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Cooper nodded. “Of course. Take the rest of the day off, man.”
Jake didn’t bother to reply, just crossed the office and headed for the stairs. She didn’t want to see him, but he needed to see her, damn it. Needed to make her see why he’d done what he’d done. Then she’d walk away from him.
For the rest of his life, he’d be the same Jake he’d become ever since his injury. A recluse. Constantly alone. Always serious. Never having fun. Damn it, he wished that file with her name on it had never crossed his desk, because if he hadn’t seen her again…
He’d never have wanted more out of life than this.
Chapter Fifteen
Tara swiped her hands under her eyes, sniffing hard. She had to get herself together before the elevator doors opened. She was losing it, and that wasn’t her style. No, not at all. She didn’t cry over men, certainly didn’t cry over men who betrayed her.
And she didn’t cry in public ever.
She shouldn’t be surprised that they’d used her weakness against her to get their way, or that they’d discovered her disadvantage before she had. But they had, and they were right. She couldn’t stand the thought of Jake taking the fall for her, so she’d caved.
Not only because she didn’t like an innocent person being punished, but because it had been Jake. She cared about him, truly cared about him, and he’d used her with a purpose. Had any of it been real? Had he wanted her, beyond the normal male proclivity for getting laid? Or had it all been an act cooked up between Jake and Cooper so she would give them what they wanted?
The code.
The elevator doors opened, and she straightened her spine. Time to walk out with her head held high and disappear from his life for good. She’d need some time to lick her wounds, because right now they hurt like a bitch.
One step off the elevator, she froze. Son of a… “How did you beat me down here?”
“I ran,” Jake said, leaning against the wall, breathing fast. He didn’t have any weight on his bad leg. “I’m sorry, Tara. You have to believe me. I didn’t mean—”
“Believe you? You know what? Fuck you.” She stalked to him and smacked his shoulder. “I won’t believe another word you say. Ever. You lied to me. Tricked me. Used me. Acted like you cared.”
“That last part wasn’t an act.” He held his palms out. “I wasn’t acting about anything between us. And what happened in my bedroom was real, too. So were the things I said about wanting to be with you. It was all real.”
“Do you honestly think I’m going to believe a word you say to me after what you did?” She tried to sidestep him, but he blocked her path. “Let me go, Jake. I don’t want to talk to you ever again.”
He blanched. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to save you.”
“Well, you did. Congratulations.” She walked away from him. “Now let me go.”
“Tara, wait!”
She quickened her steps, knowing he wouldn’t catch her. Not after he’d run down the stairs to try and get her. She made it outside before she realized she didn’t have a car. Obviously, she could call a cab to come get her. But she still had stuff at Jake’s place, too. Including her house keys. It was painfully
clear she needed to get back into Jake’s.
The door opened behind her, and she stiffened. Without turning around, she knew he’d followed her outside. He passed her and opened the passenger door of his car for her. His sunglasses hid his eyes from her, but she didn’t need to see them to know he was upset. He had lines around his mouth from pressing his lips together, and his body was taut. “You’ll need your stuff. Get in.”
She slid into the seat, wishing her racing heart would calm the heck down. She wouldn’t say a word to him. Wouldn’t fight. Vowed to treat him with icy silence. And yet the second he sat beside her and started the ignition, she opened her mouth. “Why did you do it? Why did you do something guaranteed to make me hate you? To make me despise everything about you?”
He backed out of the spot, keeping his attention locked on the road. “I couldn’t send you to jail. I had to keep you safe, no matter the cost. If that makes you hate me, then so be it. At least you’re not locked up behind bars.”
“Is this need to protect me a side effect of the sex?”
His knuckles flexed. “Yes. No. I don’t know.”
“So if we hadn’t slept together, would you have turned me in?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know, damn it.” He curled his lip. “I don’t fucking know, but I wouldn’t have sent you to jail.”
