Without a Hitch(7)

Relief floods my veins. “But you’re a better man than you’re allowing yourself to be, or you wouldn’t be so worried about the three thousand, four hundred and twenty-two employees.”

This is why I came to Blake. His family, other than during his father’s short reign as head of Kingston Corp, has always made sure the damage to unsuspecting employees is minimal. If they can’t immediately absorb them into another position, they give the best severance packages of any company I know.

“I want revenge, but I’m not a monster.”

“Sometimes, that’s a fine line. Hopefully, you’ll remember which side of it you belong on.” He shakes his head but closes the folder. “I take it you’re here for the night.”

“Ferry’s closed.” I chuckle. “It’ll be like summer camp all over again.”

“If you sit your naked ass on my pillow and fart, I will kill you this time.” Blake says it so gruffly, so straight-faced, that I nearly miss the mischief in his gaze.

“Did the curmudgeon make a joke?”

“Whatever, asshole. Go change. There’s a Celtics game on.”

“Why would I change?” I ask, glancing at my trousers and button-down. I straighten my vest, then unbutton it. It’s as relaxed as I get. “I hate basketball.”

Blake grins for the first time since I’ve been here. “I know.”

Clapping him on the shoulder, I can almost believe we’re not two broken, heartless souls floundering through life.

Almost.

I’m just standing up when an alarm goes off on my phone and I fall back into my seat like the weight of the world has knocked me on my ass. That sound coming from my phone only means one thing.

Someone is in my apartment. Again. With a low growl that has Blake leaning forward, I wake up my phone and open the security app.

The screen comes to life, and I flip room to room until I find the culprit in my bedroom.

“What the hell? Do you have cameras in your bedroom?”

I wish I didn’t have to, but when you live and work in a hotel, an abnormal number of people have access to everything.

“This is my new assistant-in-training, Kerry,” I say flatly. “She asked me out for drinks last week, fell into my lap yesterday, and now she’s poking around in my private suite.”

“Jesus, Loch. I knew you got hit on a lot, but this is…this is a lot.”

“It happens way too bloody often. Everyone wants something from me.”

“Growing up the way we did, it’s hard to know who wants you, and who just wants to use you.”

I grunt, unable to form words. That’s it exactly. It’s also why I thought Christine was different.

I’ve never been more wrong.

Closing out of the live feed, I call my private security at the hotel.

“Mr. Blaine,” Antonio answers on the first ring. “We’re aware of the, er, situation. It’s being taken care of as we speak. How would you like to proceed with HR?”

“Have Natalie meet you to conduct the exit interview. Now. I don’t want this woman allowed on my property again.”

“I’ll see to it. Have a goo—”

I hang up and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“It can be tough not to lose sight of what matters in this world, Loch. But not everyone is out to get you. Not everyone wants you for your bank account.”

Bile rises in my throat. “If someone like that exists, I haven’t met them yet.” The words are harsh and painful in my chest.

Understanding hits as I realize Blake had found his person, and she was taken from him. My cold heart cracks like a first thaw. But it’s just another reason to stick to my plan. Love and feelings fuck up everything.

“Where should I drop my stuff?”

“There’s a guest room down the hall to the left.”

I march past Blake but pause just before he’s out of sight. “Thank you,” I mutter sincerely. He might be the only one keeping my soul from burning to ash while I fight the devil.





C HAPTE R 3

TILLY

Present Day

“Y ou’ve got this, Tilly. You’ve been through all the training, even more than most, and I know you can handle it.” Colton’s praise has me fidgeting with the cocktail napkin on the bar just as a glass of wine is slid my way by an attractive bartender.

I want to roll my eyes at my boss. But I don’t, because he’s right. I’m just scared out of my mind.

Plus, Colton Westbrook is an amazing boss. He’s also Preston Westbrook’s brother, which makes him sort of my brother-in-law?

“I know,” I say instead, staring into the FaceTime screen of my MacBook Pro. It was a graduation present from my sister Emory and Preston a few years ago. It’s probably still the most expensive thing I own.

“What are your biggest concerns, Till?”

After I finished an internship with The Westbrook Group, Colton became my boss and I fell in love with marketing and PR. I’m getting to experience everything firsthand, but sometimes I wonder if he’s placing too much trust in me.

“Ah, that I’m going to blow it? How much money will you lose if you don’t win this bid?”

He laughs. It’s light and fun, much like the man himself. I know everyone in the office considers him a practical joker, but I see the work he does. I did a short stint with each Westbrook brother during my internship, and I can confidently say Colton puts in more hours on a regular basis than any of his brothers.