Page 56 of Burn With Me

Spinning back around, I throw a hand up and narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know, Stacey. I haven’t heard from him in days. He hasn’t answered his phone at all, yet he called in? He’s probably at home with some leggy blonde between his legs, doing what he does best—being a fuckboy.”

A grin spreads on Stacey’s face, making me even angrier. Even though Jackson’s secretary has been nothing but kind to me, she’s still under his employment, and I’m sure my little outburst will make its way to him.

“I don’t have fucking time for this.” I’m about to leave again when her hand on my arm stops me.

“Jackson hasn’t been with anyone since he met you, Ginny. I can promise you that.” She shrugs. “He doesn’t so much as touch a woman until she signs an NDA. And I’m the one that drafts them up for him.”

He sure as hell has touched me, and I didn’t sign shit.

Scoffing, I look at her incredulously. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that? That he isn’t the type to just pick up a random girl in a bar and fuck her wherever he can? Don’t treat me like I’m stupid.”

The pretty blonde looks momentarily insulted before taking her hand off my arm. “Believe what you want. Jackson is careful about who hefucks. Yes, he sleeps with women often, but he’s not the type to just pick a woman out and fuck her in a random public place.”

“Why are you defending him?!” My voice borders on hysterical, drawing attention from the rest of the floor.

“Because as much of a man-whore as he is, you don’t know him. And I’m a little offended that you thinkIwould lie to you. I’ve known Jackson for a long time, and I’m telling you, you’re the only woman he’s been spending time with,” she explains soothingly.

Searching her eyes for any hint of deceit, I relax a little as I realize she has no reason to lie to me. She must be telling the truth.

“Well, then,wherethe hell is he?”

Stacey looks at me solemnly. “It’s the anniversary of his father’s death. He and Scott normally spend the day visiting Simon’s grave before drowning their sorrows in a bottle of bourbon. He’s most likely at Scott’s. Or with Tripp.”

Shame and guilt sweep through my body.

I’m an awful person. Here I am, acting like a jealous girlfriend when I have absolutely no right to be behaving this way, and he’s spending the day in pain.

Stacey watches as I flounder for something to say. In the end, I choose to stay silent because there’s nothing that Icansay. Her features turn to something that resembles skepticism.

“You know, Ginny, he likes you. I’m not sure if he’s even aware of it yet. But I’ve watched him do more for you these past few weeks than I’ve ever seen him do for anyone. So, maybe it’s time you decidewhatexactly it is you want from him.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Suddenly, the urge to defend myself from whatever she’s alluding to is strong.

Straightening up, she looks me dead in the eye. “It means that if this is just a game to you, to be able to say you brought Jackson Tailor to his knees before you leave him, I’m telling you to walk away now. As much as I have seen Jackson use women and never give them a second glance, I have never seen him look at one the way he looks at you. I’m beginning to think you have the ability to hurt him. And I refuse to let that happen.”

I’m torn between flattery and anger. The fact that she thinks Jackson could feel anything for me is absurd. It’s not who he is. And he’s torn apart plenty of hearts, yet she’s going to get mad if he gets his broken?

But the fact that she thinks I even have the power to do it. That I would evenwantto. That was never my intention when I made the thirty-day deal with him. I never expected him to go through with it—I didn’t think hecould.

It never crossed my mind that he wouldactuallywant to give up his playboy ways for a month. And never in my wildest dreams did I thinkIwould mean anything to him other than a difficult conquest.

While I war with myself in my head, she smirks and half turns to leave. “I’ll send you Scott’s address.”

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them. “I know where he lives.”

She gives me a funny look before shrugging and heading back to her desk.

I’d never been to Scott’s penthouse, but after his ex-wife came to the restaurant last year, I’d gone down the rabbit holeof their lives on Google. It’s surprising how easy it is to find rich people’s addresses.

As I leave the building, Stacey’s words replay in my mind.

To be able to say you brought Jackson Tailor to his knees before you leave him.

She’s delusional if she thinks I would do something like that.

I’ve had Jackson on his knees. If he wants to stay, I’ll let him stay there forever.

I arrive at Jackson’s with the intention of waiting for him to get home.

---