‘Strictly business.’ Am I telling him or reminding myself?
‘Surely you could make it both…’ He sips honey-coloured alcohol from a shot glass. ‘I’m Levi, by the way.’
‘Chloe.’ Reluctantly, I tip my glass, and its rapidly depleting contents against his.
A smile lifts his lips. ‘That’s the spirit. Business and pleasure always mix well for me.’
‘Oh, there are so many reasons that won’t work for me. Don’t even get me started.’ Levi’s not the only one on his second drink.
‘Like what?’ He sits up straighter, like he’s genuinely interested. He’ll be kicking himself in under thirty seconds, but now I’ve started, it’s a relief to talk about it. Especially since we’ll never see each other again.
‘Like he’s my colleague on this project, at least. Not to mention my sister’s about to marry his brother.’ I knock back the remnants of my gin and tonic and ask a passing cabin crew member for a refill.
When she hands over my third drink and disappears, I add, ‘And sleeping with him was the best and worst decision of my entire life. The best because it was the best sex of my life, and the worst because it can never happen again.’
‘Ah.’ Levi’s bright eyes dance with mischief again. ‘You mean it was the best sex of your lifeso far?’
‘I’m pretty sure it’ll never be beaten.’ I take another huge glug from my glass, grateful for the paracetamol in my handbag which I’m undoubtably going to need before this flight lands.
‘In that case, hunt him down. Do it again. You only live once! Do you want another drink?’
My shoulders shrug in a why not gesture.
Levi is easy company. Something about his casual forwardness reminds me of Ruby.
BJ, as I refer to it in my mind, Before Jayden, Levi might even have been my kind of companion. AJ, I can’t so much as summon a single butterfly.
It’s true, I’ve been ruined.
Possibly forever.
ChapterFourteen
JAYDEN
Sydney
Sydney might be cooler than LA at this time of year, but my body temperature’s running hotter than ever. Between the singer I’d secured to duet with Ryan backing out and the prospect of mind-blowing sex with Ryan’s sister-in-law again, I’m more than a little hot under the collar.
Thankfully, the air-con is on full pelt in the arrivals lounge. It’s my turn to wait for Chloe. She just doesn’t know it yet.
Hiding behind a pair of aviator sunglasses, I can actually breathe without Colton or one of Ryan’s security breathing over my shoulders. I know they mean well, but it’s so suffocating in LA, where someone constantly demands to know my whereabouts.
Through a fresh influx of tired looking travellers, Chloe Sexton stands out like a diamond. Is it any wonder I call her princess when she radiates a sublimely sexy regal aura? The second she emerges with her luggage, my eyes are drawn to her, the same as every other male in the room.
In a cream silk sleeveless blouse and fitted navy jeans, she is the epitome of every fantasy I’ve ever had. Glossy chestnut locks bounce over her shoulders as her long, shapely legs stride across the room.
A guy in a suit jacket and jeans falls into stride with her. She laughs at something he says before shaking her head. When he reaches into his pocket and hands her a card, a fire ignites in my chest.
My forehead creases into a frown. It takes me a minute to figure out the red-hot emotion racing through my blood is jealousy. It’s not an emotion I’m used to.
Chloe runs her slim fingers over the card and flips it over in her hands twice before stuffing it into the pocket of her navy ass-sculpted jeans. The second I wiggle them off, I’ll be sure to throw it in the trash. She’s mine for the next few weeks. She just doesn’t know it yet.
When he kisses her cheek, it’s a battle not to run over and rip him off her.
For the past eight weeks, I’ve battled wicked thoughts of all the things I’ll do to her given half the chance, even though it’s wrong on a million levels.
Hell, who am I kidding? I’ve had these thoughts for ten years. But since our time together, I haven’t so much as looked at another woman, because apart from the fact I’m supposed to be keeping a low profile, no one else can soothe the itch I have to scratch.
