“A thing?”
“You know a…thing. But you don’t have to worry. It’s not interfering with the job. I have everything organized.”
“Maybe I’m not worried about the job. Maybe I’m worried about you.”
“Sweet.” Actually it was. “But as I said, I have everything under control.”
“Why do I doubt that? Probably because you’ve never shown any interest in a client before. Hell, in anyone before. Have you any idea what you’re doing?”
“Of course I do.” Actually, she had no clue. But she was working it out slowly. Declan was obviously going through some sort of weird midlife crisis—being shot and almost blown up would do that to you—and had decided that she was the answer. He was totally deluded. “Actually, I’m doing what you told me to do and putting the past behind me.”
His eyes narrowed. “Declan McCabe is your past?”
“My very, very distant past.”
No way was she going to act as some sort of antidote just because Declan’s perfect life suddenly didn’t seem so perfect. Because he’d finally get over his little crisis and then he’d no doubt dump her like he had last time. Well, she wasn’t going to give him the opportunity. From now on, she was keeping her distance.
She’d thought that she could have him, at least up until the trial, and then their lives would naturally go different ways. But if he was going to try and delude himself there could be more to this that just sex, then she had no choice.
He was an addiction and the only way to deal with addiction was a clean cut.
So no more sex with Declan.
…
Jess was wrong. He always got what he wanted.
But she wasn’t wrong about everything. In fact she was spot-on with certain things. It was scary how clearly she saw him. It was true he’d never had to think about what he wanted before, because he’d always known exactly what he had to do. Except for that one glitch with Jess, he’d done everything his family had asked of him.
And look what that had gotten him.
He was bored. He admitted it—to himself at least. These days the job was all too easy. There was no challenge. And sometimes he felt as though he would explode if he had to sit through one more meeting.
But with Jess in his life, it didn’t seem so bad. Except she was hardly in his life. He hadn’t seen her over the weekend, and she hadn’t answered his calls. She’d popped in briefly this morning to go over his schedule and then promptly vanished again. She was driving him to distraction.
She made him feel alive as he hadn’t felt in years. Since he was eighteen in fact. And he wasn’t ready to let that go yet. Was pretty sure he would never be ready. But she was fighting the obvious attraction.
He’d hurt her ten years ago when he’d walked away, but he hadn’t realized how much. He’d believed her so young that she would get over it quickly. But she hadn’t. A core of bitterness was wrapped around her heart, and she was running scared. He’d seen flashes of fear in her eyes when he’d suggested there might be more between them than sex.
She didn’t trust him, and she didn’t want more. Or at least that’s what she was no doubt telling herself.
And could he blame her?
Maybe not, but he wasn’t letting her go. She’d said it was good to face your fears. So it was time she faced this one.
He picked up his phone and pressed her number.
“What is it?” She sounded annoyed.
“I thought I might come over and we—”
“Sorry, no can do. I’m getting ready to go out.”
He went still and his hand tightened on the phone. “Out where?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I have a date. A date with a ‘nice’ man.”
Keep cool. He was pretty sure this was just her running scared. But scared or not, no way was she running into the arms of another man. “Anyone, I know?”
“I doubt it.”
“Give me a name.”
She was silent for a few seconds, then he could almost hear her mental shrug. “Harry Cantrell. He’s a lawyer.”
“Sounds boring. Stand him up, and I’ll come over instead. You can introduce me to your vibrator. I’ve been having these amazing fantasies ever since we had phone sex.” That was no lie; just the thought made his cock stand to attention.
“Never going to happen. But maybe Harry would like to meet my vibrator.”
He gritted his teeth. “Don’t even think about taking him back to your place.”
“Or else what?” She didn’t wait for an answer just disconnected.
He stared at his phone, while he thought about calling her back. But he had a suspicion she wouldn’t pick up and that would piss him off even more. He needed a plan.
Actually though, he did know Harry Cantrell. He’d met him at one of his father’s parties and Harry was not “nice.” A criminal lawyer, he had a number of his dad’s old mates among his clients. Declan actually liked the man and maybe it was his duty to warn him about Jess. And Jess about Harry. Warn them of what he wasn’t sure, but he’d come up with something. Because if Jess thought she was playing around with someone else right under his nose, she was mistaken.
It didn’t take much digging around to find out where Harry would be that evening. He just hoped—but somehow couldn’t quite convince himself—that Jess would be pleased to see him.
…
As she stepped into the ladies’ room, Jess pulled out her cell phone and hit speed dial. Kim picked up straightaway.
“What the hell did you put on that form?” Jess whispered as though she might be overheard.
Kim giggled. “I just described Jake. Why, what’s he like?”
“Maybe not Jake, but he’s gorgeous, and he’s hot, and I haven’t fallen asleep yet.”
“That’s good. You better let me know how it goes. And if you go to his place, remember—safe sex.”
“Ha. And this from the woman who got pregnant the first time Jake touched her.”
“Well, I’m obviously in the perfect position to give advice. And if you do go to his place, let me know so—”
“I’m not going to his place. Look I have to go. Talk to you later.”
She slipped the phone back in her pocket and returned to the bar. She’d told the truth; Harry was hot, and he was interesting. But disappointingly, she felt absolutely no urge to leap on him and rip his clothes off as she always did when Declan was close. She wanted to want Harry, really she did. But there was no tingly skin, no insistent pulse between her thighs, and her heartbeat remained irritatingly slow and steady. Maybe she just needed to persevere.