Page 108 of Burn With Me

“Night,” she whispers.

All I want is to turn and pull her to me, but I’m afraid if I do, the emotions that have been building all night will spill over. It already feels like there’s an ocean between us. The last thing I want to do is add more tears to its depths.

Besides, Tailor men don’t cry.

Uncle Scott

I know it’s the weekend, but I need you at Decadence for a meeting with Carmela and Mick tonight at six.

“What time are you working at the restaurant tonight?” I ask Ginny, setting my phone on the kitchen counter and grabbing a Gatorade from the fridge.

She’s sitting at the island, right where she was when I left for my morning workout, with work files spread out in front of her. Using the towel around my neck, I wipe the sweat from my face before chugging half my drink.

“I’m supposed to go in at five. Why, what’s up?” she answers without looking up from her notepad.

Things have been tense between us all morning. Both of us tiptoeing around the other, not sure how to act normal, how to actin loveagain. Not that we fell out of it, but I’m angry and guarded now, and she’s depressed. It feels like we both lost last night.

She losthim,and now it feels like I’ve lost her.

“My uncle wants me there for a meeting. I’ll drive you. There are some things I need to discuss with Carmela, anyway.”

She freezes, unaware I’m watching her. Her pen has stilled over the notepad she’s writing on, and her eyes are no longer moving over her notes. “What do you need to talk to Carmela about?”

“Business,” I stress.

Sparks light in my chest, waiting to catch and combust into a raging fury, but I do my best to temper them as I stare at her. I want to ask her…want to know…

Why am I not enough for you?

Is she planning on continuing to work at the club? What would she do if I mentioned it to her now? Mentioned that my uncle is bringing me on board there and that she should go with me sometime.

How would she react?

“Jackson, are you okay?”

Snapping out of my thoughts, I shake my head to see her staring at me.

Her startling blue eyes are wide, brows knitted together in concern. “You spaced out there for a moment.”

“I’m fine. I’m going to take a shower. Is there anything in particular you want to do today?” I throw over my shoulder as I walk away.

“No, I think I’m going to go home for a little bit, actually. I didn’t sleep well last night. I want to get a nap in before work. I’ll see you later.”

She doesn’t look at me when she speaks, and as I make my way upstairs, I mutter, “Yeah. See you later.”

“Hi, Jackson. Carmela said to let you know you can go back to her office,” the brunette who once tried to get a rise out of Ginny says as soon as I step through the door at Decadence.

Her eyes are heavy with desire, just like every other woman who thinks Ginny is just a passing fling. She ignores the fact that I’m dating her co-worker, stepping closer to me and whispering, “Ginny doesn’t exactly seem veryadventurous.When you get bored, let me know.”

“Be careful. That’s my future wife you’re talking about.” The words leave my mouth before I can think over my statement. Schooling my surprise, I turn away from her shocked face to look for my girlfriend so I can speak to her before I go into the meeting.

Ginny is leaning against the back wait station, watching my interaction with the hostess with interest. The restaurant isn’t very busy as I make my way through the tables to where she is. “You know, you can quit working here if you want to. Focus on the clinic. Use your extra time looking for a space to remodel for your own.”

She winds her arms around my neck and pushes up on her tiptoes for a kiss. “What did you say to Jacqueline? She looks like you just told her you killed her puppy.”

“Just dashed her hopes and dreams of getting a piece of the Tailor fortune.” I’m not about to tell her what I really said, and I doubt the overly confident woman will admit it to her.

“Why do you assume every woman wants your money? Maybe they just want to fuck you?” she jokes playfully.

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