"You've ruined your chance of getting close to me," I say, feeling a cold shiver run through my body as his eyes roam over me."Ruin my chance? What do you mean? Are you sure?" he asks, his voice dripping with seduction. He reaches out, pulling me closer. His hand snakes around my waist, moving upward to cup one of my breasts, giving it a light squeeze. A moan escapes my lips, and I arch my back in response.My lips part instinctively, anticipating the taste of his mouth on mine. He brushes his fingers softly over my lips, his eyes locked onto mine. I'm a jumble of emotions, reeling in the ecstasy he’s igniting. Suddenly, he crashes his lips onto mine in a savage kiss, and I kiss him back forcefully, matching his wild passion.The intensity of the kiss overwhelms me, each touch and movement sending electric currents through my body. His hands explore my skin with a familiarity that both excites and frustrates me. As our kiss deepens, I find myself losing control, swept away by the she
I wake up feeling tired despite a full night's sleep. I wouldn’t say I slept well; my mind was in a jumble, consumed with thoughts of Josh and the possibility of him having a child.As I sit on the edge of the bed, I notice Josh stirring in his sleep. His hands reach out, searching for me even though his eyes remain closed. When he realizes I’m not there, he sits up in a panic, looking around. But before he can fully awaken, he bangs his head against the headboard."That's the aftermath of drinking too much, Josh," I say, from across the large bed. I hand him an Advil and a bottle of water. “Thank you,” he mutters, his eyes fixed on me. He takes Advil and water, I watch him as he swallows the pills and takes a sip of water. He seems to gather himself, his gaze never leaving me."Harper," he starts, his voice hoarse. "I know I owe you an explanation. Last night was... not my finest moment. I'm sorry, Harper. I know I should have told you," Josh says, regret evident in his voice as he
Josh's POV“Make love to me,” Harper says, and the words hit me like a shock. I jerk back, instinctively putting distance between us.“What the hell is wrong with you, Josh?” she snaps, her gaze darting around for something to cover herself. Confusion and hurt flood her eyes, and it tears me apart.If only she knew how desperately I wanted to make love to her. She haunts my thoughts and dreams, a constant presence that leaves me restless. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve woken up drenched in sweat, yearning for her. The desire is almost unbearable.It takes every ounce of self-control not to confront Greg and demand he stay away from my fiancée. Yesterday at the beach, I saw them laughing together, her grumpy state from before now seemingly forgotten. It tears me apart to watch her enjoy herself with him while she gives me the cold shoulder. I know she needs space, and I’m trying to respect that, but the sight of them together is nearly unbearable.But how do I protect her from
Harper's POVI say the words before I realize what I've said. I don't regret it because it reveals that he's hiding something from me, something he doesn't want me to know. How can I remember anything when my mind has completely shut down when it comes to Josh?As I step out of the room, I cover my mouth, stifling a cry that threatens to escape. I can’t let anyone see me like this. With that thought, I hurry down the hallway to the reception desk. I need to sort out what I should have done earlier—get a room since he hadn’t booked one for me.Reaching the desk, I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. The receptionist looks up with a polite smile.“Hi, good morning,” I say, glancing at her name tag. “Lisa.”“Good morning, ma'am. How may I assist you?” she responds brightly.“I need a room for the night,” I tell her.She nods. “Okay, just give me a moment,” she says, checking her computer for an available room.“Here you go,” she says, handing me a key card. “It’s on the first f
Josh's eyes are fixed on me, and I brace myself for whatever is coming next. The weight of our unspoken words hangs in the air, thick and suffocating.He finally speaks, his voice measured and controlled. "Harper, we need to talk about this morning."I swallow hard, trying to maintain my composure. "What about this morning?"His jaw clenches slightly, a sign of his frustration. "You know what I'm talking about. We can't keep dancing around the issue."I look down at my hands, unable to meet his gaze. "Josh, I just... I don't understand why you're keeping things from me. If we're going to work together, there needs to be transparency."He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple, Harper.My frustration boils over as I jab my finger into Josh's chest. "I can't keep going around in circles with you. We were engaged to be married, and then suddenly I had an accident. I lost my memory—of everything, but somehow only of you, Josh. Just you." I search his eyes, desperate
Josh's POVAfter Harper leaves the boardroom and drops the ring on the large table, fury surges through me. I’m at a loss for how to salvage the situation. She no longer wants me, and I know my actions, which led to her accident, have driven us apart. I want her to remember, to be able to make love to her again.I pick up the ring from the table, memories of our proposal filling my mind. The scene was beautiful, and her reaction, and her enthusiastic “yes” felt like the best moment of my life. How can I go back to those times?I need to talk to Axel. I know he’s the friend I can turn to for advice.I pull my phone from my pocket, swipe to unlock it, and dial Axel’s number. He doesn’t pick up on the first ring. Frustrated, I dial again, but he still doesn’t answer.“This better be the last time,” I mutter, dialing his number once more. On the third ring, he finally picks up.“Thank goodness! What the hell happened?” I ask, relief flooding my voice.“Chill, big man. It’s office hours; y
“Oh, don’t worry, Axel. When we meet in Seattle, I’ll fill you in,” I say, laughing. I know he’s eager to hear what I’m talking about.“Don’t you dare, Josh? Why would you say something like that and then leave me hanging?” he responds in his tone, a mix of playful and frustrated.I laugh loudly, feeling a rare moment of relief. It’s a welcome distraction from everything I’m dealing with regarding Harper.“Okay, okay,” I say between laughs. “I know you can’t wait.”“Spill it, man. What’s the news?” Axel presses.“Trisha’s son isn’t mine,” I say, watching as he falls silent. “Say something, man,” I urge, wondering if he knows something I don’t.“That’s a relief, Josh. I’m happy for you, man,” Axel finally responds.“That’s all you’ve got?” I ask, knowing Axel usually has more to say.He gives a nervous laugh. “What do you want me to say? It’s a relief, isn’t it?”“But there’s something about that child’s appearance,” I continue. “He looks like someone I know but I can’t place it. His e
Harper's POV I nod and say, "Hi Greg. Yes, I know him. He is my..." I trail off, unsure of what to call Josh.I can feel Josh's eyes on me, waiting to hear how I’ll address him. We're not engaged anymore; I need time to process the emotional rollercoaster he’s putting me through. "Yes, he’s my boss," I finally say.I glance at Josh and notice he's visibly angry, his frustration almost palpable.I make my way back to my room, feeling drained after the exhausting five-hour meeting. I drop my bag on the table and quickly change out of my work clothes, wanting nothing to disturb my sleep. It's a relief that I’ve checked out of Josh’s room.In just my panties and bra, I collapse onto the bed. As I settle in, Josh’s presence lingers in my mind, but fatigue overtakes me, and soon I drift off to sleep.I hear a knock on my door and groan loudly. Hastily, I throw on a bathrobe, tie it firmly, and make my way to the door. Unlocking it, I grasp the doorknob and open it. “Josh,” I whisper his n