Rachel’s smile faltered, eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and something unreadable.
“Kylee, that’s not”
Kylee cut her off, shaking her head. “Save it. I’m not here to play nice.”
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving Rachel frozen behind the desk and Kylee’s heart pounding with a mix of relief and sorrow.
Back in her car, Kylee gripped the steering wheel tightly. She wasn’t sure what this trip would bring, but one thing was certain she was done pretending.
Rachel stormed into Jake’s office, her jaw was tight, eyes flashing with irritation. “Kylee came by,” she said, leaning casually against the edge of his desk. “She wasn’t exactly nice.”
Jake looked up from his tablet, eyes glinting with amusement. “She came by?” he repeated, shaking his head. “What did she say?”
Rachel shrugged, biting her lip. “Said if I’m fucking you while she’s gone, she’ll make me regret it.”
Jake’s laugh deepened. “God, Kylee’s got fire. I’ll give her that.”
He tapped his fingers on the desk, then looked up with a cold edge. “You know what, Rachel? Take the week off. Clear the schedule. I’m going to stay home with the kids. We’ll pick things up when she’s back.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of jealousy and anger flashing through them. “A week off? Seriously?”
She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to argue, but the sharp look Jake gave her stopped any protest. She forced a tight smile instead. “Fine. Whatever you say, Dr. Waterman.”
Rachel stepped out of Jake’s office, the sound of her heels echoing down the hallway like a countdown to her unraveling. A storm of frustration and jealousy brewed inside her, fierce and unrelenting.
Damn it,she thought, biting her lip to keep the edge from her voice. A whole week off? Just when things were heating up.
She hated the idea of stepping back, of giving Kylee space to swoop back in and pretend everything was fine. Rachel wasn’t the type to back down, not from a man she wanted.
Jake wants me to play it cool. Keep quiet. But this isn’t over. Her mind raced through possibilities. How could she make sure Jake stayed hers, even when Kylee was in the picture? How to keep that fire between them burning without losing control?She clenched her fists, fighting the swirl of anger and desire tangled inside her. The jealousy gnawed at her, he's hers, but I want him to be mine. Completely.
Rachel wasn’t just angry about the week off. She was mad that Kylee still had that hold on Jake. And she was determined to break it, one way or another.
Jake’s tires crunched softly on the gravel driveway as he pulled into the garage, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the quiet yard. Inside the house, Kylee moved through the living room with a calm, almost clinical precision, her suitcase zipped shut and neatly placed by the door, clothes folded, and everything ready for her trip. The air felt charged, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension.
He set his briefcase down and glanced at her. “Rachel said you came by the office today,” he said, voice low.
Kylee’s eyes flicked up, wary. “What did she say?”
Jake ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “She just told me you stopped by. Said you weren’t exactly nice.”
Kylee’s jaw tightened. “What else?”
Jake gave a dry chuckle. “She said if she’s fucking me while you’re gone, you’ll make her regret it.”
Kylee’s eyes narrowed, “Sure did.”
Jake laughed and ran a hand over his face. “I told her to stay home this week. No work. I’m handling things with the kids. You don’t have to worry.”
She studied him for a beat, then simply said, “Good.”
The weight of what was about to happen settled between them like a storm on the horizon. Jake shifted on his feet, sensing her restraint like a wall between them. He wanted to say more, apologize, explain, rewind time but Kylee had that look again. The one that said don’t push me. It was new. And it scared him more than her yelling ever could.
She smoothed her hands over the sides of her suitcase, her fresh manicure catching the light. She looked calm, collected, stunning, really. Hair curled, lips glossed, dressed in soft blush tones that made her glow. Jake stared a second too long.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
Kylee finally looked at him. “Thanks.”
