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I crossed my arms and leaned against the door jamb. He watched my actions intently, then rose from behind his desk and walk around it.
“Please, come in,” he offered like the invitation was a totally normal one. He sounded far too breezy. Like he was inviting me onto a sun porch. Not the bedroom of a man I had a hard time keeping my hands off of.
I took a step in, then another. He watched with what I could only describe as victory on his face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, and took another step. Because, while I didn’t exactly understand, I loved that look. That dark fire blazing behind his eyes was hard enough to handle, but this? This was deeper. It was the fire mixed with…joy.
“You coming toward me is the best sight in the world. I’m going to stare.”
That made me stall. Not to upset him, but from shock. Jack was being painfully honest, something he’d done several times before, but this time? He looked like he really meant it. Like he’d rather watch me walk toward him than watch a sunset.
“You wanted to talk about the bank?” I reminded. Mostly for myself, because if he liked me walking toward him, he had no idea how much I wanted to run toward him as well. Then jump into his arms. And fall. Fall back into love the way we’d been. Fall over the edge of reason. Fall away from the world and get lost in the darkness of his eyes.
“Yes,” he said quickly, glancing away for a moment, as if to clear his own head. “You wanted to go first thing when they opened, so we’ll be leaving here early.”
I nodded. I just had to make it two more days. A fact that both calmed and terrified me.
Two more days. That was it. The realization held a different tone in my head. One was celebratory and one was looming.
That. Was. It.
“Afterward,” Jack continued, and my brain snapped to alert. I needed to be clear and honest now. And Jack was not going to like what I said next.
“No afterward,” I cut in.
“Excuse me?” He took a step closer and I held my feet still, but my knees trembled. Not in fear of Jack, in fear of the future. Of the decisions I’d made and was set to make. Of the reality that the clock was ticking down and this feeling of Jack’s presences engulfing me with every step would end.
“After the bank, I’m going my own way.”
“And what way would that be?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But the money for my house should be in. I’ll stay in a hotel until I find a place or—”
“You tried that already,” Jack argued.
“Yes, and my plans were interrupted when you—”
“Stepped in because I was concerned about your safety? Took you away from that place after you and Bea were in an accident.” He took another step. “That was me interrupting your plans, was it?”
“I know you’re helping and care about my safety. And I’ve been scared, but I can handle it now.”
“That’s not all I care about, Lana,” he said with a fierce tinge to his words. He looked at me like he was going to elaborate. I used that single second to pray to whatever power in the universe that he would. Instead, he cleared his throat and crossed his arms. “Nothing changes after the bank. You’re still in danger.”
“I think that everything will clear up after the company is sold.”
“You’re naïve.”
That made ice prick my veins like freezing sharp points. “I’m not naïve. Eventually, I’ll get in front of the judge with Brock. I just want my life back. I can’t stay here for the rest of my days, trying to avoid you and Cal.”
“First,” he said, dropping his chin to look at me from beneath those dark brows. “You shouldn’t be avoiding me. Cal, I’m fine with you avoiding, but not me.” There was that cocky swagger I missed. “Second, I want you to have a life to go back to, which is why you’ll stay with me.”
“Jack, that’s not going to happen.”
“Give me a reason why.”
“Because it’d kill me. Just this past week has been so hard. And I need to deal with things on my own. I appreciate everything you’ve done. I also don’t appreciate a lot of things you’ve done, but this has an end date.”
His eyes flared and I almost covered my mouth when my own words hit me.
