock on Pierce first. He looks annoyed, angry even. And Wade just smiles as if he just won the lottery. It’s a good thing they’re sitting on opposite sides of the table.

“I’m sorry. I tried to stop her!” the receptionist yells as she steps in the room.

Wade lifts his hand. “It’s okay. Ms. Fields is welcome to join our little meeting. Isn’t that right, Stanley?”

Pierce scowls, but I ignore him, placing my things on the table.

The receptionist retreats, probably just as afraid to be in here as I am. “Okay, let me know if you need anything.”

Wade leans forward in his seat. “I was hoping I’d get to see you one more time before you two skip town. It’s too bad you’re pulling yourselves off the project. I was looking forward to working with you.”

His gaze skims my breasts as he talks, but I have more important things to worry about. “Actually, I have no intention of stepping down as the designer for this project. I hope you’ll keep me on even if Pierce decides not to continue.” I pause, glancing over at Pierce. His jaw ticks back and forth, and there’s probably nothing more he’d rather do right now than drag me out of this room and out of this town. “I worked hard on this. It’s all I’ve done the past few months.”

Pierce rises from his seat, coming to stand in front of me. His legs are planted wide, arms crossed over his broad chest, blocking Wade out of my view. “It’s a done deal. There will be other projects.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ll build a hotel for you myself if I have to,” he whispers.

Seeing the wounded look on his face almost makes me want to give in, but then Blake wins. Wade wins. “I’m in this with or without you.”

“We’re a package deal, Lila. He’s not keeping you if I pull my half of the funding.”

“That’s not true,” Wade interrupts. “Contrary to what you might think, your money didn’t buy her a position. Ms. Fields is talent with or without you.”

Pierce’s hands curl into fists. “I wasn’t inferring that I bought her anything Wade. I won’t let her stay on this project without me because I don’t trust you or that other bastard.”

“That’s a shame. Aren’t new relationships supposed to be based on trust?”

Wade’s attitude is almost enough to make me change my mind. But then again, I’m better than that … than him.

“Our relationship is none of your business.” He turns to Wade giving me a second to catch my breath. “Give us a couple minutes, okay? When I’m ready to put up with you again, I’ll let you know.”

“Have you forgotten you’re in my conference room?”

Pierce steps forward. He’s got a few inches on Wade, but Wade isn’t fazed. “Don’t test me any more than you already have this morning. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings to rearrange your face, and I happen to know you’re quite fond of your face and the ego behind it.”

“My ego doesn’t give a fuck if you stay on this project or not. Remember that.” They stare each other down for a few seconds before Wade disappears out the door, slamming it hard enough to shake the artwork.

I stare at Pierce’s back, afraid to move, too afraid to speak. I’m being selfish by asking him to stay on this project. We have something so new—so fragile—and all he’s trying to do is protect it. I may end up ruining it all just to prove something to myself.

“Pierce,” I say quietly, wanting him to come back to me on his own terms.

He stays quiet, slowly tearing my heart in two.

“I can do this. I bet we’ll barely see him, and even if we do, I’ve moved on. He shouldn’t matter to you.”

He turns back around and grabs my arms, leaning in until we’re eye-level. “I saw the look in your eyes last night. He matters to you, Lila. He still matters to you. Damnit,” he seethes, gripping my arms a little tighter, not causing me pain but relaying his frustration. I’m choking on my own guilt.

I swallow, uncomfortably, searching for words. He’s right, mostly. Blake matters to me—what we had can’t be easily forgotten—but the man standing in front of me matters too. How do I get him to see that? “Do you remember what I said last night? That should mean something to you.”