Page 54 of Finding Emotion

Casemore slammed his hand down again. “That’s all in the past.”

“Agreed. And it’s going to stay there.” The bubbles hit her stomach with a lurch. “My contract says as much.”

“Does it?” Casemore asked.

Mandy cleared her throat. “Specifically, it says that Ms. Skylar must approve any interactions or collaborations with the members of Winter Dust Storm.” She stared at Casemore over her glasses. “Which, from multiple communications, has not been the case. So you, sir, are indeed on the verge of breaching contract.”

“Be very careful, Ms. Stetson,” Casemore said, his eyebrow arching. “Or do you forget who pays for your services?”

“Those services are what I’m upholding,” Mandy said calmly enough.

“You don’t know your client very well then.” Casemore leaned back in his chair as his gaze swung back to Skylar. “The thing most important to Skylar has always been her career. She will choose that over anything.” His lips curled.

Skylar still hated herself for it. “Exactly.” She gulped at the water again, suddenly craving something stronger. The thought made the bubbles grow as they slid down her throat. She hadn’t had a craving in forever. “I’m saying no because this whole thing wouldn’t do shit for my career.” She set the glass down with a loud clip. “A career that may just take off right now from all this extra buzz. That’s what your sudden trip is all about, isn’t it?” She laughed, but the sound was too high. “Where we stand now, you’ll profit from it. So I’d be very careful how you push me.” Her eyes focused on Jack. “Even if it’s your wife doing the pushing.”

The chair tipped as she shoved back from the table, and it clattered to the floor. She stared down at it, her focus drawn to the crack that now marred the wood. Her eyes grew hot. “I’m done here.” She stalked out of the private room, but couldn’t remember which way to turn toward the exit. The pounding in her head was spreading again.

“Skylar, wait.” Jack grabbed onto her arm.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” The words weren’t the scream she heard in her head. Instead, they strangled in her throat. She shoved him into the wall.

His face flushed, and his eyes flashed. “Hypocritical slut.”

Skylar’s sight narrowed as spots appeared along her vision.

“You never enjoyed my touch, did you?” He grabbed her shoulders, dragging her closer even as her breathing pitched. “You never shuddered for me the way you did each time another guy shoved it in you.”

Her breathing was too out of control to speak.

“You came so many times that—”

Fuck words. Skylar kneed him, trying like hell to make his balls reach his throat so he would choke on them.

He released her as he collapsed, clutching himself.

Skylar sucked in her breath as she stared at him, trying to blink away those damn dots.

A hand landed on her shoulder, and she jerked free, skittering a few steps away before she recognized Mandy.

“We should go,” Mandy said, her eyes darting down the empty hall.

Jack’s father stood in the doorway of the private room, staring down at his son.

Skylar took another breath. “Oh yeah.” She hated the croak it came out in and cleared her throat. “Us working together again is a great idea. Fuck off!” She wanted to bring her big ass boot down on Jack, right in the nuts. “The both of you.”

Mandy followed as she stalked out of the restaurant.

Chapter 21

The air from the open fridge did nothing to cool Damon’s cheeks as he stared down at Skylar’s responding text. He’d regretted sending her the sappy ‘thinking of you’ message as soon as he’d hit send, even if it was true enough.

‘Me too. In my mouth.’

And was that an eggplant? It looked like something else, and the kiss-blowing smiley face emoji that followed winked at him.

“Whatcha looking at?” Erin asked, already peeking over his shoulder. She snickered. “That chick is hilarious.”

“I forgot you met Skylar.” Damon’s mind whirled but came up blank on how to respond to the text.

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