Jack eyed me for a second before he strode to his dressing room and returned with the newspaper. He opened it to the social page and handed it over. There, in black and white, was a collage of photos from the Millbrae festival, some of the sponsors, and one of Jack and me kissing…at the wine bar.
Quickly, I scanned the editorial.Is the recently reclusive wild boy and heir of San Francisco’s Griffin Blackstone Group back in the game? Seen with local girl, Rayen Logan…It went on to regurgitate that he was never seen with the same woman twice, then briefly mentioned his surfing prowess and a bad injury a few years back. Shit.
“Ray, I didn’t show you that because I didn’t want you upset,” he said quietly, hunkering down in front of me, arms braced on his thighs. “You hate the limelight. I saw you step back and try to disappear into the crowds when the tabloids hounded Max and Ila after they got engaged. And being with me, there’s always a chance this will happen.”
True. I disliked the media for what they’d done to Max. But Jack was right.
I chewed my lip and glanced at the photo again. No, he wasn’t to blame. I’d taunted him a lot that day. Usually, he’d smirk or laugh it off, but after the kissing booth incident, he’d been pissed at me.
Hell. Why hadn’t I zipped my lips?
Because you wanted him.
In hindsight, I guess nothing would have stopped me, not with this intense chemistry between us. Wryly, I lifted my gaze to him. “It’s my fault. You only reacted to my provocation. We have to be careful when we’re out in public. Not give those scavengers more fodder to use.”
“So, you…provoked me?”
“How else could I keep you at a distance?” I demanded. A smile started on his beautiful face, chasing away the shadows I’d seen in his eyes. “Jack, have you seen yourself? A woman would have to be dead not to want you, and even that is debatable—eeek!”
He hauled me to him, and I fell off the bed, almost taking him down to the deep gray carpet. He landed on his backside instead. I shifted and straddled him on my knees, and his arms came around me. He buried his face in my neck and held me tight, almost flattening the air from my lungs. “I don’t care about the others. Just you.”
Eh, breathing was overrated anyway.
My fears subsided and I hugged him back. Whatever it was that haunted Jack, I hoped he would talk to me. I wanted the man who smiled with his eyes.
He grasped my ponytail, dragged to him, and put his mouth on mine, his kiss stealing my breath… Before I lost myself in him, I broke the kiss, needing to confess, too.
“Jack—” I eased back. “Mom called me on Sunday morning. They know. They’d seen the photo of us.”
He gave a slow nod. “So,youalready knew?”
I grimaced. “Well, I was going to tell you, but when I came to the kitchen, you kissed me, and I forgot—that is, of course, all your fault. You always distract me.” His eyes twinkled in amusement at my admission. “Then, you were at work, and I barely saw you since Nigel got discharged.”
He gently ran his knuckles over my cheek. “I promise I’ll try not to stay at the office so late. And since we’re clearing the air, Max gave me the 411, said he’d hurt me—make that break my kneecaps—if I did anything to cause you pain.” A little smile tugged his mouth.
“Ah, well.” I grinned. “It’s only fair since I threatened to kick his ass all the way down Pine Street if he hurt my sister.”
A chuckle escaped him. “That’s a damn long road. But good to know. C’mon, let’s see how Pops is doing, then get something to eat.”
Darn, and I still had to work this evening. I moved off him, and he got to his feet. As we walked out of the room, he cast me an arched, sideways glance.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You still haven’t fulfilled the other part of our deal,” he drawled.
I halted in the corridor. “Deal? What Deal?”
“So quickly, she forgets.” He sighed, rather dramatically for a suit. Should have been an actor.
“Jack, what?”
“You don’t want to have dinner with me in public now?” he asked.
I blinked. “What?”
“We have to be careful when we’re out in public. Not give those scavengers more fodder to use,” he reiterated what I’d said moments ago. “I thought you were stronger than that, didn’t care about the tabloids.”
Oh, the sneaky fiend. “Why would I not want to date my…boyfriend?”
