Page 44 of Crimson Love

I shrug.

“What the fuck, Lennon? You’re a grown woman. What kind of uncle would do that?”

I can’t take it anymore. I have nowhere to go and nothing left to lose. “He’s not my uncle, okay?”

Sarcasm bleeds through his tone. “Well, that’s a relief. I feel so much better letting you leave on your own since you’re not actually related to the guy who’s giving crime docudramas a run for their money.”

Tears pool in my eyes.

He drags a hand down his face before pulling a chair right in front of me. “Sorry, even though I meant every word. If he’s not your uncle, who is he?”

I stare at my entwined fingers in my lap. “I worked for him ... sort of.”

Jett leans forward and does what he did right before he kissed me. He lifts my chin and forces me to look into his beautiful dark eyes. “What do you mean sort of?”

“It’s really fucked up, Jett.”

His hand slides up the side of my face to cup my cheek. “You’re scared.”

I wet my lips but can’t bring myself to say it, so I nod.

His thumb brushes my cheek. We sit here for long moments. It seems like he’s trying to figure out what to do with me.

I need to let him off the hook. “I’ll leave —”

But he interrupts and does it with his thumb pressed to my lips. “It’s been a long day. Get your stuff and do what you need to do to get comfortable. I’ll order room service. Not what I had planned, but dinner delivered from The Greenhouse doesn’t suck.”

I pull his hand from my face. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Take all the time you need. We’ll talk when we eat.”

“I don’t have anyone I can trust.”

“That’s why you’re here.” He stands and pulls me up with him. “You can trust me.”

He’s about to let go of my hand, but I grip it tighter. “Why?”

He doesn’t answer.

He pulls me into his chest and claims my face again like he did downstairs. It was the act that pushed Andrei over the edge. When Jett kisses me this time, it’s not for show or to piss anyone off or to keep me safe.

This time there’s no tongue, but it is intense in a whole new way. It’s chaste and way too short. He leaves me wanting more when he pulls away far enough to look into my eyes. “That’s why. I’ve wanted to do that for days. I’ll make sure you know that you can trust me in every way.”

I bite my lip.

“Lennon?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re not leaving here tonight. And you’re not leaving my side until we get this shit figured out.”

I finally give in.

Not because I have to.

But because I want to. The need to trust someone overwhelms me.

“Okay.”