The Secrets of Their Souls by Brooke Sivendra Read Free Book Online Page A

with Maya and then I’m heading home. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Zahra ended the conversation as quickly as possible and put her phone back on the table.
    “You’re a pretty good liar. I would’ve bought it myself if I wasn’t sitting here with the truth.” He had that look in his eye, the one that told her he enjoyed testing her.
    “Anybody can tell a little white lie.” She smiled sweetly. On the scale of lies she had told recently, the lie to Holly barely ticked her conscience.
    He grinned and took another mouthful of his wine, emptying the glass. As soon as he had placed it on the table, the waiter returned to fill their glasses. Both the view and the service at MIRROR were flawless.
    “Tell me more about your family. Were you born here?” Jayce asked.
    “Born and raised in Brooklyn. My mother is half Iranian but she, too, was born and raised here. Her name is Susan,” Zahra said, raising one eyebrow, “which is kind of strange given her heritage, but my grandparents wanted to give her an American name. My father, John, is all American, hence where the green eyes come from. They have been married thirty-five years tomorrow.”
    “That’s quite remarkable. And that’s why you were going to Puerto Rico, wasn’t it?”
    “Correct. We were going to spend the weekend with them, but there was no big celebration planned. My father understands; he didn’t put me to work at five years old, but he shares the respect for hard work. There was no free money in our household—you earned it via chores, and when you turned fourteen you got a part-time job.”
    “I like your father,” Jayce said, smiling. He checked his wrist and sighed.
    “Time’s up?” Zahra asked, repeating the phrase he’d used in his office.
    “Unfortunately, it is.” He put his glass on the table and stood up, holding out his hand for her. Zahra took it, noticing how his touch made her chest constrict. He led her out through the bar and into the elevator, holding her hand the entire time. Zahra forced her eyes down so that she couldn’t see him in the mirror and instead focused on the hair of the shorter lady in front of her. It was pulled up into a tight, perfect bun with not a thread of hair out of place. It was pretty impressive, as far as buns went.
    The elevator pinged and they followed the other guests out. Zahra fought to keep her breath even, but the more she tried to appear unaffected by him, the more self-conscious she felt. Jayce drew his cellphone from his pocket and made a quick call to the driver who appeared not a minute later.
    In the car, he sat closer to her than he had on their way to MIRROR, and she waited for him to make his next move.
    “Do you still think this drink wasn’t a good idea?” The look on his face was playfully arrogant.
    “Well, from a business point of view, it’s probably not my best career move. But, I had a good time. Thank you.” It was so easy to forget that he was the boss. They were able to chat like old friends, and it was that feeling of familiarity that made her both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. At times during their conversation she had felt like she had known him forever, but the nervousness that comes with dating someone new, the butterflies, they were there too. It didn’t make sense and she couldn’t rationalize it in her mind.
    “I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered, leaning in. “Tell me to stop, Zahra, tell me if you don’t want this.”
    She hesitated; not because she didn’t want him, but because she was scared the image of the man was going to haunt her again. If looking at Jayce elicited such an image, what would kissing him do? Trying to shake off her nerves, she pushed the worry to the back of her mind, along with the man, and focused on the present.
    She leaned in and Jayce brushed his lips over hers. Tiny goose bumps blossomed on her skin and when he cupped her face, she parted her lips, opening for him. He tasted sweet,