Page 90 of Sins

My erection couldn’t be missed, and she chuckled, and I had to talk myself off the ledge. “Lunch can wait.” I licked her ear.

“No, you need to eat first.” She tried to pull away.

“I highly disagree.”

She swatted at me and somehow wiggled free. She pulled out a chair to act as a barrier between us. “Eat,” she commanded. “I have a client looking to meet DJ Clay, and the last thing I need is to look like I’ve just been thoroughly fucked by the owner of this establishment.” She fanned herself dramatically.

“I disagree on that too,” I muttered but took my seat. “I wanted to talk to you about something?—”

A quick knock. Jesse came in with two workers who carried my new bookcase. “Just put it over there.” I gave Jesse a piercing look then turned back to Kenna as he shrugged. “You should know tonight’s meeting is with Jenelle and her father.” She stilled but then resumed her meal.

“I was thinking of maybe green for the nursery.” She switched topics. “Or we can wait until we find out the sex of the baby.”

“Kenna, I’d like to discuss this with you.”

“Well, I wouldn’t.”

I dropped my knife, and it hit the plate loudly. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“Really, Grim? I came here to eat, not to discuss your girlfriend. You know what?” She tossed her napkin on the plate and pushed her chair back. “I’m suddenly not very hungry.”

“Kenna,” I barked, but she ignored me and whisked by the others while they tried to ignore the fact they had witnessed our argument. The waiter pressed himself against the wall as she stomped by him and slammed the door. I winced at the sound. “Jesse.” I rubbed my face, and he quickly cleared the room. I needed to get my head on straight before the meeting.

A few deep breaths and an update from Jesse did the trick. We headed for the conference room. I hadn’t bothered to have drinks and snacks arranged as I normally did for a meeting. The truth was I wanted nothing that could be thrown at me within arm’s reach. Lord knew how this would go.

“They’re here.” Jesse opened the door, and I heard her heels on the marble floor.

I nearly rolled my eyes when Jenelle showed up in a dress that was clearly too small for her. Her pushup bra must have been double padded because I had never seen her boobs look that huge, ever. They nearly hit her father in the head when he skirted around her so she could close the door. I caught sight of Rail at the last second before the door shut. His eyes were as big as an owl’s.

“Grim,” she attempted to do a sexy walk toward the table, but she was trying too hard, “I see you’re looking well.”

“I am.” I flicked my pen through my fingers and caught Jesse trying to curb his grin as the chair sank and she awkwardly tried to raise it back up. “Mr. Borrows.” I nodded at her father. “Thank you for joining me today. We’re all busy people, so this won’t take long.” I slid over a file and waited for him to read it.

“What’s that?” Jenelle strained to see it.

“A list of all the clients your father has brought to both Indulge and Secrets.”

“Why?”

“Because as of today I wish to sever ties with our business relationship?—”

Her face fell, and she looked from me to her father and back again. “What?”

“I’ll honor your twenty percent, but by signing this,” I handed her father another file with the contract in it, “we agree that any business between the Gateses and Borrowses is over.”

“Why would it be over?” He looked confused, and rightfully so, as to him this was coming out of left field.

“My life has taken some turns lately, and I’d like to focus my energy on a different direction. I believe your clients were a good fit for Indulge, and if they want to stay, they can, but I’m moving on to a younger generation, and for that, I’ll be looking elsewhere for contacts.”

Jenelle hit her bulging chest with a gasp. “But what about us?”

As I expected, she wasn’t hearing me. She hadn’t in the past, so this was no different. “Jenelle, I’ve explained to you that since I’ve come back from Mexico, things have changed. A lot has happened, and I’ve changed.” I kept any emotion out of my voice. Maybe this would get through to her. “We want different things.”

“I want you.” She tried to hold back a sob, and her father covered her hand in comfort. “And I know you want me.”

“Jenelle—”

“No, Grim,” she started to hyperventilate, “we’re meant to be together. It’s always been us. You’re just scared and confused, but that’s okay.” She held up a hand. “I told you I’d wait.”

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