Page 48 of Charming Deception

Jameson crosses the street, strolling toward me. He slides his hands into his pockets and stops a couple of feet in front of me.

“Megan,” he says in that low, rough-velvet voice.

“Jameson,” I breathe. It’s nonsensical the way my heartbeat speeds up when he’s near. My body responds to his presence in a way that is, in a word, unnerving.

I’m supposed to be taking care of myself right now. Which means putting myself first for once. Which definitely means staying away from toxic men. And despite the fact that my brother is friends with him… What he did to Romeo, how cold he was to me when I confronted him about it, and how he acted like I was an unwelcome imposition in his giant, empty house… none of it bodes well.

For all I know, he’s just another selfish, careless narcissist.

But whatever he’s come here to say, I should hear him out. I tell myself I’ll do it for my brother’s sake.

It’s not for me.

I don’t really need this man’s mansion or his pity job. Or this distracting inability to breathe normally whenever his attention is focused on me.

“You left.”

“I quit,” I remind him, my voice soft and breathless, even as I try to give it substance. He’s caught me off guard. What is he doing here?

“I heard you. You flung mud on my sofa.”

Did I? Shit. “I’ll pay for that. I’m sure it can be cleaned?—”

“I didn’t come here about that. I’d never accept your money, Megan.”

“Then what do you want?”

He studies me, a crease forming between his brows. “I want you to come back.”

Yes.

The word flits through the back of my mind. I can hear Nicole’s voice in there. It’s the Summer of Yes, Megan.

But fear paralyzes me.

Memories of Troy and his self-serving manipulations hold me hostage, and I can’t seem to force the word from my mouth.

Chapter 11

Jameson

Megan’s wary amber eyes glow, enhanced by her smoky eye makeup, as she gazes up at me.

It’s brutal how relieved I am to see her again.

“I’m sorry you wasted your time coming here.” Her voice is soft but firm, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. “But I’m not coming back.”

I’m not surprised when she resists.

She left my place without a word to me or her brother, so we couldn’t try to stop her. Cole is already in LA, and when I spoke to him on the phone a while ago, I didn’t mention she’d left, but he didn’t either, which meant that he had no idea.

He did suggest that maybe I check in on her tonight, though. It’s Friday night, after all. He wants her happy but mostly safe right now, tucked in at my place, yet he didn’t seem to like the idea of her sitting all alone in her room at my house.

He’d like it even less, I’m sure, if he knew she was going out clubbing in the big city her second night in town, without anyone looking out for her.

That makes two of us.

“Have dinner with me.”

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