Anger rolled off him in palpable waves now, but I was past caring.

“One night when we were in Paris, she came to my hotel room and tried to seduce me,” I continued. “Once I realized what was happening, because of our friendship, I put her off. For the past month, I’ve continued to put her off because I didn’t want to cause a rift. Not between me and you, or you and Evie. But now, shit’s getting real. I don’t just want to sleep with her. I want to wake up with her, and spend the day with her, and share my life with her.”

Cullen’s face was still stony, but his eyes narrowed a little as he listened intently.

“She’s the only person of the opposite sex besides Pam who gets me. She makes me laugh, and she’s so smart and caring.” I let out a low laugh. “Here I am telling you, but you already know all this. Point is, it took me this long to realize that she’s all that and more. Now, I know I haven’t always been a relationship guy, but I swear that if you give us your blessing, I will never hurt her. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, Cullen.”

He leaned his palm against the desk and cocked his head. “Have you thought about what happens if it doesn’t work out, Smith? Then what?”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take if she is. But honestly, man?” I shook my head slowly. “This is it for me. She’s the one. So if she’ll have me, I’m going to devote everything I’ve got to making sure it does work out. So I’m asking this one time. Can we have your blessing?”

Silence stretched for so long, my hopes started to fall, but then he spoke.

“And if I say no?”

This wasn’t a question I wanted to answer, but I was through lying.

“If I have anything to say about it, we’re going to do it anyway. That’s how much I care. But I know it would go a long way to making your sister happy if you said yes.”

Apparently, despite my reservations, that was the right response.

Cullen shot me a bitter half smile. “All I ever wanted was for her to be happy. Maybe I didn’t show it the right way sometimes, but that’s the truth. So, yeah.” He pushed himself to stand and then made his way around his desk. “You have my blessing. But if you hurt her? You’re also going to have my foot so far up your ass, people will think you’re a boot, understood?”

Some of the ice in my stomach started to melt, and I scrubbed a hand over my jaw in relief. Now hardly seemed like the time to remind him I’d whipped his ass last time we’d sparred, boxing at the gym, so I managed to hold it in.

“Yup, got it,” I said with a nod as I stood.

I could tell he was still pissed that I’d hidden it from him, and who could blame him? But as I walked out the door, he called after me.

“Jesus, Smith. Shut the fucking door behind you. What, were you raised by wolves?”

At that, I knew everything would be okay. It might take a little time, but our friendship would survive this.

Now, all I had to do was convince Evie of that.

• • •

I made my way to her apartment, hoping like hell she was home since I had no idea why she wasn’t at work today either. Once I got there, I paused for a second outside. Low sobs were muffled by the oak door, making my pulse pound double-time.

I rapped hard once and then pushed it open without waiting for a reply.

“Evie?” I let myself inside and headed for the living room.

She was facedown on the couch, her face buried in her arms, but she startled and sat up when she heard my voice.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Smith? I th-thought you weren’t going in today,” she murmured, swiping a hand over her tear-streaked cheeks with a sniffle. “I told Cullen I wasn’t feeling well.”

My heart ached at seeing her so upset, and I approached the couch and then knelt beside her.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, taking one of her icy hands in mine and squeezing. It was shitty, but while part of me felt terrible that she was sad, another part of me feared she was crying because she wanted to break things off with me and didn’t know how.

“Everything is messed up now. You were too uncomfortable to come to work, and Cullen is furious with me. I was a wreck this morning, wondering where you were.” She shook her head miserably. “I wanted you so much, I ignored the fact that us sleeping together would ruin everything. I couldn’t sit in the office for another minute today. I’m sure Cullen is pitching a fit right now.”

Hot tears splashed on my wrist, and I yanked her up from the couch and into my arms as I stood.

“Shh, stop. Nothing is ruined. In fact, everything is great. Or it can be, if you let it,” I murmured, rubbing her back in slow, comforting circles.

She pulled back to gaze up at me and sucked in a shuddering breath. “How can you say that? I can’t stop thinking about you, and I doubt that’s going to change. So even if Cullen wasn’t mad at us both, working side by side will be next to impossible. At least, for me it will. Plus—”

I let out a frustrated growl and crushed my mouth to hers. Fuck, I was sick of talking. Talking was what had us in this mess in the first place. Had we both kept quiet, we’d have consummated our relationship that very first night and probably realized that neither of us would ever have it so good again.

All that time wasted played through my head, and I was done. She stiffened in surprise but then let out a soft moan and circled my neck with her arms.