Page 115 of Sweet Wicked Vows

“You’re not mad?” Flynn asked with a strained voice.

“Of course I’m not mad,” I assured him, walking toward the Reynolds building. “I’m proud of you, Flynn, and you should be proud of yourself. The fact you went and got help all by yourself, that’s nothing to turn your nose up at.”

“I guess you’re right,” he exhaled loudly. “I feel bad leaving you alone to sort out the mess I’ve created. It should be the two of us sorting it out.”

“It’s fine,” I said truthfully. “You’re in the best place, Flynn. I can handle the rest.”

“Do you think Jaxon will go for the idea?”

I stalled. The very mention of his name was a vice-tight grip around my lungs, stealing my breath.

“Actually, there’s been a change of plans,” I finally said. “Things with Jaxon have gotten a little complicated since I saw you last. I don’t think it’s a wise decision asking him to absorb the shares.”

Him and his brother weren’t getting a single finger on the shares. They’d likely tank the company before the ink dried on the legal documents.

“What’s happened?” Flynn’s voice lowered. “Did he do something to you? Do you need me to come home? I’ll leave right this second if you need me to

“No, don’t leave. Stay right where you are,” I said. “It’s nothing I can’t handle, I promise. It simply means I am going to go with plan B.”

“What exactly is plan B?”

Before I got the chance to answer, my eyes were instantly drawn to him. Jaxon stood at the front door of the Reynolds building. It was as if we were two magnets, and I was fighting the natural instinct not to allow myself to get pulled straight back to him.

“Hello? Evie?” Flynn called down the phone.

“I’m here,” I said. “Don’t worry about anything except looking after yourself. Leave the rest to me, okay? I’ll call you later.”

“They don’t allow unsolicited calls while I am in the early stages of rehabilitation,” Flynn explained. “A stupid rule, but one they will not budge on. Apparently, rules are rules here. But I’ll phone you every chance I get.”

“Day or night. Ring when you can,” I said. “And Flynn? I am proud of you.”

I ended the call just as I got to the entrance. I willed myself to keep walking, to ignore the man who simultaneously made my heart flutter and fracture.

Keep walking.

Just keep walking.

“Evelyn, can we talk?”

Though my mind told me to keep moving forward, it was my heart that overruled all rational thoughts and brought me to a standstill.

His aftershave hit me first.

It smelled like home.

Damnit.I hated myself for missing that smell.

“I don’t have anything to say to you.” I reminded myself to remain calm despite the tears that threatened to slip free. “I thought I made it clear to you not to try and contact me. I want nothing to do with you, Jaxon.”

“I tried to stay away, truly I did, but I can’t do it anymore. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I can’t fucking think anymore,” his voice broke. “I can’t be without you, Evelyn.”

Dark circles ringed his eyes. Hard lines curved around his lips. Even utterly exhausted, he was still heart-achingly handsome.

“The letter you left… I’m not exactly sure what Frederic said to you…”

I frowned. “Frederic didn’t say anything to me.”

“The stuff in the letter? I thought Frederic came to you and told you everything?”

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