Owned by Fate (Serve #1)(23)

Her inhale sounded more like a gasp. “Yes, you could say I value honesty.”

“We have that in common, then.” He smoothed his hand up the bodice of her dress, giving her breasts a slow squeeze. “Be honest about what you want tonight.”

For a beat, she remained silent, then spoke in a rush. “I want to walk out of here knowing I don’t ever have to come back. I want everything on the table.” She implored him with her eyes. “Tomorrow morning, I don’t want to second-guess or wonder if…if I’d just let go a little more, if I could have crushed this draw you have on me. I want to end it tonight, leaving no room for doubt.”

Her words hit him like a blow. “You’re hoping you hate it. What I do to you.” He laughed under his breath. “It would solve everything, wouldn’t it? You could write your article however you want. Vote against the merger and still sleep at night. ”

“Yes.”

Jonah’s mouth stamped down over hers, and he thrust his tongue deep to capture her moan. She sagged a little, and he jerked her back upright with a sound of frustration. “You won’t hate it.” He drew from her lips once more, tugging her bottom lip between his teeth. “I won’t let you.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she whispered.

Her practically inaudible statement brought him up short, but before he could question her, the elevator door rolled open. Jonah turned, expecting to see the entry hall of his apartment. Instead, a harried-looking young man stood there, wide eyes shooting back and forth between him and Caroline. Jonah dragged Caroline behind him and took a menacing step forward.

When her shaking fingers curled into the back of his shirt, he almost lost what little control he had over his rage. “Who. The f*ck. Are you?”

The young man threw up his hands. “Winston sent me to drop off the deed…and visitation info? I’m his assistant. The messenger?” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Your manager said he had a s-situation to handle downstairs…said to come up and leave the package outside your door. That’s all I did. I swear.”

A quick glance behind the messenger confirmed his story. The yellow manila envelope sat propped against the door to his apartment, Winston’s firm’s seal stamped in the upper right-hand corner. Still, his anger only cooled marginally. His manager had seriously breached protocol, and it would have to be addressed, possibly costing the man his job. He reached behind his back and took hold of Caroline’s hand, leading her out of the elevator close to his side. “Get out of here.”

The messenger didn’t need to be told twice. He practically dove into the elevator to escape Jonah, wisely keeping his gaze anywhere but on Caroline. When they were alone again, silence reigned. Jonah scooped up the package and unlocked the front door. He could feel her inquisitive gaze on him as she followed him inside.

“Go ahead. I know you’re dying to ask.”

She pushed her hair over her shoulder, drawing his gaze to the sensual slope of her neck and shoulders. “Deed? Visitation?”

Part of him wanted to make up some bullshit lie. Perhaps the documents pertained to something with which he’d agreed to help a friend…or a million other excuses he could make on the spot in order to keep his secret hidden. A secret he’d shared with exactly no one apart from his lawyer. But God, a larger part of him was tired of shouldering the burden alone. Caroline had already made up her mind. One night would be the sum total of their relationship, so would it be wrong to unburden himself just this once? To let it off his chest?

Jonah tapped the envelope against his thigh as he considered her. She hadn’t even glanced away from him once to glimpse her surroundings. Odd. Most women, when brought here, ran straight for the glass wall overlooking the Hudson and most of Midtown. Caroline, on the other hand, seemed completely focused on him. It affected him, that intense concentration. Perhaps it was merely her curious nature, rather than any actual interest in him as a person, but at that moment, the possibility of confessing all became irresistible.

“My new apartment in Brooklyn.” He shook the folder. “Deed’s in here.”

She nodded once. “Are you moving?”

“No.” Jonah took a few steps into the living room to his sideboard and poured two tumblers of whiskey to distract himself. “It’s not for me necessarily. More of an attempt at respectability.”

“I don’t understand.”

Jonah handed Caroline a tumbler, watched as she took a sip of the gold liquid. “I found out six months ago that I have a daughter. Her mother won’t agree to visitation for reasons that should be obvious, especially to you. I bought the apartment in an attempt to change her mind.” He saluted her with his drink. “Sort of a neutral meeting place where she won’t be traumatized for life by my debauchery.”

Caroline appeared frozen as she absorbed his speech. “How old is she?”

“Eight. Her name is Gabriela. Gabby for short.” He cleared his throat to extricate the uncomfortable feeling. “Although since we’ve never met, I doubt I’ve reached nickname status.”

She looked for a place to set down her drink but gave up and drank it instead. “How did you not know about her?”

“Her mother and I only spent one night together. I shipped out with the Navy the next morning none the wiser. You know, that old story.”