“I don’t know.”
“Have you asked him?”
Have I asked him?
No. I woke up and panicked, made up a lame excuse about a meeting, then told Jax how it was going to be.
Pen reads into my silence.
“Then how do you know you can’t be what he wants and needs?”
Our waitress arrives and takes our order, disappearing as fast as she came.
When we are alone again, I sit back and put my hands in my lap.
“Sex was inevitable.” Pen raises an eyebrow and I smirk. “After everything came to light. Us working together on the project. The beautiful environment.”
It’s Pen’s turn to laugh. It’s rich and warm. She holds up the palm of her hand.
“Sorry,” she says, her eyes wide as she wipes away a tear. “But you. One of the most logical and disciplined people I know is blaming having sex with someone on your environment?”
“Fine.” I harrumph, knowing I sound more like Gabriel. “We had a meeting of minds and body. Stick yourself on a beautiful island, surrounded by crystal waters, white sand and honeymooners… a recipe for disaster.”
“Or multiple orgasms.”
I roll my eyes, my lips twitching as my shoulders relax. “Yes, those too.”
Heat floods my cheeks, and Pen gives me a knowing smile.
“Really that good, huh?”
“I’m not discussing this with you.”
“Oh, don’t be a bore.”
“I don’t ask for intimate details on your love life.”
“Only because I’m sleeping with your brother, and that would be kind of ew!”
“Agreed.”
“But, this is Jax.”
“And?”
“Come on. You and him. You tell me you had a clandestine romance sixteen years ago, you’ve barely spoken to one another since and now you announce you slept with him. Or more to the point, didn’t sleep! You bumped uglies, performed bedroom rodeo, and planted the parsnip! This woman needs to know. Was it better, the same, awful?”
I shake my head.
“Amazing,” I admit, before I can stop myself. “But that’s all you’re getting.”
“What’s next?”
“Nothing.”
Pen looks confused.
“We have a project to work on. It won’t go down well with the board or our investors if they think we’re romantically involved. That I’m no longer impartial. I have to remain professional.” Pen rolls her eyes at me. “And then there are my brothers.”
