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I grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket. “It’s a hard situation.” I winced again. That wasn’t the right thing to say. “I-I need you. Please stay.”
And that sounded an awful lot like I was coming on to my sister’s not-yet ex-husband.
He flicked his gaze to mine. “As tempting as that is, I’ll have to pass.”
Though I hadn’t been flirting, the rejection stung. Alma was beautiful, everything I wasn’t. If he hadn’t wanted her, he certainly wouldn’t want me.
That isn’t the point, JoJo. Penelope is the point.
“That wasn’t what I meant.” I sounded like a teenage girl instead of a grown woman. He flustered me beyond reason.
One brow lifted. “What did you mean?”
And he was still cool and calm and unaffected.
“I didn’t tell her about us.”
I gripped his jacket harder. I was completely screwing this up.
“I’m not anyone’s dirty little secret.”
A chime signaled, and I jumped.No. I need more time.
The doors slid open. He tried to muscle around me, but I stood firm, clinging to him.
The doors closed, but he stuck an arm out to stop them. Then his hands were on my waist, the handle of his briefcase digging in my hip. Electricity zapped through me, short-circuiting my already frazzled brain.
He easily lifted me and set me inside the elevator. The chill was immediate when he released me to press the button for the lobby, even though I still held on to him.
“If she knows I’ve come to you, she won’t trust me anymore. Then I can’t help you,” I pleaded, hoping if I pushed the angle of what would benefit him, he’d see reason.
“I understand that perfectly.” His tone was clipped as he watched the floor numbers creep down.
Think, JoJo. Think.
I smashed the emergency stop button. The elevator jolted. I stumbled into him, my chest hitting his. Once again, his hands cinched around my waist, this time keeping me from falling.
And then everything was still except for the sound of our harsh breathing.
“This is dramatic, JoJo.” His look was condescending, though he made no move to push me away.
If anything, his grip seemed to tighten. Or did I just want it to?
No. Of course I didn’t.
“You’re not listening to me.” The words came out stilted, out of control.
“I’ve heard everything you said.” He inched his head closer. “I always have.”
I held my breath. He smelled too good. He was too close. I needed to think, and I couldn’t.
And what did he mean he’d always heard everything I said?
A triumphant smirk tilted up his lips as if he’d been inside my head, reading my thoughts.
“But you’re notlistening,” I tried again.
“You need me.”
