Page 156 of The Bitter Words

Fuck, this is why I go from being kind one minute and into business mode the next. I get caught up in some inappropriate fantasy by thinking she’s close to my age and have to remind myself that’s not the case.

I tense and grumble. “That right there is why I do what I do.”

“And what would that be?”

“I just remembered why I can’t help you with your brand.”

“What is it now?” She puts her palms on the table, her escalating frustration clear. “And if you say one thing about how old I am, I’m going to scream.”

“I wasn’t going to. Why would you think that?”

“Because you have that strange look about you.”

“What?”

“Whenever things are going well between us and you start letting your walls down, I say or do something. Then you get this funny expression that flits across your face right before you say something about me being young.”

I sit back and consider her explanation. If she were my age, would I bounce around my feelings like I do?

I don’t believe I would. She’s not purposely doing anything wrong.

I just find her…smart, confronting, sexy, and off-limits. It fucks with me on a thousand different levels.

I tilt my head and decide to admit it to her. “I’m demanding you be honest with me, so it’s only right if I do the same.”

“Then tell me what this is about.”

“You’re an attractive woman. I forget our age difference and then I remember. That’s why I go from being comfortablewith you to feeling like some kind of…awful man. That’s on me to manage, not on you.”

She pulls back and her eyes round. “Are you saying what I think you are?”

“I don’t know. What do you think I’m saying?”

“Jaxon Crowne, do you find me desirable?”

“Yes, okay?” I roll my eyes. “There, I said it. Not that it makes any difference.”

“But it does.” She sits straight, forcing her breasts out.

My pulse spikes and heat spreads in my chest. I did not think this through. I want to kick myself for telling her how I feel.

“No, Livianna, it doesn’t. Nothing can or will ever happen between us.”

“Because of our age difference?”

“That too, but there’s more than that.”

“Then what? What else is stopping you from asking me out?”

“I’m moving to Paris. My company has a division there and I’m going to work from my European location for a while.”

“I know. My dad told me. How long are you talking about?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have a definitive plan.”

“When are you going?”

“I’m leaving from here.”