Page 64 of Bitter Confessions

Sarai gave her an odd look. “How do you think he’ll react if he finds out you were here and didn’t stop by to see him?”

Happy she hadn’t interrupted? Wondering why she’d bothered to stop by in the first place? She stepped back and bumped into Mo.

Sarai glanced at her watch. “He’s been in back-to-back meetings since five. You’re precisely what he needs right now. I have a conference call I can’t miss. I’ll catch up with you later.”

And with that, Sarai left her standing there.

If it were up to Jasmine, she would have turned tail and run. Old habits die hard. But the choice was taken from her when Johan strode down the hallway. Mo grabbed her arm as if he sensed she was on the verge of bolting. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile at those who looked up from their computers or stopped their conversations as she passed.

Okay, this was seriously fucking awkward. What if Roth lost his shit and lectured her in front of his colleagues? Or worse, coldly dismissed her and said he didn’t have time for her. That would be nothing new, but it would erode the progress they’d made. Roth, like most men, liked to keep his business and personal life separate. That was understandable. If he was upset, she’d quickly excuse herself.

The paper bag of cookies crinkled as she clutched it for dear life. Fifteen minutes ago, the cookies had seemed like a good idea. Now, she felt like a fool. She grabbed the back of Johan’s coat, pulling him back a step when he raised his hand to knock.

“I think we should leave.”

Blond brows would have hit his hairline if he had one. Mo let out an impatient sound and reached over her head to give a firm double knock. She elbowed him in the stomach hard enough to make him grunt as the door opened.

A man she didn’t recognize filled the doorway. He gave them an expectant look that forced Jasmine to step up to Johan’s side and say, “Is Roth here?”

The man examined her for a moment before opening the door fully.

The palatial office was just as Jasmine remembered, with gleaming white floors, the massive espresso desk, and the multimillion-dollar view, which was just a tad less impressive today due to the low-hanging clouds.

There was a tray of refreshments off to the side. Roth was on his feet, one hand planted on the desk as he leaned over a blueprint. A man stood beside him, pointing out something with a pen. Another man had his phone in hand and seemed to be taking notes.

She hesitated before calling, “Roth?”

He raised his head.

She plastered a smile on her face as her stomach clenched. “I was in the area. I thought I’d drop by and say hi.”

His forbidding expression didn’t alter as he straightened.

She held up the bag of cookies. “I brought you something.”

All of them stared at her as if she were from another planet. Her palms began to sweat. She offered the bag of cookies to the man who’d opened the door.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted. I just...” When he didn’t attempt to take the bag from her, she stepped back into Mo, who was a brick wall behind her. “We’ll let you get back to it. I’ll see you later.”

She broke off as Roth rounded the desk and strode toward her, his long legs eating up the distance rapidly. She tried to hide her anxiety as the man at the door retreated. She sensed Mo and Johan doing the same, leaving her stranded as her husband stalked toward her looking like hell warmed over. She looked up as he came within touching distance.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...”

She didn’t have a chance to finish before his mouth landed on hers. She grunted in surprise and then gasped when his tongue invaded. Giddy with relief, she clutched his sides and gave him what he wanted.

From a great distance, she heard Johan say, “They’re newlyweds.”

When Roth broke the kiss, she slow-blinked and breathed a dazed, “Hi.”

Roth cupped the back of her head and pressed her face against his chest. “We’ll pick this up later.”

It was a clear dismissal. There was a startled silence and then several chuckles.

“We’ll request a larger time block next time. We had no idea there were so many flaws in the design,” a voice said.

Roth picked Jasmine up and stepped aside so the men could file out. “Email me when you figure it out.”

“Will do. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Roth.”

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