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The Intern- Enemies To lovers 52
“Don’t.” He grabbed my face, holding me steady. “You know this isn’t going to be easy. There are so many circumstances that make our situation different.”He always knew what I was thinking.I said quietly, “I know.”“Just give this time.”They weren’t the words I’d wanted to hear.They weren’t the words that would fill my heart.They weren’t the words that would make me pull him toward me, locking us together.“Can you do that?” he asked.I didn’t trust my voice—there was too much emotion pulsing through me—so I nodded.He brought me close and kissed me.His embrace didn’t have the same passion he’d given me before.Still, I was getting his lips, and I knew what that meant.As he pulled away, the Declan I was beginning to know so well returned. I could see him getting inside his own head, weighing the complications of our situation.Pushing me away.Any second, he would turn into a raging asshole.“I have to get back to work.” He scanned my eyes. “So do you.”The statement wasn’t as
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“Fucking jet lag,” Jenner said, tearing me from my thoughts, reminding me that I was in a plane since the only thing I could apparently focus on was Hannah. “It’s winning; my ass is toast. I need a nap.”He was sitting beside me and closing his laptop, stuffing it into his briefcase.“I don’t recommend flying to Australia, spending twelve hours there, and flying right back.” He yawned as he closed the top of the briefcase.“It sucks that you didn’t have time to do anything but work while you were there,” Hannah said.“Tell me about it,” he agreed. “Especially since Australia is one of my favorite places to visit.”“I feel that way about this trip to Jackson Hole,” I admitted. “I’ve wanted to visit this area for a while, but we’re just in and out with almost no time to do anything.”“Don’t laugh, guys, but I was really looking forward to going horseback riding.” Hannah had this dreamy expression on her face. “I had this whole plan to live out my Yellowstone fantasy and buy myself a cow
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If we had been alone without a flight attendant and Jenner in the back bedroom, my voice would have risen. I was doing everything in my goddamn power to keep it low, but the anger was certainly coming through.“I’ve treated you like an employee these past couple of days. Have I mentioned what happened between us? No. Have I hauled you into my office to fuck you? No, I haven’t done that either. So, what actions are you talking about?”“That’s the whole thing—you’ve done nothing. How do you think that makes me feel?”I’d told her to give this time. When I’d asked if she could do that, she’d nodded.Now, she was changing her opinion?“Hannah, this isn’t easy—”“You keep saying that.” She leaned forward in her seat, as though she were trying to get closer. “And you said to give this time.” When she paused, I swore she could see right into my thoughts. “But, Declan, why isn’t this easy? What the hell are you going to do with more time?” She moved the laptop to the seat next to her, her fre
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And, fuck, I was impressed.Walter processed her conclusion, allowing several seconds to pass before he said, “Is there a chance the neighboring owner will surprise us with more documents when we go to court? Can he provide more evidence, proof, whatever that he hasn’t already shown?”Hannah looked at me, waiting for approval. When I gave it to her, she replied, “Sure, that’s always a possibility. But my gut tells me that if the neighboring owner had more documentation, he would have provided it. No one wants to go to court and incur the expense of hiring an attorney unless they absolutely have to.”“She’s right,” I confirmed. “In addition, my team has scoured through all the available evidence, digging through fifty years’ worth of land ownership, deeds, and county records. I can’t imagine the neighboring owner has resources that are better than ours.”Walter exhaled loudly. “You know how these small towns work. It’s all whom you know, who can do you favors, who has more cattle, who
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The cowboy moved a pace closer to Hannah and set his hand on her shoulder.If I didn’t know better, I’d think the bastard was going to lean down and kiss her.But before his lips got anywhere near hers, I’d fly off this fucking stool and demolish his mouth.“Wouldn’t you agree with me, Jenner?”“Yes,” Jenner said, laughing. “I’m in full agreement.”I turned toward the guys. “What are you talking about?”Walter lifted his tumbler off the table and held it against his chest. “You.”“What about me?”Walter laughed. “Kids these days. They think us old folks are so out of the loop, except we see everything.” He nodded toward Jenner. “That one was no different, you know. He thought I was clueless, thought I had no idea what was happening between him and my daughter.”Jenner sighed. “Turns out, what happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas, especially if you’re sleeping in one of Walter’s hotels.” He smiled. “But, you know, us kids—as you call us—aren’t so blind either, Walter.”Walter’
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“Basically.”“Fuck, I’m not a dog, Jenner.”His brows rose. “You’re not?”I looked at Walter, and he laughed. “So, I might have a reputation when it comes to women but …” My thoughts were all over the place. I needed to reel this in, stay neutral, and not let a single emotion escape. “I respect you three far too much to play her.”But, goddamn it, isn’t that what I’ve been doing?Taking what I want and kicking her out.Not out of my office, but out of my fucking heart.“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation about my baby cousin,” Jenner said.“Jenner, I recall a similar conversation when you finally admitted to me that you loved my daughter. Do you think that was easy for me?”Was Walter really on my side?Never in a million fucking years had I thought that would happen.But more importantly, the things I was feeling for Hannah, was that love?Jesus, I couldn’t wrap my head around any of this.“I’m about to marry your daughter,” Jenner said. “Let’s keep you on this side of the
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Today had been a long day, starting with the early morning flight that caused nothing but tension between Declan and me, followed by meetings and food and lots of drinks.I just wanted sleep.I wanted to be able to shut off my brain and not see him every time I closed my eyes. Not hear his voice. Not question his uncertainty.But I had a continuous loop in my mind, thinking about what had gone wrong, replaying so many conversations, contemplating our future, analyzing his reactions. It was exhausting.I needed a Declan manual.I needed him to help me make sense of this.Of … us.But he wasn’t here.He wanted time.He wanted to figure out if I was worth the risk.That thought made me feel sick.I pulled the blanket up to my neck, and as I reached for my phone, there was a knock at the door. I had no idea who it could be. I hadn’t called housekeeping or ordered room service. I didn’t think Walter or Jenner would stop by, unannounced.Unless the knocker had mistakenly gone to the wrong r
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“This morning, I was being an asshole. I was being selfish. I was avoiding what I knew I needed to do because I didn’t know how to do it.” He exhaled. “I shouldn’t have acted that way. You didn’t deserve that, and I’m sorry.”“That doesn’t change what you said and what you meant.”His eyes dropped from mine for only a second, and I knew he was so far outside his comfort zone, this discussion so unlike anything he normally had.“You’re right; it doesn’t. But for what it’s worth, my feelings for you this morning were as strong as they are now.”I wanted to get to the bottom of this, so I said, “Something’s changed. What was it?”He shifted, and the brief movement sent me his cologne. “While you were at the bar with the cowboy, I was talking to Walter and Jenner about you.”“Really?”His expression softened. “Walter saw right through me. He immediately knew I had feelings for you, which came as a surprise to Jenner. What I learned from that chat was that Jenner had gone through the same
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