She recomposed and smoothed her hand over her skirt. “LA?”
He pulled up his pants. “Yes. One of my properties there is for sale, and my realtor already showed the client the land and had it inspected. But before closing the deal, he asked to meet me for dinner. He’s an old friend I’ve done business with, and I couldn’t sayno.”
She touched her bottom lip, still tender and swollen from his kisses. “Oh. I didn’t know your properties in California were forsale.”
“Just a couple. These ones demand more attention, and I’d rather keep my focus in Texas.”
She’d always assumed one of the reasons he kept investing in California in the past had been because she lived there—because she loved it there. And now he was cutting those ties. She cleared her throat, wishing she could will away the discomfort stinging her like a bee. “Safe travels, I guess.”
“I want you to come withme.”
What? Was she ready to go back to LA? With Jack, of all people, to the city and lifestyle that had tore them apart in the past? The place that had exposed their differences in bold technicolor? Did she dare return? “I don’t know. There’s a lot to dohere.”
“It’s just a couple of days. We leave tomorrow, we’re back the next day. It’s the weekend, and Cody doesn’t work on weekends.”
She snorted. “No kidding. He barely works during theweek.”
He kissed her nose. “My point exactly. What else would keep you from going?”
What else? She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Stop hiding, Lola. Face the music. If this trip sets you straight and you two try to murder each other, then so be it. “Fine. I’llgo.”
He dipped his head and kissed her neck. A thrill of excitement tickled all her nerve endings. “You won’t regretit.”
Jack gesturedfor Lola to step out of his private jet. The engine’s roar reverberated through him. Maybe it was the excitement of being in her presence. Granted, he didn’t need her to come along. He could have done this without her. Of course he could. But he didn’t want to go without her. He wanted to share this part of his life withher.
During the last weeks, he left his offices a bit early or canceled meetings to spend more time with her. Screwing. But now, he wouldn’t need to call his assistant and tell her to rework his schedule. They would have two days in LA to themselves.
Jack scratched his head. Why had sex with her made him more addicted rather than recovered? Because it was damn good. She had imposed limits, like going to sleep in her own room, and he appreciated those. Because they meant she wanted the same things—to scratch that itch, relieve the need, then move on. In the end, he would get divorced, and be free to meet someone with the same goals. Settling down, making a family, growing old together.
Lola didn’t seem the least interested in having children or building a solid lifetime commitment… or did she? The other day, she’d confessed she feared she’d be a crappy mother. Ah, how he wanted to tell her the fact she was so worried was the evidence she wouldn’t be a bad mom. Likemine.
“Jack, what are your plans for today?” she asked as they walked in tandem on the tarmac. An airfield agent greeted him, and he nodded. His rental shouldn’t befar.
The concierge gave him the keys for the Land Rover he preferred to drive whenever he was in town. He wouldn’t miss the unnecessary trips to California. Pleasant, sure, but they sucked up his time and kept him from his focus. “I need to go over some reports for a couple hours but then I’m free until dinner.” He opened the door for her and she slipped inside.
“Do you mind if I catch up with friends while you’re working in the hotelroom?”
He cleared his throat. So much for non-stop screwing. “No.”
“Thanks. I’ve been gone for two months. It’ll be nice to see everyone.”
“Sure.” See everyone. Did she miss her old life? Why did he even question it? Of course she did. Because, despite how well she played house—or how adorably she failed at some domestic tasks—Lola had always enjoyed the hustle and bustle of LA along with the kinds of social events and people he couldn’t stand.
They headed to the five-star hotel, and after checking in, he entered the suite. He didn’t want to have sex with her—not when she’d rush to meet her friends afterward. The same people whom he never got along with. A strange feeling nagged at him, and he unpacked his clothes even though the maid could have donethat.
When he checked his phone, an email got his attention—from the mayor, asking if Jack and his wife would mind endorsing him publicly during his next political rally. Wright wasn’t an idiot. Jack may be a lone wolf sometimes, but he was well respected and no one in the community ever questioned his work ethics or his integrity. If Wright needed to boost the Latino vote, having Jack and his wife Lola in his corner would be beyond beneficial, it could be a game changer in his re-election campaign.
We have plans that day,he typed and hit send. He’d never expose his Lola for political reasons. Even if she was only his temporarily.
