Roommate with the CEO

after Nick had left, her heart still

roommate anymore.

her to be cautious, to set boundaries. But the look in Nick's eyes, that e

e counter now forgotten. Her thoughts were a blur-of mystery me

orning, Emily arrived at the bookstore early. Kendra was already there,

asked, not bother

nd the counter. "As okay as someone

. "Welcome to

eak smile. "Is th

nswered everything. "Even if it's just roommate territory, people

omer questions, but the tension followed her like a shadow. She felt the eyes-people watch

nough to spill a tray of

muttered, grabb

led her. "You alwa

leaning against the doorframe, his

like that," she scol

ing up the cups with quiet effic

The shadows under his eyes were darke

u doing here

r. "And giving the security team a break. They

"Great. I've official

re not a liability. But you are in the midd

in the middle of?" she

is pocket and pulled out a folded p

iny, taken from what looked like a street camera. Two men in

ned. "The man I'm talking to? His name's

ed up. "Us

ns. We tried to handle it quietly, but he didn't go do

llowed. "

money and power are involved. Delaney disappeared before the i

"You think he's the o

venge. And he's not above

of just how deep the rabbit hole went. "So thi

y I was trying to keep my distance. Bu

voice soft. "You thin

already is,"

an down h

m, unable to settle. Every noise outside the window made her

m his eyes. He wore a loose T-shirt and sweatpants, the casua

ay?" he

l like I'm living in a mov

f-smile. "Welco

"Why me, Nick? Why did you choose me as your roommate?

tching between them. For a moment

aper. All fake. You were the only one who didn't pretend to be something you weren't. You

d. "That's i

steady. "That-and you made me

The vulnerability in his vo

too long, the space between t

eached out gently, brushing a

an you can handle," he said. "But I al

raced. "What

admitted. "But I

her cheek, and her skin

n-he ki

asn't ready to admit she wanted. She leaned into it, her fingers tangling in his shir

apart, the world felt d

softly, breathless.

ad, cutting him of

spread acro

s between roommates, friends, and something more had blurred co

blanket draped over both of them, Emi

t's going to happ

ed. "But I know I'll pro

m of danger. But in that moment, Emily fel

sometimes, in a world full of secrets and threats, love-no