Lust, Love And The Investigator

CH4

Adeline’s POV

He couldn’t have seen me come out of that building, right? It’s literally impossible. He had no idea where I had gone earlier, and I had already informed one of the other receptionists to cover for me.

Jason never asks about me in the office. I thought he would barely realize my absence.

So what is he doing here?

I turn around slowly, trying to keep my voice calm and measured. It doesn’t matter that SECRETS is right behind me.

“Jason?”

He rolls his eyes. “Who else will call you that way in the middle of the road?”

“I thought…”

“Get in, Adeline.”

There is something sharp in his tone, something that makes my eyes stray back to the imposing glass building. And when I bring my gaze back to him, I find him watching, with a smile that doesn’t go anywhere near his eyes.

The driver behind him honks impatiently, the blast flaring up my migraine.

“Adeline?”

“I don’t…Did I do something wrong?”

“Come on,” he drawls. “You left before I got up this morning. And I thought we could have an early lunch together. You are free, right?”

My lips move, but he beats me to it.

“You are. I confirmed with Miss Taylor back at the office. Get in then.”

The driver’s hand hooks on the handle, making an attempt to get out from behind the wheel to help me with the door. But Jason stops him with a subtle shake of his head.

“Stay put, Jeremiah,” he murmurs, reaching for the door himself. “I still know how to get my wife into my car.”

I don’t know what is going on. I can barely comprehend it as Jason gets out of the car and steps aside, waiting for me to get in. From the corner of my eye, I see the doors to the glass building open.

Isaiah steps out into the open, the light drizzle creating patterns on his nude coat. His eyes meet mine at the same time as Jason wraps a hand around my waist, pulling me into his arms.

“God, how long has it been since I held you this close?” he whispers. “I missed you.”

By the time Jason pulls away, and my eyes return to the glass building, I no longer find Isaiah there. He seems to have vanished into thin air, just like he did all those years ago.

I should never have doubted Jason. I shouldn’t have hired SECRETS. There must have been a misunderstanding, because he is right here, with me.

He is the one who has never left.

The moment I get into the car, and Jason slides in beside me, I note something different about it. The car smells faintly of Jason’s cologne, but that isn’t what has me narrowing my eyes. It is the other scent. Subtle, floral…a perfume that isn’t mine.

“Why were you here?” Jason asks casually as the driver makes a turn. “Miss Taylor said you had a personal business. I only stumbled upon you by chance.”

My stomach does a flip, but I give nothing away, angling my head in his direction. “What do you mean here?”

I am buying myself time to think about something. I never thought he would ask about me.

“At this part of the town,” he clarifies. It is strange that my husband is speaking to me without looking at his phone. I don’t know if I like the attention. I don’t even know what I like.

I guess I should be elated about this. It is all I have wanted for the longest time, for me to see the love that shone bright in his eyes four years ago, for him to set up random dates and do the sweetest things.

So why does this feel so wrong?

“You never come to this side,” he continues, oblivious to the questions and uneasiness coursing through me. “Did a new spa open?”

“Yeah,” I reply, a little too fast. “I … I thought I’d get some tension off my shoulders before I head to work. I hope I didn’t make anything harder at the office?”

Jason shakes his head. “You have been working hard. You needed the break.”

My head jerks back in surprise. He said something entirely different last night. Maybe this is his way of apologizing, right? Maybe he really had a meeting last night, and he was all cranky because of his workload.

Maybe I have been reading it all wrong.

At the restaurant, Jason is the most charming he has ever been. Perhaps, a tad too charming. He orders my favorite wine, and it surprises me that he still remembers when he forgot our last wedding anniversary.

He compliments my dress, the same one he once said made me look too fat. He even takes my hand in his across the table, smiling up at me. His fingers caress mine slowly, and I begin to relax.

“I’ve missed this,” he breathes, his thumb making circles around my knuckles. “Just you and me, without the pressure of the company.”

“Me too,” I grin, peace finally reaching me. “You have no idea how long I have been trying to get us to do this.”

“I’m sorry about last night.” Jason brings my hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “I shouldn’t have dismissed you like that.”

“I understand,” I whisper, nodding. “You were just tired, and I made it even worse.”

For a moment, I let myself believe it, let myself swim in the waters. I accept that this version of Jason is real. Maybe all this time, I have just been paranoid, allowing my best friend, Mallory, to make me see something that doesn’t exist.

Maybe the bad decision is going to Isaiah’s office. I would have ruined this all if Jason had found out an hour ago.

My marriage isn’t falling apart. Only my mind is.

Making a mental note to cancel the hire with SECRETS and putting Isaiah Reed behind me, where he belongs, I smile at my husband as he gets on his feet, murmuring something about seeing to the bill.

But just then, my phone beeps.

A message from an unknown number

“You left something behind."