Page 61 of Charming Deception

I stop at the sound of my name on his low voice. I’m drawn to that voice, too. I feel this hot and sticky pull to turn around, sit my ass back down, and stay. Just let myself melt into him, do whatever he tells me to do.

“Come back to the house. Please.”

Fuck me. And now he’s asking nicely.

I turn to face him again. Stay strong. “I think I’ve been clear that I’m not doing that.”

“Cole really wants you to.”

“Cole doesn’t get everything he wants.”

He stares at me for a long beat. “If you leave, it means I’ve failed him.”

I’m not even sure why that’s so important to him.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re not used to it.”

I continue across the vast room, but his voice follows me. “Wait.”

I take a breath. His hulking security guy stands in front of the door, hands clasped casually in front of him, making no move to step aside and open the door for me.

I turn back.

Jameson is crossing the room toward me, his jaw set. Clearly I’ve ruined whatever plans he had for this evening.

He stops directly in front of me and I feel desperate to get out of this room. It was hard enough to say no to him as many times as I already have.

Standing, he’s so much more imposing. I forgot how tall he is. And how hard his body is. He’s like a wall of manly and gorgeous towering over me.

He smells incredible, too.

Did I actually tell him he was a distraction?

Yeah. Pretty sure I did.

“Please call Cole like you said you would.” His voice is low and gentle now. “Let him know where you’re staying. It should come from you.”

“Of course I will.”

He glances at the security guy and nods. “Locke will arrange a car to take you where you’re going.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Since it will save me cab fare, I decide I’m not in a position to refuse this kindness. “I’d really appreciate that.”

As I hesitate to actually leave, Jameson’s blue eyes hold mine, burning into me one last time.

When will I see him again?

I hear the door open behind me, and force myself to turn and leave the restaurant.

Locke leads the way, and my pulse races when I realize Jameson is following me in silence, along the hall that will take us to the elevator and down to the lobby. And even though my stupid pounding heart kinda wants me to throw caution to the wind and just say yes… I can’t.

Because my heart has been so very wrong before.

In the elevator, he stands next to me and slightly behind, and all the way down, my stomach feels weightless and tight, gripped with this terrible foreboding that I’m making a mistake.

That I’ll never receive such a grand offer, such an opportunity to say yes to anything so life-changing, ever again.

Chapter 14

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