But that was always only part of the reason why I ran. I was more afraid the truth would rip him apart and destroy his family.
I might never have liked Angie Jenson, but I envied the close relationship Ty had with his mom. It’s what I always wanted with mine, and I’d hate to be the one that destroyed that connection between them. Maybe he would’ve given up his family for me, but then I’d never know for sure if he stayed with me out of love, or because his pride wouldn’t let him admit he’d made a mistake.
How could we have survived that?
He sighs, and his fingers tangle in my hair in a tender gesture, but he doesn’t pull my head back for a kiss. It’s as though, right now, this is enough for him, too.
Guilt burns through me. Is it possible he’s falling for me again? I don’t want that. Ican’twant it, because we don’t have a future. I should leave right now, or maybe just go down on him. Anything to remind us both that this is all about the sex and nothing more. But I can’t bring myself to shatter the moment.
In a few days, I’m going home. I’m not going to punch a hole through his world when there’s nothing he can do to change the past. I guess it’s the same choice I made before, except this time I’ll be ready to move on.
Yeah, sure…
“Do you want to go out tonight?”
I smile against his shoulder, even though my heart hurts. “Like a date, you mean?”
“No.” He strokes the back of my neck and I don’t want him to ever stop. “We’ve gone past dating.”
True enough. I pull back so I can look him in the face. My head’s screamingdon’t do it, but I’m going to. “What do you have in mind, then?”
“I want you to see the Hammer in action.”
“That sounds suggestive.” I cup his ass. “So, it’s all business, no pleasure?”
His hand clasps the back of my neck, and I’m drowning in the blue of his eyes. “I didn’t say that.”
“It’s a bad idea to mix the two. You know that.”
“That’s why I never have.”
I want to believe him. Idobelieve him when it comes to the Hammer, but when we were together I was never a hundred percent sure he didn’t fool around with the girls who worked for Jett. Some of them were so pretty and confident of their sex appeal, and I know for a fact Ty’s dad encouraged him to experiment.
One of his comments, when I was barely fifteen and Ty seventeen, jangles through my mind.You kids are way too young to be so serious about each other.The subtext was so blatant I was speechless—and so desperately hurt by the implication that I wasn’t, and would never be, good enough for his only son.
Just one of so many slights, and Jett was an amateur in that department compared to his wife.
Stop.I’m not going to tear myself inside out remembering those times. Today I’m with Ty, and today that’s all that matters.
I pull back to the present, where Ty’s waiting for my answer. “I guess it’s a good way to check out the working conditions of your dancers.”
“You can check them out anytime you want. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“I might take you up on that.”
“So that’s a yes to tonight, is it?”
“Why not?” I brush a kiss across his lips, and his grip on me tightens, holding me in place. Not that I’m complaining. Kissing Ty is no hardship.
His groan vibrates inside my mouth, and I wriggle against him, deliberately teasing his erection with my body.A quickie in the office? Really?It’s not like I work for him. And now I can’t get the image out of my head.
Before all the reasons why I shouldn’t do it snap me back to reality, I push him up against his desk. He laughs like he’s torn between shock and amusement, and I give him a wicked grin as I tug on his belt. “You’ve never had sex in here, is that right?”
“Why? Are you planning on changing that?”
“Maybe.” I hook my thumbs into the band of his jeans. “Would you like me to?”
His hands slide beneath my shirt, his fingers warm and strong against my back. “What do you think?”
