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

accepted.”
    “Just like that?”
    “Just like that.”
    He rubbed his jaw. “Good.”
    I grabbed my pen again. “Ready to work?”
    “Just one more thing,” Finn said.
    “What’s that?”
    “I want to try again.”
    The pen dropped on the pad of paper. “What?”
    He reached out, then seemed to think better of it. “I want us. Again. I want what we had before–”
    “You can’t have that.”
    “Better. I want better than we had before. Charlotte–”
    “Mr. Moore. We’re at work. This is a completely inappropriate conversation.”
    I said it even as my heart raced out of control. I knew it was stupid, but I had let myself get drawn into his gaze for a moment. I had let myself soften because of the vulnerability in his eyes. In his whole posture. Finn had changed. He had a softer side now, and it was what I’d wished for when we were dating.
    But it was too late.
    “We’re going to talk about this,” Finn said, voice low.
    “We’re in my office. We have a job to do. If you can’t respect that, we can’t work together.”
    He clasped his hands together and nodded. I half expected him to stand and say, “Okay, then. We can’t work together.”
    But he just reclined in his chair. “Okay, work and work.” Which meant he wasn’t finished, but he’d play by my rules for now. “What did you need to discuss?”
    “An assistant.”
    “Right. I was thinking Janet from billing because–”
    “No, I had a different idea. Tucker.”
    Finn’s forehead wrinkled. “Tucker Brooks?”
    “Yes. He mentioned he was in between jobs now.”
    “I was planning on keeping him on for tech support, and we have a lot more to do on the website. What made you think of him?”
    “We ran into each other yesterday. If he’s available, I’d like to speak with him.”
    Finn’s jaw shifted. I tried to read what was going on there, but I hadn’t gotten used to this new Finn yet and I had no idea what he was thinking.
    After a moment, he stood. “Good. I’ll ask Leslie to get him up here. Let’s start there and then we’ll meet again later once you’ve got that in order.”
    He opened the door and strolled from the office. I blew out a breath. I hadn’t expected this morning. I hadn’t expected to get the closure I’d been waiting for these last six years. And I’d gotten it.
    But my heart still wouldn’t settle because that wasn’t it for Finn. He wanted a second chance, and I knew from experience, Finn was very good at getting what he wanted.
    () () ()
    Tucker really was in between projects. He was able to move upstairs two hours after I spoke with him and settle in at the desk outside my office. By the end of the day, it was almost like he’d been there the whole time.
    He’d retrieved me a new phone during lunch and returned with a BLT as well since I’d decided to work through the hour. I’d picked at it during the afternoon and got into a rhythm checking in with him about certain topics since he’d been working on Project Oasis for a year longer than I had.
    Around five, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. I stretched my legs under the desk and rolled my shoulders.
    My phone buzzed.
    I hated that my stomach clenched. That after a year apart from Mark, I was still tense. It was just because of the phone calls last night, that’s all. I’d gotten a new number that only a handful of people knew. Tucker had programmed in the ones I’d need for work and I’d added my mom, sister, and a college friend who I hadn’t seen in weeks.
    A short text appeared on the screen. It was from Finn. Heads up .
    Frowning, I looked up. My office was surrounded with windows as well, glass panes that let me peer into the lobby and see Tucker’s desk off to the side, but I’d closed the blinds. A moment later, Tucker walked in with a large bouquet of flowers.
    He smiled. “Looks like a welcome gift.” He set it on the edge of my desk. “You like tulips?”
    “They’re my favorite,” I