“Jill?” I asked, caught off guard by the sound of her name. It was the affectionate way he’d said it that bothered me.
“We were friends a long time ago, Lexi, and we dated for a while back then. I’ve known her since middle school.”
I swallowed, forcing out the next question. “And why exactly was she at Altika that day?”
“She was interviewing. She’s actually gotten an offer to work with us.”
I raised one eyebrow.
“So now you want to hire her?” I asked, feeling my frustration rise as I said those words. I stared at him, my chest heaving. “When she touched your arm in the breakroom, what did you tell her that made her yank her hand away from you?”
Jonah closed his eyes, and his next words came out through gritted teeth. “I told her to remember where we were.”
Aaargh. “Meaning, if the two of you were in a bar, far from work, she had every right to touch you inappropriately?”
He stood up abruptly, reaching for his clothes. “Tell me you trust me,” he demanded, his eyes flashing with anger.
I took a few deep breaths. I’d told him how two of the people I’d been closest to had betrayed me, and he still acted like I was crazy to withhold my trust?
“I do trust you to keep your word, Jonah,” I said, honestly. So far he hadn’t done anything to make me distrust him. “But … this … interviewing and possibly working with a woman you were once sleeping with? I’m not comfortable with that. And why didn’t you tell her you were seeing me?”
He pulled his jacket on, looking angry. “Because you and I aren’t in a relationship right now. Because you and I aren’t openly dating. I don’t see why this is a problem.”
My heart shattered into a million pieces at his words. Sure, we had just been sleeping together so far, but all those times he’d called me his, told me he wanted the world to know I was his… had he lied to me?
“You don’t see why this is a problem?” I stared at him, incredulous. “Jonah, you tried to hire a nanny so I’d skip a child’s birthday party to spend time with you. You get jealous when I so much as mention another man’s name. But I’m supposed to be fine with you hiring a woman you used to sleep with and telling her to remember where you are—implying that somewhere else would be different?”
His jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
“You want my trust?” My voice shook. “Then stop acting like your jealousy is justified but mine is crazy.”
“All I’m asking,” he said, through gritted teeth, “is that you trust me when I say I’m not sleeping with her right now.”
“Trust you?” I let out a breathless laugh. “We haven’t even talked about what this is between us, and you want me to trust that you’re not sleeping with someone else?”
His eyes narrowed. “Yes. I’m asking anyway.”
I drew a deep breath, my heart aching. “What exactly is this between us? Can you define it for me?”
He hesitated. “I haven’t tried to define it. You’re twenty-four, while I’m pushing forty, Lexi. We’ve just been enjoying what we have.”
I met his gaze, fuming. “Don’t use my age as an excuse. And the answer to your earlier question is no. We’ve made no commitments, and we’re nowhere near the point where you can ask me to trust that you’re not sleeping with someone else.”
It seemed like a shutter had fallen down on his face, blocking all emotions. I couldn’t read him anymore.
“I don’t do feelings, Lexi. I like my life the way it is, no complications and no emotions. And certainly no one to tie me down.”
I turned away, hoping to hide the hurt on my face.
There were days I’d fantasized about finding a good man, but even I’d never dared to dream about someone as awesome as him. He was perfect. He just … wasn’t mine.
A shaky breath escaped my lips. “I can’t keep meeting you like this, Jonah.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Lexi,” he spat out.
I wished I were.
He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. “You know what? Maybe this was a mistake from the start. We’re in completely different places in our lives.”
