Page 52 of Tempt Me

“I don’t work for you,” I tell him, angry. “And I won’t take your money. In fact, I’m returning it right now.”

I click a few options on the screen, and right away, the transfer is reversed. I figured I’d feel some kind of regret watching a hundred grand slip away, but I don’t feel a thing.

This guy is toxic, and I want him out of my life—and out of Chloe’s, too.

“Not having a crisis of conscience, are we?” Max laughs. “Or have you actually fallen for the frigid little whore?”

I see red. “You stay the fuck away from her, you understand?”

“Aww, she has gotten to you, hasn’t she? Shame. I’m sure she wouldn’t be too happy to hear you just fucked her for money. Funny, I guess that makes you the whore in this equation—”

I hang up before I reach down the line and throttle him with my two bare hands.

Motherfucker.

He’s wrong. I haven’t fallen for anyone. Just because I don’t want to see Chloe get hurt doesn’t mean a thing.

But if he tells her he hired me to get close...

I get cold.

He wouldn’t. He’s got what he wanted now: Chloe out of his life, and that goddamn ring back. But Max is just the kind of asshole to dig the knife in, just to get the last word.

If Chloe finds out I lied to her, she’ll be crushed.

Fuck.

The solution is simple, and staring me right in the face. I have to cut her loose, just like every other woman. No repeat play of that scene in the shower this morning. No tying her down and showing her exactly what that virgin asshole of hers can take. If I blow her off now, it doesn’t matter what Max reveals. She’ll hate me anyway, so what’s one more reason why?

I never made her any promises. I never said that this was more than a one-time thing.

So that’s it. Case closed.

Except... I don’t want it to be.

I want Chloe, to hell with Max’s threats. So what the fuck do I do now that he’s armed with that grenade?

I’m wound so tight I arrive at the gym with a fucking storm cloud over my head, looking to beat my way out of this mood.

Logan’s already here, lifting weights beside the ring. “Jase, buddy, feeling brave today?”

“I don’t know, mate,” I reply. “Feeling stupid?”

Logan laughs. “Not me. You’re looking to do some serious damage, I can tell. Me and this pretty face are staying out of the ring.”

“Good call,” I say, wrapping my hands. I mean business, and I don’t want to smash a friend’s face in the meantime.

“Before I forget, I got that background you wanted.” Logan racks his weights and stretches. “Whatshername, that Chloe girl.”

I stop. “No need, the case is closed.”

“You sure?” Logan looks puzzled, and I don’t blame him. I’m a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out the truth. “I’ve got the file right here.”

“I’m sure.”

He shrugs and reaches for his gym bag. “It’s all on the drive, if you ever change your mind.”

He tosses a memory stick at me, and I catch it on reflex. “I told you, I don’t need it.”

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