Read Every Breath You Take (Oasis Book 1) for Free Online

She settled it at the edge of my desk and pulled out her phone. “Morning messages?”
    “Efficient,” I said with a smile. “I like it.”
    “It’s how Finn does things. Get off to a quick start with all the information. Let me know if I’m going too fast.”
    I slid a notebook over and snatched a pen from the holder. “Ready when you are.”
    Leslie went through a short list, a contractor asking for a meeting Finn thought I should sit in on, security with an issue about the keys in Housing, a fundraiser update and a few smaller items.
    “Also, Mr. Moore would like to see you when you’re ready. I can let him know if you’d like to meet now or you can buzz me when it works for you.”
    “I’ll buzz you,” I said. “Thanks.”
    I would eat breakfast first. I’d update my list since it was scrawled on the small book of paper from my apartment. A tablet, that’s what I needed. Along with a new phone.
    As I sipped my coffee, I made a list of items to discuss with Finn as well as a breakdown of the tasks I was most concerned about.
    “I don’t have to look to see that’s a banana nut muffin,” a deep voice said from the doorway.
    I jerked in my chair, eyes meeting Finn’s. “You shouldn’t scare people like that,” I said, voice breathless.
    His face went immediately contrite. He stepped into the room. “I’m sorry, I thought you heard me.”
    “It’s fine.” I pushed through my surprise–and irritation at being startled so easily–to give him a smile. “Good morning.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yes. Are you okay?”
    He didn’t smile. “You look tired. And you don’t usually scare that easily.”
    “I wasn’t scared,” I said, steel in my voice. “Can I help you with something?”
    Instead of taking the seat across from me, he folded his arms and leaned his shoulder against the door frame. “I wanted to make sure you’re getting settled in. I didn’t see you come in.”
    I sipped my coffee and ordered myself to calm down. Finn had no idea what had gone on, and even though he was an ass and we hadn’t parted on the best of terms, he had nothing to do with Mark.
    “I’m getting settled in just fine, thanks.”
    “How’d the apartment work out?” He smiled and some of the tension in my shoulders released. “You ready to switch to the penthouse yet?”
    I laughed. “Not yet. I met my neighbor. Very friendly, and–”
    “And?” he asked when I didn’t continue.
    “It’s not business related.” I pulled my pad of paper in front of me. “I have a few things I’d like to go over–”
    “Wait.”
    I stopped, my mouth open mid-sentence. “What?”
    Finn glanced out to the hallway and then closed the door, making me tense in my seat.
    “What are you doing?” I asked.
    “Just listen for a second.” He sat in the chair across from me and leaned in, elbows resting on the desk. “I don’t want to dodge this.”
    I rested against the back of my seat, tapping the pen on my palm in an effort to remain nonchalant. 
    “Dodge what?”
    His jaw clenched. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. We have a history.”
    I rolled the chair back and stood, hating that I felt trapped at my own desk. “This is a job, Finn.” Dammit. “Mr. Moore.”
    He stood as well, hands pressed flat on the desk. “I want you to call me Finn. I don’t wan–Fuck.”
    I walked to the window, all too familiar with the simmer of frustration in his voice–or any man’s voice. So I got out of the way. It was a preemptive move. Instinctual. One left over from my days with Mark. Trying to stop the anger before it boiled to the surface. Before it traveled to his fists and the bruises started.
    But it hadn’t always been physical. In fact, most the time, the marks were internal. Emotional.
    “Charlotte,” Finn said.
    I took a calming breath, finding a focal point outside the window. I heard Finn move a step in my direction.
    “Charlotte, please,” he said, the snap in his voice enough to make me