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His head jerks. “How did you guess?”
“I told you. I’m observant.”
“It’s uncanny,” he grumbles. “But yes.” He doesn’t elaborate.
“What’s your order?”
“Just a coffee most days. I don’t eat before I work out.”
I tilt my head. He’s not looking at me. And he stops here for coffee every morning, when he has an in-office barista on the forty-eighth floor. Something is up. I’m coming here to investigate. I need to know the truth about Jonah Crown.
“What do you recommend?”
“How hungry are you?”
“Starving, actually. I had a protein bar for lunch.”
Something like regret flickers across his face, before he shutters his expression.
“Trust me, then. I’ll get us something to share. Breakfast for dinner.” He gets up to order.
I watch him walk, confident and loose, like billionaires eat at diners all the time. Paul grins and smacks him on the shoulder when he orders, and I jolt from the shock. If someone smacked him on the shoulder at the office, he’d probably fire them.
Jonah returns to the booth, cold beers in hand. I make a grabbing motion and his lips tilt slightly.
“Not so fast, Thompson.”
He sits, holding the beers close. “I want you to tell me about your ex before I let you have one of these beers.”
My truths. But none of his own. I was right about the layers. He’s greed and ambition. Ruthlessness and anger. Protectiveness and intelligence. And now I’m seeing a different side of him, and I foolishly want more. You like the bad boys. You can’t change him. He’s a man who is willing to humiliate me in front of a crowd of people. But he’s also a man who is willing to apologize. And I’ve learned that’s rarer than anything.
“Let’s play a game,” I say. His eyes flare. He likes games, I think. “One of my truths, for one of yours.”
“Fine,” he says shortly. “You first. When did you and the ex break up?”
“About a year ago. The party was the last straw. I moved out the next day and in with my dad.”
Jonah’s jaw tics, and he passes me the beer. It’s cool and bitter going down. Delicious. I put it in the center of the table when I’m done. Jonah is watching me with dark eyes, looking angry.
“Why not make him move out?”
Jonah would have. “I just wanted to move on. He would have made it hard for me. I needed to lick my wounds.” My face heats with embarrassment. He must think I’m an idiot. Between my panic attack tonight and this shameful admission.
“Did you ever make him pay for what he did?” he asks tightly. Surprise rushes through me. No judgment from Jonah, just action. I like it. Too much. Even though it’s not something I’d ever do.
“Make him pay?” I shake my head. “That is such a you thing to say. No. Why would I?”
“Sounds like he deserved it. And revenge can be…enjoyable.” He smiles sharply.
“I’d be lying if I said it never crossed my mind. My whole life was upended by that breakup.” I wince. “I loved him. Foolish, I know.” Jonah is silent, waiting for me to finish. He never interrupts. Even with all his brash confidence, he waits and listens. Not like Eric, who always had to be the center of attention. “But no.” I shake my head. “I’d rather live in the present than the past. Focusing on revenge won’t make me happy.”
Jonah snorts. “I can tell you it will.” He gestures to the beer and I sip again. “Want me to ruin him?” he asks casually, and I choke on my drink.
“Excuse me? Did you just say ruin him?”
He shrugs elegantly. “I can.”
“What would that involve?”
