“Guess you’ll be able to do your own dirty work on this one,” he says, placing the folded check on the edge of my desk. “Good luck, sport.”
As he strolls toward the door to make his escape, Melanie storms into the room without escort. She’s dressed in a pink-and-white gingham waitress uniform with white-cuffed short sleeves and a skirt that ends just above her knees. Her light auburn hair is gathered into a high ponytail and her long, lean legs are wrapped in white tights and crepe-soled shoes.
It’s not the sexiest outfit I’ve ever seen, yet my entire body ignites at the sight of her as though I’ve got gasoline in my bloodstream and Melanie Laurent is a lit match.
Desire surges through me, giving me an erection that strains the front of my dark jeans.
Just one more reason I need to cut her loose, and do it quick.
Her blue-gray eyes latch onto me the instant she steps inside. They’re as dark as thunderclouds now, and I have to wonder how pissed she was when she set out to find me if she’s still vibrating with fury now.
“Sorry, Gibson,” she says, flicking an apologetic glance at my dutiful house manager. “I know you said to wait, but what I have to say to the arrogant bastard you work for won’t take long.”
The old man inclines his head as if she just told him she’d arrived for tea. And I would swear I detect the trace of a smile playing at the edge of his mouth in the second before he bobs his head in my direction, then hastily shuffles for the exit where he joins Nate.
The two men leave, closing the tall doors behind them.
At the soft click in their wake, Melanie charges forward. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Until a few seconds ago, I thought I was having a private meeting with my attorney.” I lean back against the edge of the desk, my hands braced on either side of me, mainly to combat the urge to go to her.
She advances until she’s within arm’s length of me. “You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
Reaching into the small crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, she pulls out a folded paper and shoves it toward me. I catch the in-home nursing work order and calmly set it down on the desktop beside me.
My non-reaction only seems to anger her more. “You’re unbelievable, Jared. What part of ‘I don’t want your charity’ didn’t you understand the other day?”
“As I recall, you said that about indulging a child with some sugary drinks. I didn’t think the same rule would apply when it comes to providing your mother with a necessary service.”
“It’s not necessary,” she fires back. “It’s excessive. And you have no right.”
“Maybe not, but I have the means. I’m sure your mother could use the care, and you can’t do it all on your own.” My voice gentles in the face of her outrage. “The point is, I didn’t think you should have to do it all on your own, Melanie.”
Some of the steam leaves her at that, but it’s clear she’s not ready to back down from this fight. “Again, you have no right to decide what I can or can’t handle. When I said I didn’t want your charity, I meant it.” She folds her arms in front of her. “I’m going to pay you back. It may take a while, but I’m going to pay back every cent, Jared.”
“It won’t be necessary.” I stand and turn to pick up the check I made out to her. “I have something else for you, too.”
“What’s this?” She eyes it warily, as if I’m handing her a lit fuse. When she reads the amount written on it, her gaze snaps back up to mine in question.
“I’m breaking our contract. Keep the full amount, or give your boyfriend his share. I leave that up to you.”
“Daniel’s not my boyfriend anymore. I broke up with him.”
“When?” I don’t even try to hide my surprise.
“Last weekend. The day after I was at your studio.”
The day after we kissed and I made her come in my hand. “You didn’t say anything about breaking up with Hathaway when I saw you at the hospital.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“You didn’t tell me later, either.” Later, when she confessed she wanted me, too, and nearly invited me to do a lot more than just fondle her like a hormone-crazed schoolboy.
“Would it have mattered if I had told you? I think you would’ve left either way.”
She’s right. I would have gone no matter what. To save her from me.
To save myself, too.
