Shit.
I nibble on my lip as I contemplate pretending I’m not home. But he can see my car in the driveway, and it wouldn’t be a very nice way to treat the man. He’s been on my list to call. He’s left a couple of messages asking me out, and I haven’t returned either of them. I’m not sure if Jerry said anything to him about Jared. Either way, he deserves to know, and there’s no better time than the present. I buzz him in and move to the front door to greet him.
“Logan, this is a surprise.” I smile softly as he approaches.
“I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced, but I had a client meeting in the area, and I thought now might be a good time to talk.”
“Sure.” I stand back to let him in. “Come on in to the kitchen.”
ChapterThirty
Jared
Irub at the tight pain in my chest as I open Syd’s front door, my rotten mood instantly perking up when delicious smells of garlic and tomato hit my nostrils. This is just what the doctor ordered after the afternoon from hell.
I slam to a halt in the doorway to the kitchen watching Sydney throw back her head and laugh at something the guy facing her says. “Who the fuck are you?” I blurt, venom spewing from my tone.
“J.” Sydney spins around, gulping and tucking her hair behind her ears in a nervous tell. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Obviously.”
“I’m Logan.” The guy steps forward with his arm outstretched.
Call me petty, but I cross my arms over my chest, glare at him, and ignore his hand.
A muscle clenches in his jaw as he lowers his arm to one side, but he keeps a polite smile fixed to his lips. “Sydney and I have been dating.”
Sydney cringes, and I can’t keep the hurt from my face. She mentioned nothing to me about any other guy. As far as I was concerned, she hasn’t been with anyone since the pretentious prick in Italy. Guess I was wrong.
“Don’t let me interrupt then,” I snap, spinning around on my heel.
Fuck her and whatever game she’s playing. I storm toward the door as she calls out after me.
“Jared, wait!”
I yank the door open and stride outside, my boots crunching on the gravel driveway.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, J, please wait.” She catches up to me and tugs on my arm. “Jared, I know what that looked like, but—”
“Save it, Syd!” I bark. “I’m not in the mood to hear it after the day I’ve had. Just leave me alone.” Wrenching out of her hold, I exit her property and return home.
She shows up thirty minutes later carrying a ceramic dish which she places on the island unit where I’m nursing my second glass of JD.
“Jared, I’m so sorry.”
I stare at the amber liquid in my glass and ignore her.
“Logan works with Jerry. I had three dates with him before we met on the beach. I haven’t seen him since though he has left me some messages. I was planning to call and tell him I’m with you now, but he just showed up at my door unannounced, and I figured I’d let him down in person.”
I lift my head and pierce her with heavy eyes. It’s been an exhausting couple of days, and I’m barely holding it together. “Did you fuck him?”
“No.” She vigorously shakes her head. “It wasn’t like that.”
Exhaling slowly, I release some of the tension from my shoulders. “Why didn’t you mention him?”
“It didn’t occur to me. It wasn’t ever going anywhere.” Slowly, she comes up behind me on the stool and wraps her arms around my waist. “The truth is, from the moment you showed up on the beach you are the only man I’ve thought about.”
I grip her hand and rest my head back against her shoulder. “I’m sorry for overreacting.”
