The fingers that grip my forearm don’t hurt me, but they still hold tight as he scowls and moves closer.
“This isn’t funny, Jill. I’ve just gotten a killer promotion, and I took time off for this. It made me look bad to request the days to be here, but I did it anyway because I thought you wanted me here. Now, if you’re done playing with that clean-cut robot you’ve ditched upstairs, I’d really like to take this conversation to my room so we can be alone. We both know we shouldn’t havebroken up. What we had was good, baby. Don’t tell me you don’t miss it.Miss me.”
I stare at him, unable to find the right words to say. Denial is a disease that men like James seem to catch constantly. Beneath that messy blond hair, the charming smile, and bright blue eyes, he’s helplessly stupid. Luckily, stupidity isn’t contagious.
“Let it go, James. A reconnection isn’t happening here or anywhere. There’s no future with us. I’m sorry you wasted a trip?—”
He yanks me into his chest, his hand slipping up to cup my elbow. “Stop this. Be honest. Let me kiss you and remind you of what we had, Jill. I promise you’ll realize what a mistake you’re making.”
“I’d recommend you take your hand off of her and step back,” comes the voice from behind me.
I know without looking back who’s joined us and, from the sounds of it, is very unimpressed with what he’s found.
12
GRAYSON
The moment I wake up,I’m grinning. It’s the loose, giddy type that a kid would flash at the man pretending to be Santa at the mall. That’s what Jill reduces me to. A child eager to beg a bearded stranger for a Christmas gift. Christ help us both.
Wetting my dry lips, I stretch out my arm and wiggle my fingers, trying to reach where she’s rolled away to. It would have been ideal to have her pressed against my body the moment I peel my eyes open, but there’s no mistaking the cold that’s seeping into my skin.
I dig my palm into my eyes before forcing them open and blinking to adjust to the dark. If it weren’t for the light slipping through the bottom of the curtains, I’d assume it was still night. That’s not the case, though. Which makes my curiosity turn to stomach-flipping worry when I stare at the very empty spot beside me.
The sheets are still warm when I rub my hand over where I should have found Jill. She hasn’t been gone for long, but it still grates on me that she’s left at all. It could have been anemergency, only if it were, I’m pretty confident that she would have woken me before disappearing.
She didn’t.
It bothers me more than it should. I know she doesn’t owe me anything, not even after what happened last night. As amazing as it was to have her like that . . . beneath me and then later, with her hands on the headboard and me rocking into her from behind?—
Fuck.Enough, Grayson.
Sex doesn’t grant me unrestricted access to her life. Point blank period.
The reminder doesn’t do any good. I push myself up and stretch my tense arms above my head and across my chest. This is uncharted territory. Do I have the right to go searching for her, or is that stepping over the line? Would it be an easily forgivable offense if I risked it, anyway?
Her phone isn’t on the nightstand where I had plugged it in after she fell asleep last night. I’d sent a text to her sister before crawling into bed, not wanting her to spend the entire night before her wedding worrying about her when she was well taken care of. The bride and groom were booked into separate rooms from what I’d heard at dinner, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if her sister spent her time alone pacing a hole in the floor.
There wasn’t much time to get a feel for Jill’s family at dinner before we left and came back to our room, but from what I’ve gathered, it’s clear Kate cares heavily about her. Regardless of her obsession with her soon-to-be husband’s family, she has a soft spot for Jill and clearly misses her. Maybe this wedding will pull them back over the gap that’s grown in their relationship.
I’m out of bed in a blink. I avoid my contacts and put my glasses on before grabbing a pair of jeans from my bag and yanking them on, not bothering with underwear. The immediate scratch on my balls has me second-guessing that decision for theslimmest moment before I shrug a shirt on and shove a room key into my pocket.
If something is wrong, I refuse to have learn about it after the fact because I was sitting here twiddling my thumbs, daydreaming like a teenager. I want to be with her, helping in any way I can.
The wait for the elevator feels like it takes ages. I tap my toe on the hall carpet and watch as the numbers climb one by one. By the time it dings and the doors glide open, I’m too antsy. I jam my finger into the lobby button and scrub a hand through my hair. It’s rarely unkept like this. Some call me anal, but I just have certain standards that I like to keep for myself.
It’s why I work out as often as I do and keep a monthly appointment at my favourite barber. Skin care isn’t only for women, either, which is a perception that’s always frustrated me.
Nipping at my cheek, I stare at the number two on the screen beside the door and wonder if Jill appreciates all the effort I put into my appearance. And if she does, would she ever tell me? Not that Ineedto hear anything about that. It would just be nice to know that she finds me even half as attractive as I find her.
The doors part, and I nearly jump free of the elevator. Unsurprisingly, the lobby is empty besides the front desk clerk clicking away on the keyboard in front of her. There’s a sharp scent of fresh coffee trailing over from the dining room and a low hum of conversation clinging to it. I twist in the direction of the noise but pause with one foot in front of me.
“This isn’t funny, Jill. I took time off for this, and I’ve just gotten a killer promotion. It made me look bad to request the days to be here, but I did it anyway because I thought you wanted me here. Now, if you’re done playing with that clean-cut robot you’ve ditched upstairs, I’d really like to take this conversation to my room so we can be alone. We both know weshouldn’t have broken up. What we had was good, baby. Don’t tell me you don’t miss it.Miss me.”
Every muscle in my body coils as I turn on my heels and stare down the opposite hall. Nobody’s there, but I know who that voice belongs to. James is lingering somewhere like a bad smell, and he’s with her.MyJill.
“Let it go, James. A reconnection isn’t happening here or anywhere. There’s no future with us. I’m sorry you wasted a trip?—”
I’m taking wide steps forward, following the shaky sound of Jill’s voice. I can see a sandal-clad foot sticking out from a small alcove in the hallway and move faster, my chest tight. The first thing I see is James’s twisted expression as he looks down at her, forcing her into the place against his body.
