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“This is ridiculous.” Jenna shook her head and started for the door again. “Move.”
Mac remained still. She glanced down to the floor, then back up, blinking against the unshed tears in her eyes.
Enough. Mac snapped and grabbed her arms, hauling her against his chest. He ignored her shocked gasp.
“You think this is ridiculous?” he demanded with a slight shake. “What’s ridiculous is thinking a relationship can work between us. You need to trust me on this, Jenna. I’m pushing you away because I care about you, not because I don’t want more.”
Her eyes roamed his face as she blinked, taking in his statement. “You want more? As in...what?”
No. He wasn’t taking the bait. Discussing things that could never happen was moot.
“It doesn’t matter,” he claimed. “What matters is our friendship. I need to keep you at a distance, to prevent you from getting in too deep. This way you’re still in my life and you can have your own life without the stress that comes from living in mine.”
“And you’re making this decision for me?” she asked, quirking a brow.
He pushed her back and raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, damn it.”
Jenna’s mocking laugh had his gut clenching. She still didn’t see that he was doing all of this because he cared so much...too much. And this was why he didn’t do relationships. Too many ways to get hurt, both physically and emotionally. He wished she would see that remaining friends was their best option.
His cell vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it for the time being. He’d check it once Jenna was gone.
“I’m not sure friendship is an area I want to go with you again,” she told him, her defiant little chin lifted. “I’ve seen how much you care for me. I know it’s in there and the fact that you’re ignoring it only tells me how much you love me.”
Mac jerked back. “I never said love.”
In that moment a veil seemed to cover her face. Jenna’s lips thinned, her lids lowered slightly as she gave a brief nod.
“That’s all I needed to know. I’m sorry I made a fool of—”
“Hold on.” He jerked the vibrating phone from his pocket. “I have to take this. Don’t leave.”
Her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe he’d cut her off.
The screen flashed Ryker’s name.
“Hey, man.”
“How soon can you meet me in London?” Ryker asked.
Mac’s eyes darted to Jenna. “Did you find something?”
“I believe so. I called Braden and he said to see if you could come. He told me about Zara.”
Mac swallowed his remorse. He hadn’t told Jenna, hadn’t wanted to pull the sympathy card.
With his eyes locked on Jenna, Mac replied, “I’ll call my pilot and be in the air within the hour.”
Mac listened as Ryker went on to explain where he was staying and how hopeful he was that this was the lead they’d been waiting for.
But all the while, Jenna was grabbing her purse from the dresser, pulling out her keys and brushing by him without a word or even a glance in his direction.
Before he could finish the call with Ryker, his front door opened and shut with an echoing click. He’d gotten his wish. He’d pushed her away and now Ryker had a lead on the scrolls the O’Sheas had been in search of for decades.
Now that everything seemed to be within his grasp, now that he was ready to go after his father’s legacy, why did he feel such a void? Why did he have a gut-sinking feeling that the very best thing that would ever happen to him had just walked out that door? And she’d walked out because he’d told her to; he’d forced her hand and left her no choice.
No regrets. Isn’t that the motto he’d always lived by?
For the first time in his life, Mac was second-guessing every action, every choice he’d made for the past week and wondering how the control had slipped from his grasp. Then he realized Jenna had always been the one with the control. As much as he thought himself so powerful and strong, Jenna was the force behind all of that.
Sliding the cell back into his pocket, the fact he hadn’t slept for over a day didn’t even register. All he knew was that as soon as he got back from London, as soon as this auction in Miami was wrapped up next week, he was focusing on Jenna. Somehow, he had to make this right.
Now he had to figure out exactly what he wanted from her because he couldn’t keep hurting her. Their friendship was over, no doubt about that. Now he either needed to cut ties completely or fully submerge her in his world, where he could protect her and keep her safe from his enemies.
