This wasn't good. Chaz was going to see him.
They both turned toward the door, which meant turning toward Jude. Chaz startled when he met Jude’s gaze.
Jude raised a hand in greeting. “Hello.”
“This is Mike Ferguson,” Gemma said to Chaz. “He’s the one who owns the label-printing company I use for my perfume bottles.” He had to hand it to Gemma for thinking fast on her feet. Jude shut the laptop and held it under an arm as he approached them.
“I know you’ve heard me mention him before,” Gemma went on. “Right?”
“Yeah. I think so. I'm Chaz.”
“Good to meet you.” Jude made himself shake the guy's hand.
“We were just finishing up a meeting,” Gemma said.
“How come you didn't mention that someone was here?” Chaz regarded her with amusement.
“My brain got scrambled when I saw you. Besides, Mike's an old friend. He doesn't mind letting himself out.”
Chaz wrapped an arm around Gemma's shoulders.
Hot jealousy flooded Jude. Chaz and Gemma were in a relationship and Chaz had every right to wrap an arm around her. Even so, Jude had to set his back teeth together to keep himself from saying,Get your hands off of her. He revealed none of that outwardly, though. He'd been practicing the art of appearing impassive for a long, long time. He was a master at it now. Master of a miserable skill.
He understood with burning clarity why Chaz was drawn to Gemma. Men would always be drawn to Gemma like surfers to waves. That would never change. Everywhere she went all day long, at work, at the gym . . . men would pursue her.
“Sorry that we ignored you for a bit there, man,” Chaz said to him. “I only saw the scooter parked outside so I had no idea you were here.”
“I caught an Uber here and another one's on its way to pick me up,” Jude explained. “It's my anniversary. I’m meeting my wife at a restaurant in fifteen minutes, and I plan on celebrating so much that I won’t be able to drive home after.”
Chaz chuckled, his demeanor relaxing now that he'd learned Mike was married. “Congrats.”
Jude had researched Chaz. He knew Chaz was about as serious as cotton candy and had had one girlfriend after another—all many years younger than he was—since his divorce. Jude’s research had given him a mild, impersonal distrust of Chaz.
But now? His reaction to the guy in person was far worse, far stronger. Angry heat was racing up Jude's throat. His tie felt like it was choking him. Chaz did not deserve Gemma.
Jude might find a way to deserve her if he was free to try. He was coming to loathe that he had to place his job and his honor before his feelings for her. His stomach churned. “I'll get out of your way.” Jude pretended to check his phone. “My driver is just three minutes away.”
“It was a productive meeting,” Gemma said to him. “Thanks for coming by—”
The sound of a car arriving reached Jude.Who is this?He hadn't heard Chaz's arrival. But this car was loud. Impossible to miss.
“That's my mom’s car,” Gemma said. “I'd know that muffler anywhere.”
The wordnosilently filled Jude’s head. He couldn’t simultaneously be Mike to Chaz and Jude McConnell to Simone.
“I'd be happy to meet her—” Chaz started.
“This isnotthe time to introduce you to my mom,” Gemma stated firmly.
Outdoors, the engine went silent. Jude's blood pressure and anxiety shot upward.
“Will you do me a favor and wait in my bedroom while I spend two minutes getting my mom turned around and back on her way?” Gemma asked Chaz.
Chaz hesitated, clearly confused.
“Please,” Gemma said. “As a favor to me?”
“Sure, babe. I'll wait in the bedroom.” He winked at Jude.
