Page 159 of Failure to Match

“Vivian is currently on a call with Miray. She’ll be back to speak with you shortly. She said it shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes.” Her gaze slid to Jackson.

He squeezed my hand one last time before releasing it. “Text me when you’re done, okay?”

“Okay.”

The good thing about Vivian breaking her fifteen-minute promise and leaving me alone in the conference room for just shy of three hours was that it gave me lots of time to think.

Lots and lots of time to think.

39

The box kept slidingout of my grip, and I kept having to shove it back up with my knee.

I hadn’t realized just how much random stuff I’d acquired over the last few years; plus all the clothes and daily necessities I’d kept in my desk for when we’d had to work through the night for that one pain-in-the-ass client.

I’d texted Jackson after talking to Vivian, letting him know I’d quit. He’d responded with a single heart emoji, neglecting to mention that he was still outside of the building, waiting for me. The second I made it through the glass doors, the box was out of my hands.

“What’re you still doing here?” I thought he’d left like five hours ago.

“We weren’t done talking.” He handed the box off to Mikey then turned to me again. “You okay?”

“Think so. You?” It couldn’t have been easy for him, deciding to give up his job and everything he’d worked so hard to build. All for someone else.

All forme.

The crippling guilt would set in right after my heart stopped fluttering with pure joy. His slow, knowing grin wasn’t helping. Neither was the fact that, somehow, we were holding hands again.

“I’m great. Come on.”

He tugged me toward the town car and slipped in after me. I was straddling his lap before Mikey had shut the door. Not by choice.

“Jackson!” A blush crept up my neck. He couldn’t have waited another two seconds before grabbing me?

“I lasted that entire meeting without you on my lap. I only have so much self-control.” His gaze darkened when it reached my mouth. “The partition’s up, it’s soundproof, and Mikey’s been instructed to leave the car as soon as we’re in the garage. He won’t be opening the door.”

My body was already melting into him, the air growing thick. “Could you have made it any more obvious?” I chided lightly.

“I don’t care. I fucking missed you. It’s been unbearable.” He swallowed as his hands circled my waist, pulling me closer. “What did you do to me?”

My palms slid up his chest, settling on his shoulders as I gently pressed my forehead to his. “I missed you, too.”

His breath hitched. “Yeah?”

“So much.”

“Is this what it’s supposed to feel like? Because I swear I can’t fucking breathe anymore. I can’t think, I can’t… I’m barely functioning.”

I pressed a gentle, smiling kiss on the corner of his mouth. “It’s supposed to get easier... so I hear.”

“No wonder Richard went mad with it.”

And on that note. “Jackson... we need to talk about the shares.”

“I already tried. She won’t budge.”

I licked my lips. “That’s not what I’m... Ididsay I’d marry you if you didn’t find someone you liked.”

“As a friend,” he retorted unhappily. “Living separate lives and getting ourneedsmet elsewhere.”

---