Chapter 225: Don’t Love Me

David’s POV

The moment my eyes landed on her again, I exhaled and stepped toward my desk.

This is not going to work. What am I even doing?

I closed my eyes, trying to summon some control, but when I opened them, she was right in my face. Her nose would’ve bumped mine if she was my height…that’s how close she stood.

“Do you need me to do anything for you?” she asked.

The words came out like a tease. That glint in her eyes told me she knew exactly what she was doing, and she loved watching me squirm. Like I was handing her matches to burn me with.

“I don’t need you to do anything for me, Holly,” I said, keeping my voice flat.

“Are you sure?” She fired back fast, tilting her head a little.

I bit the inside of my cheek hard. Yeah, I wanted her to do something. I wanted her on her knees, that smart mouth wrapped around my cock, taking me deep until she couldn’t talk back anymore.

I wanted to shove her against the wall, hike her skirt up, and fuck her until her legs buckled…and even then I’d hold her up and keep going. Hard. Rough. Until she forgot every damn word she uses to drive me crazy.

But it wasn’t just about her. It’s not like I suddenly find her so damn attractive. I just needed to get laid. It had been too long. That’s all.

Speaking of getting laid, I still couldn’t reach Candy. The matron swore she quit, but why? Better gig somewhere else? On her back for some other guy? The idea made my blood boil.

“Fuck,” I whispered under my breath.

“That’s what you need? A fuck?” Holly asked, eyes wide and innocent, but that sparkle in them was pure trouble.

Yes. Exactly that. But not from you, I told myself.

I reached out, gently pushed her shoulder to put space between us, and walked around the desk.

“You already know your job,” I said. “Don’t come into my office unless I call you. I promised you that I’d look out for you like a brother for Ava’s sake, but here, I’m your boss. You only come in if it’s important. Clear?”

I finally looked at her. She didn’t answer right away. Just bit her lip like she was holding back a explosion. Then she breathed out slow and leaned forward on my desk. From where I stood, I had a perfect view straight down her top…full, round tits that would fit right in my hands.

Damn it. She was killing me without even trying. She knows damn well what she’s doing and the effect it’s having on me.

“Are you avoiding me, Mr. Hunt? What are you afraid of?” she asked, head tilted.

My eyes were glued to those perfect boobs like I’d been hypnotized. My throat suddenly went dry and all I could think about was leaning in and—

“Mason?” she said, tapping the desk. “I’m up here. Not there.”

Shit. Caught staring like an idiot. Heat crawled up my neck in shame.

“My name is David,” I snapped, turning so my back faced her. “Not Mason.”

“But you were Mason when you saved me,” she said softly. “You were Mason when my sister’s husband had you locked up. You were Mason when I begged them to let you out. You were Mason when I fell in love with you…”

I froze.

She got me out of jail? I thought it was Ava. Why would she beg for me to be let out? Then the last part of her confession hit me like a truck.

Love?

Everything hot and messy inside me went ice cold. Love. I fucking hated that word. And she just threw it at me like it meant something.

I turned back around. She flinched at whatever she saw on my face.

“Holly,” I said, voice hard. “I’m only saying this once. Don’t love me.”

She blinked fast. “Why? I’ve been holding it in forever, David. I came here for you. I left LA to be close to you. And now that I know you feel something too—”

“So what?” I cut her off. I couldn’t listen to more. “So we move in together, get married, pop out kids? Keep dreaming, kid. I don’t feel shit.”

Her face went pale.

“You’re here because I owe your family,” I went on. “That’s it. Don’t turn it into something else. I don’t feel anything for you, and I never will. Get that through your head, or pack up and go back to LA. The guy you chased doesn’t see you as a woman. To me, you’re still a child.”

The hurt flashed across her eyes so clear it almost made me stop. Almost. But I had to finish this.

“I saved you once. A thank you would’ve been enough. Not you throwing your heart at me like it’s worth something. What’s your problem?”

She didn’t answer. Her eyes got shiny, but no tears fell. She wouldn’t let them.

“So…you don’t feel anything?” Her voice cracked, small and broken. “Then why stop me from going to lunch with Tyler? Why make me your assistant?”

I ran a hand through my hair, put on the most bored look I could pull. “Because I owe your sister. I figured you weren’t here for revenge as I thought initially, so I’d treat you like a little sister till you leave town. That’s all. You really thought I wanted you?”

I added a laugh at the end, short and mean.

It worked. She stepped back. Kept stepping until she hit the door.

“Work’s over,” she said quietly. “I’m heading home, Mr. David. Thank you.” After that, she turned and walked out.

Part of me waited desperately for her to look back. She didn’t.

My legs started moving toward the door before I could think. I wanted to go after her, say something…anything…to fix the hurt I just put there.

But I stopped myself. No. This was better. I couldn’t love anyone. Not after everything that went down years ago. And loving Holly? That would be fucked up beyond repair.

I only wanted to sleep with her. That’s it. Nothing more.

I turned back to my desk, but then it hit me…shit, she’s really going home?

I bolted out the door. Her desk was empty. I hit the elevator button like a maniac, scanned the lobby when it opened…nothing.

I ran outside into the cold air and spotted her in the parking lot, standing under the light.

Before I could move, a sleek black Audi Q7 screeched to a stop right in front of her. The door opened, and Tyler stepped out, flashing that easy rich-boy smile.