Concede (The Diamond Empire Book 1) by Kathy Coopmans (bts book recommendations .TXT) 📕

pick up my cell to call Seth. It rings several times before he answers, sounding out of breath. “Miss me, already?”

God, just the sound of the small lilt of his New Orleans accent, has my insides quivering. You’d think I’d be used to it after all these years. Not even close.

I open my mouth to say I can’t accept this from him—but I can’t bring myself to do it. The irony isn’t lost that Seth’s kindness is along that of what my father did.

Besides, it’ll lead to an argument, and even though I’m still a confused mess inside, a part of me is finding peace.

All because of him.

“Always. Thank you for paying off my loans. I’m not going to ask how you did it or why. I wish you wouldn’t have. I’m not going to say I’ll pay you back. It means everything to me, Seth.” I emphasize his name. Knowing how much he loves hearing me say it.

“Sounds to me like I’ve roped, lassoed, and tamed you since you aren’t getting angry.” His tone is a sly velvety tease. Hitting me between the legs right where he intended.

Seth’s done more than those things. He’s brought me out of my shell. It’s only been days, and it’s getting harder and harder to remember what it felt like to be alone. Which is as utterly strange as acknowledging my feelings because I’ve been alone for so long that I thought for sure that’s what life had in store for me.

I can’t begin to comprehend any of this. One day, I’m lying to myself about how I feel about him, and the next, he’s all I want.

The man behind everything.

“You wish.” I blow out a laugh.

“Christ, I love the sound of your laugh. It’s as beautiful as you are. I plan on making you do it as often as I can. Seriously, though, Victoria, my wish came true when you told me you wanted me. I’m getting ready to walk into a meeting. I’ll talk to you later. And you’re welcome to pay me back in other ways.” His seductive laugh fills my ears until I hear the click on the other end.

A meeting? I’m sure it has to do with the murders. Maybe that’s why dread has dug a pit in my stomach.

Revenge has to be served, and even though Seth hasn’t brought up how I feel about it in days, I don’t want to know the details on what’s happening. The thought he might leave again doesn’t help my fear of him or anyone else dying.

Waves of nausea swirl in my stomach and a clammy feeling crawls over my flesh like a disease.

I toss my phone on my desk just as tears begin to stream down my face.

I need to open the rest of the way up and give Seth all of me. Trust him completely. My heart screams that I can while my mind struggles to accept the reality, I’ve fallen for a murderer with a generous heart.

I’m a basket case. One in desperate need to talk to someone, and I know just the person to call.

“Victoria Hughes and Seth Mitchell. I never thought I’d see the day.”

You and me both, I silently think, jerking my attention to the voice standing in the doorway of the office.

Ambrosia Solokov or Amber, as we call her. Diesel’s ex-fiancée strolls in, closing the door behind her, and rounds the desk, pulling me for a hug.

I hate referring to her as his ex when she’s so much more. She’s the love of his life. Has been since as far as I can remember.

Blowing out a loud breath, I wipe the tears with the back of my hand and give her a weak smile.

“Hey, what’s going on. Last night you were laughing more than I’ve seen in a long time, and now this. Do I need to kick someone’s ass already?”

Chewing at my bottom lip, I let loose a soggy laugh. “Memories. Good ones, so those were happy tears,” I lie. No sense in creating more chaos in Amber’s life than there already is.

“Are you sure? I know working here can’t be easy for you.”

I smile at the apprehension in her voice, and I appreciate it. I just hope she doesn’t press the issue. Amber is the last person I want to talk to about my personal life after what she’s going through. I hate what Diesel has done to her—leaving her wounded and scared. I hate worrying about her when I’m trying so hard to let that emotion go and focus on myself.

Heart lurching, I take a couple of fortifying breaths, collecting my emotions, bottling them up to release in the comfort of Seth’s arms.

“Quite the opposite, actually. I love working here. I feel like I’m keeping Mom and Danika’s memory alive. You know this place was Mom’s baby.” My stomach aches at the verity of my words. I’m going to miss my family every day for the rest of my life, but knowing I’m doing the two of them proud by putting the things I learned in design school is enough to carry me through every day.

I have no other choice.

“Yes, I do know. It makes me happy it isn’t Seth behind those tears because for a minute there, I thought I imagined the explosive chemistry between you two last night. I felt it when we talked and when I worked behind the bar and in my office. The entire time you were there, I was waiting for my restaurant to go up in smoke.”

Oh, we went up in smoke last night, alright—a towering inferno.

The man is insatiable, and I love every bit of his voracious appetite for sex. I crave him too and not just the sex. He’s in my bloodstream.

Consuming me like I knew he would.

“I won’t deny we have chemistry. Now enough about me. What brings you to this side of the city?”

I hope she’s not here to poke and prod me about Diesel. Every time we talk, that’s