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She’s right. I do, and while I’d normally apologize, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s guilty. Of what I don’t know, but she’s pushing my buttons. As if proving that point, she makesa disgusted sound. “I could say a few things to you but I won’t, considering Kent Sawyer’s here.”
At the name certain to cause problems for me and Emma, I rotate and exit the bathroom, removing myself from Emma’s astute inspection. “How the hell does he know that I’m here?” I ask, grabbing the remote by the bed and opening the blinds, an overcast morning limiting the light spilling into the room.
“I have no clue, and if that question assumes that I told him, I didn’t. Maybe Brody did. He’s been off his rocker since he got here yesterday.”
“Brody deals with his retail locations.”
“It’s a small town, and they’re both in town a day earlier than expected. That feels off to me, but you know, you don’t seem to value my opinion these days, so ignore me. He’s presently in the library, sipping the coffee I had delivered to him from the kitchen.”
I scrub my jaw. “Buy me twenty minutes.”
“I already did. I told him you’re at the plant with an inspector. As far as he’s concerned, you might be hours.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” I repeat, and hang up, tossing my phone on the bed. This isn’t an accident. Someone, maybe Jill, knew Emma was here and set me up.
“Jax?”
I rotate to find Emma already dressed in black jeans and a black turtleneck sweater, her hair wet and loose at her shoulders. Her bare feet display pink painted toenails that actually have my cock twitching. Toenail paint is turning me on. Considering my present state of undress and the visitor waiting on me, my gaze jerks to Emma’s bare face, and she’s more beautiful than ever. I’m falling in love with her. I can’t deny it. I don’t want to deny it.
I close the space between me and her, catching her fingers with mine. “I have an unexpected visitor, a business meeting. Ihave to dress and go handle this. Then, there’s a place down the road my father used to take us for breakfast; I’d like to take you there.”
Her fingers tighten around mine. “I’d love to go to the place your father took you, Jax, but what am I sensing in you right now?”
She sees too much. She sees what no one else sees in me. “That I’m fucking crazy about you?”
“Jax—”
“It’s Kent Sawyer, Emma.”
She draws in a breath and lets it out. “Oh.”
“Oh? That’s it?”
“What am I supposed to say? We both know you know that he was the architect behind a failed hostile takeover a few years back. He’s our enemy, and your enemy’s enemy is your friend.”
I cut my stare because I want to deny the truth, but I can’t do that anymore than I can lie to her.
“Jax,” she urges softly, and I force myself to look at her.
“Emma—”
“If I thought your family killed my brother, I’d damn sure align myself with your enemies. I like that you fight for those you love. All I ask is that you let me fight with you.”
“I am fighting with you. I could have hidden this from you.”
“I know that, I do, and it matters to me that you didn’t. I don’t doubt my father could have done this, but my brother is a good man. Please don’t make him pay for my father’s sins.”
“And if he isn’t, Emma? What if he’s involved?” She tries to free herself, but I hold onto her hands. “Don’t pull away,” I order softly. “That solves nothing. We do this together, remember?”
“I know that.”
“Then we have to face the tough questions. We have to decide what comes next, together.”
“I’m not going to help you destroy my brother.” Her voice vibrates with emotion. “This can’t work if that’s your plan.”
“Is that what you think? That this, us, all of this, means so little to me that I’d do that. Damn it, Emma. You’re right. If that’s what you think of me, this can’t work.” Anger starts to burn in my chest. I release her. “I need to get dressed.”
I step around her, and she doesn’t even try to stop me. Of course, she doesn’t. No matter how hard I try to make us one, we’re North and Knight in her mind. Fuck. In my mind, too. I’m full of shit every time I say this doesn’t matter.
