Fields of Clover - THE SPECTER SERIES [book two]

Chapter THREE

Patrick O'connor

I silently follow Yevie up to her apartment, standing a few feet behind her on the third floor landing as she slips the key into the lock.. My heart thuds like a drum in my ears and my skin feels clammy beneath my fitted black t-shirt..

What the fuck is this?
I've never felt so god damned nervous in my life..

I repeat the manta 'nothing is going to happen' over and over in my head, preparing myself for the slow tempting torture that is spending time with Yevette and not kissing her..

The door clicks open and she pushes it open wide, stepping inside and kicking off her expensive looking red soled shoes.. I follow her inside and close the door behind me..

"Beer?" She offers, crossing to the kitchen as she tugs her hair tie loose, letting her long wavy, cocoa coloured hair tumble over her shoulders and down her back..

"Definitely.." I drop myself onto the plush sofa, stretching out my legs in front of me and crossing them casually at the ankle.. I close my eyes and let my head drop back into the soft cushions.. I can hear Yevie clinking in the kitchen.. The scent of her fills the whole apartment, coconut and jasmine.. Tropical and sweet.. Everything about being around her, being here.. Feels right.. But to be honest it also feels a little like a cruel punishment..

Yevie doesn't know who I really am.. The things I've done.. I've been keeping secrets from her and it would be selfish and stupid of me to take things any further than a friendship..

But knowing that does very little, if anything, to put out the flames of my burning desire for her..

"Here you go Paddykins.." I chuckle at the cute nickname, opening my eyes to look up at her, an adorable vision of perfection.. The top three buttons of her white dress shirt are now undone. My eyes travel over her smooth tan skin, the slope of her full breasts and the curve of her hips.. She holds a frosted bottle of amber liquid in her outstretched hand..

Fuck me..

"Thanks sweetness." I accept the bottle, taking a long swig before placing it on the coffee table.. Yevie settles into the matching sofa chair opposite me, tucking her legs up beneath her to one side.. Her petite frame fits easily.. In fact, the chair looks kind of oversized with her in it..

A silence laced with tension settles in.. I'm resigned to keeping quiet and letting her talk when she's ready.. After a few minutes, she caves.. "I haven't seen you in months.. Have you been well?"

Ouch.. Super formal.. Not a good sign.

I had met Yevie while working a job at Carrington Corp where she'd earned herself an impressive career as head of sales, far away from the political scape of her family legacy.. After my time there had finished up a few months ago, I had put some extra distance between her and I.. Being friends with her turned out to be harder than I thought it would be.. I had needed to get my head back in the game, I felt my restraint slipping and it was all I could think to do to stop myself from giving in to temptation..

"I've been busy, but good yeah.." She narrows her glowing golden eyes at me..
Yep. I know that's not the answer to the question she is really asking.. But I can't truthfully answer her so I opt for a question of my own.. "Hey, you got my number princess.. Did I miss a phone call?"
She blushes ever so slightly.. It makes me wonder if she would blush like that if I told her some of the dirty things I've thought about doing to her.. And believe me, there are so many things I've thought about doing to her..

"Touché.." She sips her beer and begins fiddling with the label, peeling pieces off absentmindedly.. When she does speak again her voice is soft and distant.. "I was 19 when Zach and I got married.." Her admission has my attention.. Even though I already know the story, from the extensive file I have created on Yevette, her father - Congressman Anderson Daley - her ex-husband and his waspy blue blood father - state senator, Michael Ryan. I don't interrupt her, but I sit up straighter to show my interest.. After all I've been waiting months for this.. Waiting for her to tell me about her history, her family, her ex and the trial..

I've been waiting for her to share all of it with me, because I'm going help her..
And it will be much easier if she is on board with that..