bChapter /bb207 /b

    Ste and N ran, the spray bottle still clutched tightly in Ste’s hand. They kept ncing back, but no one followed.

    Still, Ste didn’t rx. She seized N’s hand and said, “We can’t stop yet. Who knows if they’ll change their mindsb?/bb” /b

    N didn’t argue. After everything Ste had been through, trusting anyone was a luxury she couldn’t afford. And if Ste, despite her

    weakened state, was pushing forward, N sure as hell wasn’t going to slow her down.

    When they finally reached the main road, they tried gging down a car, only ifor /ione to screech to a halt in front of them.

    Before N could react, Ste grabbed her arm. “Get in.”

    They yanked the doors open. Ste slid into the passenger seat, and N nearly copsed in relief when she saw the driver. Jordan.

    “What the hell were you thinking, not telling me?” Jordan demanded, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.

    Ste set down her spray bottle, peeled off her gloves, and buckled her seatbelt before meeting his gaze. “It happened too fast. I was afraid

    Hasan would hurt N if I dyed.”

    “Damn it, Ste!” Jordan rarely lost his temper, especially in front of others. With Ste, he was usually endlessly patient. But now, his anger vibrated through the car. “You could’ve been killed.”

    She understoodpletely. She’d be furious too in his position. “I’m sorry, Jordan.”

    His re softened as he took in their unharmed condition. “Next time something like this happens, you call me immediately. Do you not trust

    me to handle it?”

    Ste shook her head vehemently. “Of course I trust you! I’m sorry. I just… I had a n.”

    N, though knowing she shouldn’t interfere, couldn’t help interjecting, “Ms. Hayes did all this to protect me.”

    Jordan didn’t respond, but N caught the way Ste’s lips curved slightly. Watching them, N felt a pang of envy at their obvious devotion. Only someone deeply cared for would inspire such fear–driven anger.

    The rest of the ride passed in tense silence. When they reached Hayes Group, N discreetly excused herselfb, /bleaving the couple alone in the parked car.

    After a long pause, Ste broke the silence by pulling her gloves back on and presenting the spray bottle like evidence.

    “This liquid was something I came up with during a school experiment, just a silly project at the time. I thought maybe it could be developed into a drain cleaner someday, but then… After the ident, I never got the chance to refine it.

    “I’ve always remembered the form, though, so whipped up a quick batch just now.”

    She hurriedly exined the situation, her tone earnest. The moment she finished, Jordan pulled her into a tight embrace. Ste bfroze/b, stunned by the sudden intensity of his reaction.

    It took her a long moment to process his words as he finally spoke, his voice rough with emotion. “Ste, don’t scare me like that. I’ve bhad /bthis gut feeling something bad wasing, and… God, thank goodness you were prepared.

    “But let’s be real for a second, what if you hadn’t been? I called you, over and over. No answer. So I went bto /byour boffice/bb, /band bno /bone beven /bbknew /bwhere you were.

    “The only reason I found you was because a janitor mentioned you’d borrowed a cleaning buniform/bb. /bI bhad /bbto /bbtrack /bbyou /bbdown /bbthrough /bbsecurity /b

    b1/3 /b

    4

    footage. Do you have any idea how terrified I was? Every second felt like you might just… disappear.

    “Ste, I’ve already lost my parents. You’re the only family I have left, the only person I love. If something bhappened /bbto /bbyou/bb, /bI bdon’t /bknow what bI’d /bdo.”

    Ste’s body rxed against his as his words sank in. She understood. She’d known, even as she left, that keeping him bin /bbthe /bdark bwould /bbhurt /bhim, but there hadn’t been time.

    “Jordan, I understand. Next time, I’ll tell you. But this time… I knew I could handle it.”

    He slowly released her, his gaze dropping to the spray bottle in her hand. A faint, disbelieving smile tugged at his lips. b“/bYou’re bfull /bbof /bbsurprises/bb, /baren’t you? What else are you secretly an expert at?”

    Ste tilted her head, considering. “Not much, really. Just things I tinkered with when… well, when no one else was paying attention bto /bme.

    “Ever thought about patenting this?” he asked, tapping the bottle.

    “I did,” she admitted. “But right now, the supermarket takes priority. Once things stabilize, maybe I’ll expand the team and develop it properly.”

    Jordan exhaled augh, shaking his head. “God, I really did marry a treasure. No wonder Kevin’s been hung up bon /byou ball /bthese years. Makes me jealous, honestly.”

    Ste’s cheeks warmed. “Well, it’s not like I chose him,” she muttered.

    “Damn right,” Jordan grinned, pulling her closer. “He should be the one seething. And… hey, I’m sorry for earlier. I didn’t mean bto /bfreak byou /bout. I just-”

    Ste silenced him with a kiss. What started as a tentative brush of lips quickly deepened, Jordan taking control with a hunger that left her

    breathless.

    When they finally parted, foreheads touching, her voice was barely a whisper. “Jordan… once my cycle regtes, I want us tob… /bYou know. Be together properly.”

    His breath hitched.

    “We might not be able to try for a baby yet, but…” She traced his jaw, her touch featherlight. “I know you’ve waited. I want to give you all of

    me.”

    “Ste-” His throat worked. “Your healthes first. I can wait.”

    “The doctor said it’s safe,” she confessed, lips curving against his corbone. “I asked. Privately.”

    Jordan stiffened, then groaned. Of course, she’d noticed. The way his body reacted to her, the unspoken tension he’d tried to hide. He was

    only human, and she was everything.

    “Unless…” Ste’s fingers stilled on his chest. “You don’t want-b” /b

    “Jesus Christ.” Jordan hauled her against him, voice rough. “If it weren’t for your recovery, I’d have had you bin /bevery damn room bof /bbiour /i/bbhouse /bby now.”

    Heat flooded her face. Once, such thoughts would’ve terrified her. Now? Now she craved this, the messy, glorious normalcy bof /bbbeing /bbloved/b.

    And when she kissed him again, there was no hesitation left in either of them.

    b2/3 /b