Submerged(Bound Together Book 1)(32)
I watch her for all of two seconds before I move. “I’ll be back,” I say and am out the door before anyone can question me about the scene that just played out. I’m sure they’ll have questions–especially Roman. Fuck, how did this get so jacked up? How did I not know he had a daughter? How is this just now coming to light? We’re the damned FBI for Christ’s sake. All questions that I need answered stat, but not more than my need to run after Carly.
She’s already out the front door, quicker than I realized she’d be. I finally reach her just as she hits the bottom step. When I grab her arm to halt her progress, it’s like lightning. A direct hit straight to my gut. My entire body comes alive for the first time in…Two. Long. Years. “Wait,” I finally say as I spin her around to face me.
Tears are gathered in the corners of her eyes, and I instantly want to beat the shit out of someone for putting them there. Even if that someone is me. We stare at each other for a few seconds–or a few minutes, I’m not sure. Time stands still as I take in the beauty before me. Even through their brilliance, her eyes look tired as if she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Those deep brown eyes search my face, and in this moment, it takes everything I have not to kiss those pouty lips. As if sensing where my mind is, her tongue snakes out and wets those lush lips, enticing me even further.
“I have to go,” she finally whispers, pulling my sight back up to her eyes. Confusion is written all over her, and I can completely understand why; at least on my account. Whatever just happened in there with her father is a huge piece of the puzzle that I wasn’t prepared for. Hell, this whole scenario isn’t something I was prepared for. Something definitely isn’t adding up, but I’m going to find out what’s going on.
“Wait. I need to speak with you,” I say without really thinking this whole thing through. I should turn my back, walk back into that house, and cut her out of my life completely. There’s no room for more loose ends in this case, and Carly is definitely a loose end. The problem is I don’t want to let her walk away. Not without saying what I need to say.
“I can’t right now. I’m late for an appointment,” she says before turning her back to me and walking towards the SUV in the driveway. I don’t buy it for a second. I can read people, and I can tell she’s lying.
Before she can slip inside, I gently grab her arm again to keep her from driving out of my life. “You look amazing,” I tell her honestly. Her body has changed in the past two years, that’s for sure. Fuller hips and much fuller tits. She filled out a black tank top to perfection that night, but now, she has curves that make my body stand up and beg for mercy.
“And you apparently work for my father,” she whispers, keeping her eyes cast downward.
“It’s complicated, Carly.”
The laugh she gives me is humorless. It’s empty and rips my guts out just a little bit more than they already are. I’m surprised I’m still standing at this point. “Complicated. Yeah, everything about this entire day, hell this entire week, has been complicated.”
“There are things that I want to tell you. Things that I want to say, but I can’t. I want to, but I just can’t say it right now, Carly.”
“Things. Sure. I have things to say too, but I think I’ll just stick with have a nice life, Blake.” She tries to turn and get inside the car. “If that’s even your real name.”
“You’re just going to have to trust me, Carly.”
“Trust you? I don’t even know you.”
Something pulls so deep inside me. I can’t let this woman go. I can’t tell her about the job, especially if she’s now right smack dab in the damn middle of a federal investigation, but I’ll be damned if I’m able to let go of her arm so she can drive away without knowing she’s going to be okay or where in the hell she’s going.
“I’ll come to you later tonight. I have to get back inside right now before they question this further than they already will. Please let me come see you. I can’t explain everything, but I’ll try to answer what questions you may have.”
I can tell she’s thinking about it, but I have no idea which way she’s leaning. She could easily tell me to get lost. Hell, I probably would. She’s already dealing with enough deception to keep her occupied for quite some time. I’m just praying to all things holy that she doesn’t. “I guess you could stop by tonight after ten.”