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But apparently Luke didn’t want to talk about Eva. He wanted to talk about her.
“And what did you say, Jordan?” he asked quietly.
“I told Raven I thought the story wasn’t quite what Eva might have led them to believe.”
“Did you tell them not to come?”
Jordan flinched and crossed her arms once more, answering his question silently.
“Got it,” he snapped.
“Look, Luke, I will tell them. I just need something to work with. I need to pacify them, to keep my job and to protect you too, and I can do both if you’ll tell me what went on with you and Eva. Then I can tell them why it’s not a good idea that she come here—”
He scoffed. “Right. Exchange one juicy story for another, right? Maybe if I give them a good enough version of my side, they’ll sweeten the deal. Offer more money to coax me into being part of their show, right?”
Jordan’s heart quickened in panic at the way he was twisting this.
“Stop. That’s not what this is. Luke, you have to know by now that this isn’t just about the show, it’s not about my boss.”
“No? What’s it about then, Jordan?”
She swallowed, made herself say it out loud, even though it came out as a whisper. “You make me want things I haven’t let myself want in a long time.”
He studied her, then shook his head. “That’s it? That’s all I get? You tell me you’re dredging up the worst part of my life, and I get some vague crap about your self-discovery?”
His rejection of her admission hurt, even as she knew he had a point. He deserved more, but didn’t he get that she wasn’t ready? This was all new to her. She’d spent her entire adult life avoiding feeling anything important for anyone, too terrified that she’d lose them, and he wanted her to change overnight.
Her fear made her speak without thinking. “Well, gosh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Elliott. Not all of us have had three fiancées to practice our pretty talk on.”
His expression registered hurt a split second before anger took over again. “You know what, City?” Luke stepped closer. “Go ahead and tell them to bring Eva on in. Roll out the red carpet and bring in the paparazzi.”
She stared at him. “You don’t really want that.”
“To see Eva again? No, not really. To put all that shit behind me, I do want that. You know why?”
They were nearly toe to toe, and she tilted her face up to his, shook her head.
“Because,” he said softly, raking his gaze over her features. “The sooner I get this over with, the sooner you’ll go back to New York and your precious job, and you and I can get on with our lives.”
She recoiled in pain. “Luke—”
He turned and jogged away before he could hear the rest of what she had to say. It was just as well. She was pretty sure the words on the tip of her tongue could destroy both of them.
I love you.
Chapter 23
“Damn, Jordie,” Simon said sympathetically as he pushed a glass across the kitchen counter to her. “That’s cold.”
She shrugged and shook the glass, watching the ice cubes rattle. “Not so much. I mean, I guess we both knew I was going back to New York. Maybe he’s right to say that everything will be less complicated the sooner I do.”
Jordan took a sip of the drink and made a face. “What the hell is this?”
“Lemonade,” Simon said in an offended voice. “Vicky gave me the recipe.”
Jordan resisted the urge to scratch her tongue. “It tastes like pure sugar.”
“That’s just your bad mood talking,” Simon said, taking the glass from her and squeezing a half lemon into it before handing it back.
