AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you?” If Jane had needed any convincing that her hopes were unfounded, Jenna’s expression would have done it. “Come on, Janey. He’s a really hot, filthy rich bachelor. Great sex is pretty much all he was offering. This was only going to work if you could just enjoy the sex and draw a line in the sand.”
“I enjoyed it. But I want more.”
“He won’t give you more. Look at tonight as evidence of that. If he wanted more than sex from you, he’d have you there on his arm no matter what your career was.”
“You’re right.” She dipped her head forward. “How could I be so stupid?”
“Because he’s really gorgeous.” She smiled. “Come on. Let’s put on a lame movie and get drunk.”
“You have to work tomorrow.”
“Yep. But I love you. And if drinking red wine on a Thursday night is what it takes, then sobeit.”
“Thanks, Jen.”
They never got around to the movie. Instead, they drank a bottle of wine and bemoaned the state of the male species, before finally going to bed well after midnight.
Jane’s temper had not improved, though. She stumbled a little as she hopped into bed, and reached for her phone. This isn’t going to work for me.
She sent it without another thought, and shut her phone off.
The next morning, she woke with a fuzzy head, a yucky taste in her mouth, and a heavy heart. She turned her phone on and immediately received his reply.
Quitting isn’t an option. Get your ass over here tonight.
That was it.
Well, stuff him. She read the message again and again through the day, trying to appreciate his mood from the tone. Angry, definitely. Beyond that, she didn’t know. Seven o’clock came and went. She left her phone in her bedroom, as she sat and had an ostensibly leisurely dinner with her sister and best friend. She should have expected that he would do something dramatic.
And yet, when the knock came at their door just before ten, she frowned. “I’ll get it.” Her eyes met Jenna’s and she winced, before plastering a smile on her features for Anita’s benefit.
She pulled the door inwards. Of course, it was Carter.
She threw a look over her shoulder and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. His face was murderous, his eyes glowing with emotion.
“What the hell is going on?”
She jutted her chin out defiantly. “You can’t be here.”
“Why the hell not?” He sighed raggedly, pulling at his hair. “Why must you keep so much of yourself locked away from me?”
She snorted. “You can talk! Last night you went to a party without me because you’re ashamed of who I am.”
“To protect you from questions. Not because I am ashamed of you, Jane. Do you realise that if the media saw us together and got wind of who you are and what you used to do, it would be in all the papers? How would you like that? You guard your privacy fiercely, even from me. A man who has been in your body every night for almost a month. And yet you tell me nothing! If I had taken you last night, you would now be exposed to a media scrutiny that you cannot possibly comprehend.”
She dropped her eyes. “Is that really the reason? Are you being honest with me?”
He exhaled an angry breath. “I don’t lie, Jane. If you want to be followed by photographers asking crude questions about your sex life; if you want to have ex-clients selling their stories; then be my guest. Let’s go out right now. We can go to the busiest bar in the city and make love in front of everyone. If that’s what it will take for you to understand that I’m not ashamed of you, I’m fine with that.”
She mumbled something under her breath. He put a hand under her chin and tilted her face to his. “What did you say?”
“I said that I didn’t realise. I thought you were embarrassed by me. It hurt my feelings.”
“Thanks to my father’s spectacularly poor judgement, the Mann-Hughes name is synonymous with scandal. The press would lap up another instalment. I’m reticent to give them the satisfaction, particularly not as I fear it would all be at your expense. But it’s your decision.” He dropped his hand and thrust it deep in his pocket. “I did not want to hurt you, Jane. In fact, hurting you is the last thing I wanted to do.”
Again, she had the sense that he was about to say something. Something serious. But the door to her apartment opened inwards, and Anita stood, her disfigured face obvious in the light of the door.
“We heard voices. I was curious.” She grinned cheekily. “Who are you?”
