Her stomach churned and she frantically pressed her hands against his shoulders. “I can’t.”
He stepped back instantly.
She scrambled off the desk as soon as he was out of the way. Memories assailed her. Too many times a sharp bite on her neck had ended with her bent over the desk or under it, servicing the last Jack. The man who’d owned her.
“Are you okay?” The question was laced with concern.
Breathing hard and choking back bile, she couldn’t answer, just shook her head.
“What just happened?”
She shook her head again.
How to even start? The feelings were too raw, too present, for her to deal with.
Here she was, the big bad Jack and a nip on the neck had sent her running like a new girl on the street. It wasn’t even the same desk!
Taryn wrapped her arms around her middle. God, she’d thought she was over it. Thought she was past those terrible years when the man she’d thought was her savior had turned into her captor. Turned out, only his death had made him a savior.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his voice soft, gentle. He stood on the opposite side of the desk, giving her plenty of room.
That was good. She needed time to get her head straight. He looked so worried.
“Bad memories,” she rasped out.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Um. That would be a no. Possibly a never. Or at least never again.
She’d gotten therapy when the old Jack had died. Life was overwhelming in those early days, with the stress of keeping the bar going and the worry that people would find out he’d lied when he said they were married.
“You should go,” she said, instead of trying to explain her complicated past. Her complicated emotions.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded her head vigorously. “Please.” Yes. Right now, she was sure. Later, she’d probably miss him. Or maybe she’d be cussing herself out for letting it get this far. Or for not being over it.
He studied her, and Taryn couldn’t imagine what he saw. Wished he hadn’t seen the woman beneath the Jack’s armor.
“I’m sorry I brought up bad memories.”
“Me too.” The words slipped out. He winced and it felt like kicking a puppy.
God, she was a mess. She needed to be alone to get her head together. He seemed to understand.
“I’m going to go,” he said.
She nodded.
She stood between him and the door. When he moved forward, she stepped to the side, circling around, keeping a comfortable distance between them.
The closer he got to the door, the closer she moved toward her desk. She swallowed hard and didn’t look at the desk. It was the last place she wanted to be right now, but it was the only way to maintain a safe distance.
“Good night,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”
“Night.” She spoke because he deserved an answer.
He slipped through the door, closing it behind him and leaving her trapped in her office with memories she thought she’d dealt with.
