Текст книги "Avoiding Commitment"

Автор книги: K. A. Linde

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Текущая страница: 27 (всего у книги 29 страниц)

“I can do whatever I want,” she cried striding across the living room.

“I know you can. I just want you to be safe,” he said quietly.

She bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything she might regret. He was looking out for her, and she knew that. However, getting into any sort of physical relationship with someone else right now was plain wrong. She had too much baggage. She needed to clear away some of that before anyone else got hurt. “I will be safe,” she told him turning and facing him.

“Promise?”

“Yes,” she said twisting the knob behind her back and pulling the door open. “Sorry.”

Lexi rushed down the stairs and out onto the dark city streets. She had forgotten how different New York and Atlanta were. At any given second in New York, she could hail a cab to take her to any destination. Here people had to call for a cab and wait for it to pick you up. In New York, people were constantly on the streets and, where Lexi frequented, she could walk anywhere. In Atlanta, she rarely felt safe walking in even the classiest areas of the city during the day, let alone at night.

She took a deep breath and dialed the number for a cab service. After a few minutes, the cab arrived and carted her to Chyna’s hotel. Lexi had the concierge ring for Chyna, but found that no one was in the room or else Chyna was incapacitated. Either was just as likely. Since she had no proof that she should be in Chyna’s penthouse, they refused to give her a key to the room.

“If you won’t give me a key, can I stay in your lobby until she gets back?” Lexi asked exasperated.

The woman looked at her condescendingly, taking in her smeared make-up and torn dress. “That is not typically permitted.”

“Do you really want one of your A-list clients angry at you when Chyna finds out that you treated her best friend this poorly?” Lexi asked smoothly.

Her face shifted into a line of worry. Individuals who came to the hotel and rented the penthouse suite were few and far between. “Very well. When Ms. Van der Wal returns and we can confirm your identity, then we can allow you into her room. If you would like a room of your own, we could arrange that. Otherwise you will have to wait.”

Lexi sighed heavily and wandered over to a loveseat. She pulled her feet up onto the cushion and rested her head against the arm of the chair. All she wanted to do was forget that tonight had ever happened.

A short while later she someone was shaking her awake and calling her name. Lexi’s eyes fluttered open and she realized, somewhat unbelievably, she had fallen asleep. Her neck was sore from the uncomfortable position, but her mind, at least, was still. She must have been exhausted to have fallen asleep that quickly.

“You alright, chica?” Chyna asked looking at her anxiously.

“A little sore.” What an understatement. “But I’ll be alright. Can we go upstairs?”

“Yeah, sure,” Chyna agreed helping Lexi to her feet. “Did they give you any trouble?” Chyna asked staring daggers at the concierge.

“No, they were fine. They did exactly as I expected,” Lexi replied following Chyna to the elevators.

The two girls took the elevator to the top floor and Chyna let them into her suite. All Lexi wanted to do was to crash for the next several hours. She was both physically and mentally exhausted. Chyna had other ideas though. She obviously had all the energy from just getting laid that Lexi was lacking. And even though she needed her mandated seven hours of beauty sleep, she didn’t seem ready for that to begin.

“Can you spit it out so I can go to sleep?” Lexi asked resting her head back against the couch.

Chyna bit down on her bottom lip as she stared uncomfortably at her friend. “What the hell happened to you? You look like a train wreck. You should have seen the way those people were looking at you downstairs. God, you could have been a hooker for all they knew. A hooker wearing amazing clothes, but still…”

Lexi rolled her eyes not caring much what others thought about her. “I had a rough night.”

“I’ll say. Just look at you.”

“Thanks, C. I got it,” she mumbled irritated.

“Then what happened?”

Lexi sighed wavering between a lie and the truth. “Jack and I slept together.”

Chyna’s mouth dropped open. “No! When?” Lexi lowered her eyes to the floor. “Tonight?” Chyna squeaked. “How could you?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“You said you weren’t going to.”

“I hadn’t planned on it. This obviously wasn’t planned,” she said gesturing around her.

“But, Alexa,” Chyna scolded.

“Don’t use that voice with me,” she growled. “Things didn’t go as planned anyway.” Things definitely did not go as planned. She hadn’t planned on sleeping with him. She hadn’t planned on falling for him…again. She hadn’t planned on her night with Ramsey. She hadn’t planned on any of it.

“Did he hit you?” Chyna asked fear obvious in her voice. “You look like shit.”

“What? No! God, no,” Lexi exclaimed running her hands through her hair. “He just…he was really cold to me afterwards.”

“Like how?” Chyna asked concerned.

“I don’t know. He said this didn’t change things,” Lexi attempted to explain.

“What does that mean?” Chyna asked aggravated.

“I think it means he needs more time to decide what he wants. It just came out wrong,” Lexi said trying to convince herself too.

“I doubt it.”

“Chyna,” Lexi said warningly.

“No, you listen to yourself. He fucked you then pretty much told you that you didn’t mean anything to him. How could you think otherwise?”

“He said he still needed time. He told me he wanted to be with me. Chyna, they can’t be together. I have to stop this. He can’t do what he did to me and expect not to have to make a decision,” she told her vehemently.

“Alexa, stop. You can’t think like that. You cannot break them up.”

“But he wants to be with me. A part of him still wants to be with me.”

“You don’t actually believe him, do you?” Chyna asked scrunching her perfectly waxed eyebrows together.

“He’s never lied to me before,” Lexi said but doubt was in her voice.

“Are you sure?”

“He hasn’t lied to me in six years. Why would he start now?” Lexi asked trying to force a sense of determination.

“I just…don’t know,” she said biting her lip and looking away.

“What are you getting at, Chyna?” Lexi couldn’t keep the venom out of her voice.

“Look, maybe he never lied directly, but that didn’t mean that he was telling you the whole truth,” Chyna told her.

Lexi sighed. She had thought of that. In fact, a part of her wondered if maybe everything he ever said had been in some part a lie. But she couldn’t let herself get caught up on that. He was the same Jack she had always known, and he loved her. No matter how difficult the past week…the past year and a half had been there was a part of him that would always love her. She needed to harness that affection and make him realize that was what he had always wanted…what he still wanted.

“Did you forget that this was all your idea in the first place,” Lexi asked evading Chyna’s last statement.

“Goddamn, chica, I sent you up here to get over the fucking douche bag, not to fall in love with him again.”

“Well, I’m not sure I ever stopped loving him.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Chyna said shaking her head miserably.

“I know perfectly well what I am saying. I know exactly how I feel about Jack.”

“You’re acting like a teenager. Pull yourself together. You don’t need this guy to feel loved. There are plenty…”

Lexi interrupted, “Don’t feed me the there are plenty of other fish in the sea line.”

“But there are!” Chyna cried. “Have you not seen the way Ramsey looks at you?”

Lexi rolled her eyes, but her heart was aching at the admission. She couldn’t tell Chyna what had happened between them. The news that they had almost slept together would only fuel her passion. And she was stuck with Jack. No matter what he had done or how confused he was. He held her heart, even when it was breaking. “Don’t talk to me about Ramsey.”

“Then don’t act like Jack is the only person who has ever looked at you like you’re a goddess.”

“Just because Ramsey feels this way about me doesn’t mean it is reciprocated,” Lexi cried back.

“Then explain what happened out on the balcony.”

Lexi blushed. If Chyna knew the rest of what had happened, she would never hear the end of it. “That was a mistake.”

“It didn’t look like it.”

“I slept with Jack right afterwards. What does that tell you?”

“That you are a very confused person!”

“I’m not confused. I know exactly what I want.”

“I didn’t want to have to tell you this,” Chyna said shaking her head fiercely.

“What?” Lexi asked barely listening to her. All she wanted to do was get this conversation over with and sleep.

“I heard some of Jack’s friends talking about him and Bekah,” she trailed off.

“And?”

“There are rumors of them getting married.”

“Yeah. Isn’t that why I’m here in the first place?” Lexi asked dumbfounded as to why Chyna was even bringing this up to her again. She was here to convince Bekah that Jack was ready for commitment. Well, she certainly hadn’t done that. If anything she had confused him more.

“I know, but I think he’s going to do it.”

“What?” Lexi questioned staring at her like she was a Martian.

“The guys were talking about planning a bachelor party,” Chyna whispered hating that she had to break the news to her.

“It could have been for any of them,” she said but she hardly convinced herself. Doubt had crept into her voice.

“I think they were all married,” she murmured.

“No.” She shook her head and pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ears. Her sleep deprived brain couldn’t process what Chyna was saying. Jack couldn’t be marrying Bekah. He didn’t love her. He didn’t feel for her what he felt with Lexi. There was no way this could be happening. “No. No, he’s not,” she said the weakness in her voice evident. She felt as if she had been punched in the gut. She was receiving just enough air to keep her upright.

“What did you say? Alexa, you have to believe me. I’m looking out for you.”

“No. I won’t believe it,” her voice coming out in a monotone.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want this to happen to you,” Chyna said feeling like the shittiest of shitty friend’s right then.

“This cannot be happening to me.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Chyna said moving to her side. “Do you still want to be with him?”

Even after that admission, even after Lexi’s first realization that Jack might marry someone else, she still wanted him.

“Is Jack really what you want after everything?” She reached out and grasped Lexi’s hand affectionately.

“You don’t understand,” Lexi said yanking her hand out of her grasp. “You never understood.” The feeling of losing Jack overwhelmed her body. The feeling was so familiar, that it could only be associated with him. Her heart felt as if it were being fed through a shredder, and then played back in reverse.

“How could I understand?” Chyna asked vehemently. “Do you even see yourself? You’re a wreck. You look exactly the same as last time. You’re shutting down and shutting everyone out. You can’t let him do this to you every time he comes back into your life. Can’t you see that this boy has done a number on you that can never be undone, unless you let him go? You have to let him go.”

“How can I let him go?” she asked her breathing coming out shallow. “How can I let him go, if he won’t let me?”

“You have to find a way to be strong.”

“No, I can’t be sure. I have to go to him and find out what the truth is.”

“You think he’s going to tell you the truth?” Chyna asked dubiously.

“He damn well better!”

CHAPTER 24

PRESENT

Chyna managed to talk Lexi into getting a few hours of much needed rest. She needed to be of the right state of mind to talk with Jack. And, anyways, he would probably be sleeping at six o’clock in the morning, when Lexi was ready to burst into his apartment and confront him. The exhaustion that had crept up on her that whole night suddenly evaporated with the prospect of finally coming to a conclusion about her relationship with Jack. Restless sleep eventually overtook her, but it did very little to stem her anticipation.

The thoughts swirling around in her brain only managed to make her more nervous about her upcoming appointment with disaster. She couldn’t fathom that Jack had lied to her. They had always been up front about their feelings and how they were going to work…no matter how dysfunctional everything else turned out to be.

When she finally awoke the next day, she found that somehow she had managed to sleep through a good portion of the day. She wasn’t certain how that had happened, but was grateful for the break from her earlier thoughts. Except that left her with only a few brief hours to accomplish everything she needed to get done. She canceled her flight that Jack purchased for her earlier that month, reimbursing those funds to his card. With Chyna’s arrival, Lexi decided to leave on her private jet. A flight that would leave that very night. A flight that Lexi was not certain she was ready to get on.

She groggily got out of bed, reaching for her phone. Beyond the two messages from Ramsey making sure she had made it home alright and apologizing for his inappropriate behavior, there was nothing else. Jack hadn’t called. He hadn’t texted. He had made no effort to get in contact with her after their escapade.

Lexi lazily tossed the thing back into her purse and strolled into the bathroom. After a scalding hot shower to clear her mind, Lexi did some extra pampering. She needed to look her best when she spoke with him. If she looked as shitty as she felt, then she would lose a good deal of the confidence that she needed. She let her loose curls go about their business and applied some make-up to highlight her golden skin and large brown eyes. Her hair covered the damage done to her back, but she had to touch up her neck where a few hickeys were beginning to show. A thin layer of lipstick hid the bruising on her bottom lip. A purple dress that was simple yet appealing was her first choice. She paired it with black strappy sandals. She hoped it was enough.

Her first instinct was to go by his apartment, and with Chyna’s approval, she took the town car across the city. As she approached the entranceway, the attendant who had been on duty when she had stayed the night at Jack’s less than a week ago was exiting the building. “Oh, excuse me,” the attendant said almost running into her.

“No problem at all. Hey, I think I know you,” Lexi said.

“Oh, yeah,” the girl said pointing her finger at Lexi as if she were placing her. “You know Jack, right?”

“Yeah. Do you know if he’s in right now?” Lexi asked taking a step closer to the doorway.

The girl seemed to mull it over. After a second of contemplation she answered, “I don’t think he is. I remember him leaving this afternoon.”

“Do you happen to know where he was going?” Lexi asked knowing she sounded snoopy.

“Look, I don’t really like to get involved,” she said crossing her arms across her chest uncomfortably.

“Oh no, I totally understand,” she said immediately. She had to be quick on her toes or else she wouldn’t get any information. “It’s just his girlfriend is freaking out, because he won’t answer his phone, and she asked me to come by since she couldn’t.”

“Well,” the girl began tilting her head sideways.

“I swear I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t an emergency,” Lexi said lathering on the desperation.

The girl sighed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “He came down earlier and looked a bit bummed out. Said he needed to get some things accomplished at the office, but don’t tell him I told you so,” she said racing down the remaining stairs, across the street, and into a parked Civic.

With more direction than when she had woken up this morning, Lexi piled back into the town car to make her way to Bridges Enterprise. She knew the building well from her long history in the city, but had never ventured inside. All she knew about the business was that the Bridges name had been around for a long time. It comprised of attorneys, accountants, and any other form of business that could assist you with your troubles, and they charged a fortune for their rather successful services.

The town car dropped Lexi off at the base of the monumental staircase leading up to the building. After climbing the flight of stairs, she stepped into Bridges Enterprise, an enormous, emasculating building covered almost completely in glass. The high-arched, sleek entranceway opened into a clean, marble tiled lobby with forty foot ceilings, plush leather sofas, and high-glossed counter space. Every person was impeccably dressed in the latest fashions as well as physically fit and attractive. The women all wore knee-length skirt suits with high heels while the men wore suits each with a different color tie. It was terrifying being in a room with so many well-groomed individuals. Lexi’s simple dress suddenly felt out of place, but she held her head high regardless.

She cautiously approached a tiny Asian woman working behind the reception desk. People milled around the lobby. Some entering and exiting elevators, stopping to chat with an associate, or waiting patiently for their important meeting. With a company this large it was necessary to have the office available to clients seven days a week.

“Thank you very much. Here at Bridges Enterprise we do everything we can to bridge the distance between you and your troubles. Have a wonderful day,” she said hanging up the phone before looking up at Lexi. “May I help you?” the woman asked, a genuine smile crossing her face.

“Yes, I am here to see Jack Howard,” Lexi told the woman hoping to make it see more of a demand than a request.

The woman smirked and glanced down at the monitor in front of her. She clicked a few buttons before returning her eyes to Lexi. “Do you have a meeting with Mr. Howard?”

“Not exactly,” she admitted, “but I do need to see him.”

“Mr. Howard is a very busy man. I hope you understand when I say that you would have to have an appointment to see him,” she stated firmly.

“Right, well, does he have a full schedule today?” Lexi asked attempting to peer over the desk.

“He has the day marked off to be with Ms. Bridges.”

“But he is in the office today,” Lexi badgered anxious to get this over with.

“Is there anything I can assist you with?” the woman asked dodging the question effortlessly.

“Not unless you can tell me what office is his,” she said deliberately.

“Ma’am unless you have an appointment, which you do not, then Mr. Howard is unavailable to you. However, there are more trained professionals in his department that are free this afternoon, if you would like to make an appointment with one of them.”

“No, thank you,” Lexi said gnawing on her bottom lip. What a waste of time. This woman would not be of any more help…not that she had been much in the first place. Obviously, Jack was here in his office. The only problem was she had no idea where that was and the building was a million stories high with hundreds of offices. She could search all day and never locate him, but she didn’t have that time.

She thanked the woman and walked away from the counter looping around towards the elevators. Hopping on the first elevator that dinged open, Lexi stood between several men in high quality suits. As she slowly approached the top floor, she found she was finally left alone with one of the men. Putting on the most girly look she could muster, Lexi cried, “Shoot!” She let the Southern drawl, which she reserved for special occasions, permeate through the word. The man glanced over at her in surprise, but she could see it was also intrigue. He quickly faced the front again not deeming it appropriate to intervene. “Um, excuse me,” she cooed drawing his attention back to her.

“Yes, ma’am?” he asked, the perfect gentleman.

“You see,” she began huffing a little in embarrassment, “I have an appointment with Mr. Howard today.” His eyes widened in surprise. “But I’ve forgotten where his office is,” she told him casting her eyes down and hoping she could find some semblance of innocence in the gesture. “I was wondering if you could maybe point me in the right direction. The woman at the front told me, but Lord, I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached to my body.”

He marveled at her unadulterated beauty for a second before answering. “Sure not a problem,” he said buying her act. He pressed another button on the elevator and turned to continue to make small talk with her from there.

“What are you seeing Mr. Howard for, if you don’t mind me asking?” he asked leaning back against the metal hand railing.

“Uh…” Lexi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She hadn’t thought this far out with her plan and had no alibi for seeing Jack. No doubt she had always been a terrible liar so making something up on the spot wasn’t going to work for her. She was amazed she had made it this far with acting.

“It’s alright,” he said immediately reading her discomfort. “You don’t have to tell me. We have a number of people coming in with troubles that need to be solved. You’re lucky you got Jack. He’s one of our best,” the man said admiringly. She had completely forgotten that she was in a place where talking about her problems was confidential business. At least something was working in her favor.

“That’s wonderful,” she stated dryly, pleased and displeased at the same time that Jack was doing so well for himself. A part of her maliciously wondered how much Bekah had a hand in that.

“Here is his floor,” he said when the elevator landed. “All the way down the hallway and on the right. Can’t miss it. His secretary should be here. Her name is Gwen. She can take it from here.”

“Thank you so much, Mr…” she waited for his name. He had been an invaluable resource.

“Oh, what was I thinking?” he asked smacking himself on the forehead. “Brandon Calloway.” He pulled out his wallet and extracted a business card. She took it from him smiling to herself.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Calloway.”

“Call me Brandon,” he muttered huskily, leaning against the elevator door to hold it open for her while they chatted.

“Brandon,” she repeated placing the card delicately into her purse.

“I hope everything works out for you. If Jack doesn’t help, just let me know. I’m in office 2404. Stop in anytime,” he told her invitingly.

“Well, uh, thanks,” she said stepping through the door.

“No problem. What’s your name?” he asked smoothly as she passed through the sliding doors.

“Lexi. Lexi Walsh,” she said. When she glanced over her shoulder, he was still standing there staring after her. Something had changed in his look and his mouth was hanging slightly open. She wasn’t sure what that was about, but she couldn’t concentrate on that now. He had played his part and now she needed to bridge the distance between her own troubles.

She followed Brandon’s directions and found a blonde, no surprise there, sitting at a desk in front of a large corner office. “May I help you?” the woman asked looking up from her computer screen. She had a British accent, impeccably white teeth, and perfectly fake breasts revealed in her low cut blouse.

“Is Jack in?” Lexi asked smirking at the predictability of the woman’s appearance.

“Indeed. However, Mr. Howard is not taking appointments today.” She looked down at her screen, scrolled through a program, then glanced back up. “I believe I can squeeze you in Thursday afternoon if that works for you, darling.”

Lexi scoffed. “Um, no. I leave this afternoon, and I need to see him now.”

“I’m sorry that would simply be impossible. Perhaps when you are next in town then,” she stated simply. Lexi rolled her eyes and walked around the desk completely ignoring the girl. “Ma’am, you cannot go in there.”

“Sorry. I need to see him,” she said rushing to the door. “Jack, can I come in?” Lexi asked knocking swiftly on the large wooden door. “You’re…uh…secretary said you were in,” she took another glance at the leggy blonde behind her who was just now getting out of her seat to stop her.

“Ma’am, he is unavailable,” Gwen said standing with her hands on her hips in frustration. “You can’t barge in there.”

“Oh, is it not locked?” Lexi asked smiling devilishly as she turned the handle and the door popped open.

“Stop, you’re going to get me in trouble,” Gwen cried rushing after her.

“Jack,” Lexi murmured seeing him sitting behind his desk.

“Gwen, I thought I told you no visitors this afternoon,” Jack muttered not even glancing up from his desk.

Lexi’s determination wavered at the sight of him. He was wearing a tailored navy blue suit over a crisp white button up. The top button was undone and his navy and silver neck tie was pulled loose. His dark hair fell over his eyes as he scanned through a report bound in a plastic cover with the Bridges Enterprise emblem displayed upon the front. She couldn’t even look past him to check out his amazing office as she was so utterly bound by his appearance and commanding presence.

“Sir, I certainly did not let her in. This young lady barged in demanding to see you.” Gwen gave Lexi a death glare.

“Well, see her out,” Jack said still not looking up. Gwen moved forward and latched onto Lexi’s arm. She attempted to veer her out of the room, but Lexi wouldn’t budge. When she started yanking on her arm, her long fingernails digging into her skin, Lexi couldn’t take it any longer. Jack still hadn’t looked up at her.

“Jack, honestly,” Lexi cried standing her ground.

“Lex?” he asked surprised to find her standing in his office.

“You know this woman, sir?” Gwen asked dropping her hands and placing them behind her back promptly. She looked between them with poisonous daggers shooting sparks at Lexi’s back. She was not too pleased that he knew Lexi. Somehow this didn’t surprise Lexi. She wondered if Jack had been sleeping with this woman. The anger at the possibility of him diddling his secretary reminded Lexi why she was there in the first place. She and Jack had a score to settle, and it had to happen today, right now.

“Yes, Gwen. It’s fine. You can go,” he said dismissing her without breaking his gaze which was still set on Lexi.

“Yes, sir,” Gwen said bitterly turning on her designer heels and stalking out the door.

“The door,” Jack called out to Gwen.

She stepped back into the room and yanked the handle slamming the door shut. “Well, she’s…something, isn’t she?” Lexi asked smirking.

Jack rolled his eyes and set his papers down on his desk. Lexi took that opportunity to really take in her surroundings. Like the exterior of the building, the entire perimeter of the office was cased in glass overlooking the city. The view was spectacular and at night time, Lexi could only assume, it would be even better. A large bookshelf was covered with material pertinent to his work as well as the only picture frames Lexi had seen in Jack’s presence since her arrival. One picture in a metal frame of him and Bekah vacationing somewhere on the coast stood out to Lexi. Another picture of Jack with the guys in Las Vegas was framed. His diploma was mounted on the wall in a stunning frame with a red, black, and white tassel displayed alongside it.

Lexi’s eyes moved to the other side of the room, which opened up to a bathroom. But what caught her eye wasn’t the fact that he, in fact, had his own bathroom in his office. Rather was the picture frame that took up the majority of the opposite wall. Her heart clenched as she stared at the picture she had described to Jack less than a week earlier. A picture he had claimed to have gotten rid of, because he couldn’t look at it any longer. The frame was different than the original and as she approached wide-eyed, she noticed that indeed there were a few minor tears in the print, but nothing that took away from the shot. The black and white photograph highlighted the beauty of a small creek with an old wooden bridge across the natural barrier. Hundreds of pine trees as tall as the eye could see surrounded the scene as the sun rose across the horizon.

Just as she remembered it. This was her favorite picture. Jack’s favorite picture. He hadn’t been able to get rid of it, despite everything.

“It’s still here,” she whispered glancing back at Jack. He was shuffling some papers around on his large mahogany desk, but glanced up at the sound of her voice.

“I had it reframed and brought up here from Savannah earlier this week,” he told her attempting to keep the emotion out of his voice.

Lexi shook her head unable to process the many nuances of Jack Howard. Here she was in his office wanting to be so angry at him for everything he had ever put her through, and then he did this. One simple gesture that reminded her why she loved him so much.

“Why?” she barely got out choking on her own words.

“What do you mean why?”

“Jack, come on. You made it pretty clear last night.”

“Last night I said what we did didn’t change things. And, well, it doesn’t, Lexi. Sex never changed things with us before.”

“Do you really believe that sex doesn’t change things?” she asked taken aback by the concept. She wasn’t a typical female who believed that sex necessarily meant an emotional commitment on either side. She had had her fair share of one night stands to prove that to herself, but Jack was not one of those men. And she knew that sex did mean something to him whether he was ready to admit it or not.

“I mean that it doesn’t change what I have to do or the decision that I have to make. It doesn’t make any of this easier.”

“A little birdie tells me it does,” she said turning her back on the picture.

“Oh yeah, who’s that?”

“Who is not the appropriate question,” she told him looking into his beautiful blue eyes from across the space of his office.

“Well, you don’t have to tell me who would tell you that things have changed between us, because I already know,” Jack said triumphantly taking her off guard.

“I suppose you could guess,” she said hesitantly not liking the change of subject.

“No guessing needed. I know what you’ve been trying to do,” he told her staring her down.

She gave him a completely flabbergasted look hoping maybe he could explain further what he was talking about. Wasn’t she the one who was supposed to storm in here and demand answers? Why was he the one completely confounding her over and over again? Her mouth opened and she tilted her head slightly trying to really assess the situation. The only thing she had been trying to do all week was figure out what the hell Jack was doing with his life. She wanted him…bad, but was only fueled onwards by his obvious desire for her. If he had been aloof and untoward, then she certainly would have done his bidding, hung out with her parents, and then hopped on the first plane out of here.