LEO'S POV
The disciplinary committee had dismissed us an hour ago with a warning that they'd be investigating my accusations against Marcus. Now Zoe was pacing back and forth in my office like a caged animal, and I was trying very hard not to watch the way her hips moved when she walked.
I kept my eyes closed and my head pressed back against my chair. Maybe if I couldn't see her, I could think clearly. Maybe I could figure out how to fix this mess without making it worse.
"This is insane," she said for the fifth time in ten minutes. "How could Marcus do this to us? How could he spy on us like that?"
I opened my eyes then and looked at her. She'd stopped pacing and was standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together.
"He thinks he's protecting you," I said. "In his mind, destroying my career is worth it if it keeps you away from me."
"That's not his choice to make."
She started pacing again, and I closed my eyes once more. The sound of her footsteps on the linoleum was hypnotic, rhythmic. It reminded me of the way she moved when she played piano, that same restless energy channeled into something beautiful.
Her phone rang, cutting through the silence.
"Hello?" she answered, stopping mid-pace.
"Kai?" Her voice brightened considerably. "Oh thank God, I was hoping you'd call."
I tried not to listen to the conversation, but her side of it was impossible to ignore.
"You found someone who can help? Really? How?"
There was a pause while she listened.
"No, I don't care how much it costs. If they can get that video taken down from all the sites, it's worth it."
Another pause.
"Yes, I'm sure. Do whatever you have to do."
She was quiet for a longer stretch, and I could hear the murmur of Kai's voice through the phone.
"Thank you," she said finally, and her voice was thick with emotion. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. You're saving my life here."
More murmuring from Kai.
"I will. I'll call you later tonight and let you know how everything goes. Thank you again, Kai."
She hung up and let out a long breath.
"Good news?" I asked, still not opening my eyes.
"Kai found someone who specializes in removing content from social media. Some kind of tech expert who works with celebrities and politicians when they have scandals."
"That's good."
"It's going to cost a fortune, but Kai said he'll help me pay for it."
Something twisted in my chest at the mention of Kai offering to help her. The kid was clearly devoted to her, willing to spend his own money to clean up a mess that wasn't even his fault.
"Are you dating him?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Zoe snorted, a sound that was half laugh, half disbelief. "Kai? No. We're friends. Best friends, but just friends."
I nodded, trying to ignore the relief that flooded through me.
"He's in love with you," I said.
"I know."
"And you're not interested."
"No, I'm not."
I opened my eyes and looked at her again. She was standing by my desk now, close enough that I could smell her perfume. Something light and floral that reminded me of spring.
"What about the guy from the hotel?" I asked. "The music producer. Eric."
"What about him?"
"I saw you asking for your contact information. He seemed interested."
She tilted her head, studying my face. "Are you asking if I'm dating Eric?"
"I'm asking if he's a love interest."
"No, he's not." She moved closer to my desk. "Leo, why are you asking me about other men?"
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are. You just asked me about Kai and Eric within the span of thirty seconds."
I closed my eyes again. "I was just curious."
"Curious about what?"
"About whether you have other options."
"Other options for what?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't answer without admitting things I wasn't ready to admit.
She was quiet for a moment, and then I heard the scrape of the chair across from my desk. When I opened my eyes, she was sitting down, her hands folded in her lap.
"Leo," she said softly. "Look at me."
I met her eyes reluctantly. Big, dark, beautiful eyes that seemed to see right through all my defenses.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"That's not true. You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."
"I am carrying the weight of the world. Your world, specifically. I've ruined your life, Zoe."
"You haven't ruined anything."
"Haven't I? You're facing disciplinary action because of me. Your uncle hates you because of me. There's a video of us circulating on the internet because of me."
"It's not a sex tape. It's a kiss."
"It's evidence of my complete failure as a professional."
She leaned forward in her chair. "Leo, stop. You're being too hard on yourself."
I forced myself to look away from her face, but my gaze landed on her lips instead. Soft, pink, slightly parted. The same lips I'd kissed on that beach in Los Angeles. The same lips that had whispered my name like a prayer.
God, I wanted to kiss her again. Right here, right now, in my office with the door unlocked and anyone able to walk in at any moment. I wanted to pull her across this desk and show her exactly how I felt about her.
Instead, I looked away, staring at the wall behind her head.
"This is impossible," I muttered.
"What's impossible?"
"This. Us. Being in the same room together."
"Why?"
"Because I can't stop thinking about touching you."
The words slipped out before I could catch them, and I immediately regretted the admission. But when I looked back at her, there was something in her expression that made my breath catch.
She was staring at me intently, her eyes dark and serious.
"Leo," she said quietly and asked. "Why did you kiss me?"