Free Letting Go of You (Anchored Hearts #2) by J.M. Witt Page B

out!”  She looked at me and scoffed.   If she was surprised at my not so polite request, I couldn’t give a shit.
    “Melissa, I need you to leave.”  She gaped at him before she snatched up her purse.
    “Call me and we can discuss that matter further.”  She chirped as she walked out of his office.  James shut the door after she left, leaving the two of us alone in his office.
    “Cassidy…”
    “What matter?  What could you possibly have to discuss with her?”
    “It’s complicated.”
    “Well make it uncomplicated and fucking tell me.”  He began circling the table to get closer to me and I followed suit in order to leave distance between us.  “Is this who and what you’ve been spending all your time with?  I’ve been going through hell this last week and you’ve been nowhere in sight.”  I had backed myself into a corner, unknowingly, as his frame began to tower over me.  “All I needed this week was you.  And you’ve been here with her .”
    “It’s not like that, Blackbird.  I promise.”  He tried to stroke my face, but I turned away from him.  “She’s helping me with Dan.”
    That got my attention.   “What?  What do you mean?”
    “ Melissa and Dan have always been close.  I’m hoping I can convince her to help me figure out what the hell he’s up to.  He came after you, may have been involved with your mother’s death and with his uncles.”
    “Dan didn’t come after me.  What are you talking about?”
    “At your office last week.”
    “I know when and I’m telling you it wasn’t Dan.  The guy who came after me was taller than Dan.  Probably as tall as you, maybe a little shorter.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
    “Are you fucking kidding me?  I’ve been a little preoccupied, or have you forgotten?  My brother’s laying in a hospital in a coma thanks to your cousin.”  I covered my mouth, regretting the words the minute I said them.  He just stared at me for a minute before walking away from me.  “I’m sorry.  I know it’s not Jane’s fault.”
    I followed him and sat down on the opposite couch from where he was sitting.  We sat in silence for far too long.  Neither one of us was willing to speak first.   We were both stubborn out of our minds. I sat there, staring at my hands as I twisted them together over and over. Not being able to take the silence any longer I finally spoke.
    “James,” my voice cracked, “I miss you.”  As I went to lift my head the tears poured out of my eyes and I dropped my head again, not wanting him to know I was crying.   Pressing the palms of my hands into my eyes, hoping that it would stop the tears.
    His voice was low as he said, “I miss you too.  I’m sorry I haven’t been with you much this week.  I just…”  He stopped talking and when I looked up to him his expression was unreadable. 
    “You just what?”  I got up and sat down next to him.  “You can tell me James.  You can trust me.”
     
     
    ~ JAMES ~
     
    You can trust me.  My head became dizzy as I fought off the memories from the desert.  Pull it together James.  I knew that the shooting with Derek had triggered something in me.  I hadn’t fired a gun at an enemy since the desert.  It was my specialty then and I hadn’t lost my touch, even if Derek was still alive.  The thought of him still breathing just fueled my anger.  He should have been dead, rotting in the ground and I wanted to be the one to put him there.  He was under lock and key at the hospital, but I would pay him a visit if I had to pay off the whole police department and hospital staff to do it.
    Cassidy covered my hand with hers and it sent a thrill of desire through me.  She sent off fireworks in me like no one ever had.  I always struggled to control myself around her and knew that the feeling was mutual.  I also knew that she wouldn’t let this go.  She wasn’t one to be okay with me keeping secrets, even if they were my