Page 45 of Miles & Mistletoe

“Because I was told—”

“By who?”

“By Jamie and Stacia’s ex.”

Bruce slowly nodded. “Jamie.”

“Yes.”

“The head of public relations, who just about everyone knows took the job just so she could get next to you?”

I gave Bruce a look, having no idea what he was talking about.

“You really don’t know, do you?” He shook his head, chuckling, which pissed me off even more.

“Why are we talking about Jamie?” Of all people.

“Because who was it that suddenly brought you this new information on Stacia?”

“Jamie, of course. But she is my head of PR, it’s her job.”

“Right. And all I’m saying is, the woman’s been crushing on you since she took on this roll a year ago. Seeing you get close to another woman in such a short period of time couldn’t have been easy.”

“So you’re saying she made all this up out of petty jealousy?”

“There’s nothing petty about the type of jealousy that could cause a woman to make up lies and spread false information about another woman. Besides, all I’m saying is, I wouldn’t trust Jamie as far as I could throw her. Also, you might not want to take the word of an ex-boyfriend of Stacia’s who possibly had more than one motive to lie on her. Anyway, I need to get going. We’re taking the kids sledding today. You think about what I said, little brother. At the very least, you might want to think about spending some time outside of the office. We’re having a New Year’s get-together. Small gathering, nothing like Christmas Eve. Kelly insists that you come. I’ll see you in a few days.”

Bruce nodded, knocking his knuckles against the glass of my desk before standing and making his way out the door he’d entered only fifteen minutes prior. I watched as the door closed, leaving me standing in my office alone, once again. I pushed the air out of my lungs suddenly feeling deflated. The last thing I wanted at that moment was more questions. But once Bruce’s words penetrated the thick layer of anger and emotion I’d been hiding behind since the night of the Christmas Eve party, I couldn’t stop asking them.

Jamie had been strangely clingy over the last few weeks. I lost count of the number of times she’d call late at night or stopped by my hotel room early morning claiming some work issue. Most of the time, Stacia had been with me or in my bed, so I’d ignored or sent Jamie away, thinking nothing of it. I just thought her increase in contact was due to the heightened PR we were doing over the holiday season.

I don’t think she likes me.

Stacia’s words replayed in my mind. She’d said it one night after an albeit brief yet seemingly intense encounter with Jamie. I hadn’t paid too much attention to her comment then because I was too focused on getting her naked. Jamie was little more than a passing thought. But now …

I could kick myself for being so damn foolish. I was the most thorough person I knew, especially when it came to business. But I’d let emotions cloud my judgment and I’d failed to verify anything for myself.

“What the hell did I do?” I growled, picking up the phone on my desk. After two rings a deep, male voice on the other end answered.

“Richard, I need you to do a background check for me,” I ordered Richard Dawson, the head of my company’s security team. If I had questions, Richard was sure to find any and all answers.

---