Page 81 of Checkmate
“Oh, really?” She raised an eyebrow, her brain working a mile a minute, stumbling from one thought to the next.
“I know that tone,” he teased. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe you should come to our house for dinner. My parents should meet my business partner, after all.”
“You’re diabolical. And quite possibly trying to get me killed. I’m not sure Alex will appreciate me showing up.”
“I’m not sure Alex gets a say.”
Marcus was right. This was not a good idea, and she knew it. But now it was out there. She wanted so desperately for Marcus to be there.
Just like Josh, he’d protect her. Just like her father, he’d keep her calm.
Maybe that was why she found herself so connected to him. Because so many parts of him reminded her of people she already loved.
“You really want this Christmas to be memorable, huh?”
“Now that I’ve said it, I can’t imagine you not being there,” she admitted. “It’s not even about winding Alex up, really. Although that’s a welcome bonus.”
“Even if I get hit?” He chuckled.
“You won’t get hit, Marcus. I’ll put myself between you if it comes to that.”
Something flashed in Marcus’ eyes, the humour fast gone from his expression. “No, you won’t,” he said. It wasn’t a request. “Erica, under no circumstances are you to put yourself in danger.”
“Oh, come on. I don’t actually think he—”
“I don’t care,” he replied. “If Alex so much as looks at you with any visible anger, I will not be responsible for my actions.”
Erica swallowed at the intensity in his eyes and the resolute tone of his words. He was not playing around. There was a flutter in her chest at the thought of this man becoming her knight.
“You don’t need to protect me, Marcus,” she said. “That’s more than I can expect from a friend.”
“It’s the very least you should expect from a friend,” he replied. “And besides, that isn’t exactly the word I’d use.”
Suddenly, the mood in the car shifted. Tension cracked between them, pressing against her in a way that was suffocating.
It wasn’t so much what he said, but more what he didn’t.
She knew as well as he did that friendship was far too tame a word to describe their relationship. Forbidden feelings were bubbling beneath the surface, waiting for a crack so they could burst through and ruin the peace.
Erica wanted so desperately to give in to those feelings. To let herself feel everything she was holding back. But once they opened Pandora’s box, there was no going back, and she wasn’t ready to unleash what she knew she couldn’t tame.
And yet, despite herself, she could feel herself swaying towards Marcus, closing the gap between them.
“What word would you use?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He inched closer until she could feel his breath fall against her lips. Her mouth felt dry, and her heart threatened to beat through her chest. She didn’t dare move, barely dared to breathe.
Marcus pressed his forehead against hers, releasing a slow breath before chuckling.
“Business partners, of course,” he murmured.
“Of course,” she repeated, taking his hand and enjoying the moment, and words left unspoken.
It seemed she wasn’t the only one afraid to open that box.
Chapter 21
