Free 24 1/2 Kisses (A Bashir Family Romance) by Kennedy Claire

story of the year. Congratulations.”
    He turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm. The words tumbled out my mouth fast and reckless.
    “Every night I pray that your face will fade away from my dreams…because you still haunt them. And when I got this job and I knew I had to move to New York— your city —I prayed even harder that I would never run into you. And then I get this story assignment, Dev. Can you please understand what hell this has been? And I still don’t understand what…your angle is.”
    His eyes were cold.
    “My angle ? Who do you think I am, Scarlett?”
    “That’s a good question, because I don’t know…and the more time I spend with you, the more confused I am.”
    My words seemed to cut him and he suddenly looked lost. I so badly wanted to help him find his way home, but I didn’t know how.
    I saw Eric approach us from behind Dev. He looked concerned and I realized how puzzling our intense interaction might seem.
    I let go of Dev’s arm.
    “Scarlett, you okay?”
    Eric gave Dev a warning glance, the testosterone palpable between them.
    “I’m ready to go,” I answered quietly.
    “You sure you’re finished here?”
    I looked at Dev. We were a mountain of unfinished business, but I didn’t know where to start.
    “We’re finished,” I answered, looking straight into his dark eyes, wanting so desperately for him to correct me and say we weren’t, and ask me not to go, and tell me that he wanted to explain everything to me finally.
    More than anything, I wanted him to tell me that he still loved me. 
    But he said nothing and walked away.
     
    On our way out, Eric gave me a strange look.
    “Why didn’t you tell me there was something between you and Bashir?”
    I was stupid to think I could hide it for so long. I liked Eric and I didn’t want to hurt my chances with him. He was the best opportunity I had to get over Dev, and now that the interview was done, maybe that could happen.
    Unless I had just ruined that, too.
    “I used to know him, but I don’t anymore.” I grabbed Eric’s hand. “I’d rather get to know you better.”
    I almost believed myself for a moment.
    Eric smiled at me and squeezed my hand a little tighter. I wished he would squeeze it until it hurt…until it broke. I had been numb for too long and I wondered what it would take to feel again.
    When we arrived at the company car Time provided for our return, he did something quite unexpected. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. When he pulled his mouth away, he searched my eyes for my response.
    “I don’t think I have to tell you how much I like you, Scarlett.” He kissed me again, softly on the lips. “I want to get to know you better too.”
    Before I could respond, I was distracted by a shadowy figure standing at the front door of the mansion watching us. Dev quickly turned around and walked into the house.
    If there was anything left between us, I had probably just killed it.

Chapter 8
     
    T he next morning at the office, Bill and Linda wanted a full briefing.
    “Did he tell you?” Bill asked, almost chomping at the bit.
    “No. Sorry. I asked him but he refused to say.”
    I had decided to lie. I wasn’t going to humiliate Dev’s family like this. He obviously wasn’t thinking in his right mind when he told me Gerald Franklin was his father.
    “What an ass,” Linda chimed in. “So he was just screwing with you again, huh?”
    “Yes, I guess so.”
    Bill became immediately disinterested and started digging through some papers on his desk, obviously thinking of the next big story.
    “You have enough material for a satisfactory article, so get to work,” he said, ending the meeting.
     
    I worked all day and got a first draft on Bill’s desk just after eleven that night. I took a deep breath as I walked away—and I could almost feel Dev slip away from me. Then it hit me like a Mack truck: There would be no more reasons to see him after this.
     
    My cell beeped with a text and I