“Jesus!”
“In the fire department’s parking lot.”
I blinked. “Yep.That’lldo it.So, imagine that, but with my agent.”
“Geez, did she slash your tires or something?”
“Nope,”Isaid, popping the letterp.“Shejust sent me a scathing email full of corporate jargon that saidIwas a disgrace and made a farce of her in the industry.I’mpretty sure she pulled a thesaurus out to write it.”
“So, one mean email?I’mnot seeing how that equals felony arson auto.”
I laughed asIclosed my laptop and stacked it on top of my notebook. “Aprilbought every copy ofPetrichorshe could find and burned them in my front lawn while screaming in my windows until the cops came.”
“Yep.That’lldo it,”Jacksaid, mimicking my first response.
“At leastIgot the royalties from her buying all of them to burn.See?There’sa silver lining to everything.”Iscooped my things into my arms and settled them on my hip. “Now, what’s rule number one of a breakup?”
“Don’t get back with crazy exes just because you’re lonely?”
I pointed a finger gun at him and clicked my tongue. “Yougot it.”
“So what are you going to do with it if you’re not going to publish it?Seemslike a lot of work for nothing.”
I clenched my jaw. “Ihad a bad breakup with the love of my life.AndI’mnot talking about my ex.”Ilooked down at my notebook. “Thisis my rebound.Andrebounds aren’t supposed to go anywhere.They’renecessary, but not permanent.”
I attempted to walk past him to go downstairs, butJackstopped me with his hand on my throat.Slowly, he slid it up until he was cupping my jaw.Iswallowed, feeling my throat constrict in the confines of his grip. “Jack. . .”
“Allow me to make something crystal clear for you,Roar.Thatbook might be your rebound, butI’mnot.”
My gaze fell to the floor. “We’vetalked about this.I’mnot staying.Don’texpect me to change my mind.”
“You’re not the only stubborn one around here.”
Jack made my blood sing.Heturned my spine into a lightning rod.Iwas drawn to him like a sailor to the sea.
He was an apex predator, wild and untamed.ButIwas safe with him.Ibelonged to him.
“HaveImade myself clear?”Jackwhispered against my mouth.
My lips parted for his.
“Yes or no?” he pressed.
“Yes,”Isaid asItipped my chin up.
“Are you going to let me read what you’ve written?” he rasped.
A slow smile spread. “No.”
“Then you better run.”
The moment his grip released from my throat,Ibolted.Jackwas fit and fast, but he was also bulky.Inan old house with tight corners and narrow staircases, he was at a disadvantage.Havingone arm in a sling threw off his balance.Icould hear his off-tempo gait as he clobbered down the stairs whileIdropped my notebook and laptop on the couch, then slipped from room to room.
A few of the bedrooms had adjoining closets or bathrooms, which made hide-and-seek all the more fun.
I dove into a closet full of drop clothes and paint rollers and waited as my heartbeat kicked like a drum.Eachbreath sounded like it was a thousand decibels.Jack’sheavy footfalls neared, andIfroze, holding my breath.
His shadow filled the narrow gap between the closet door and the frame.
