Page 13 of Jagger

That was a kiss-off if I ever heard one. “Fine, lady. No problem. I’ll try not to bother you. Enjoy your stay.” Maybe my male ego was crushed or maybe I was just in a pissy mood, but I closed the door on my way out a little too hard.

CHAPTER 5

Bella

The hard slam of the door made me wince.

Jagger was angry with me.

What should I care? Okay, so he’d provided me with a fabulous place to stay at least for a couple of nights. He hadn’t hassled me about who I was and why I was here. I pressed my fingers across my lips, even laughing a little. I hadn’t done that in so long and it felt good.

Just like his touch.

My mind shifted to a few additional naughtier visions, images that shouldn’t be entering my mind.

However, the thought of seeing his body devoid of clothing left a slight flutter in my heart and a wave of heat in my pussy. I had to be exhausted. There was no other excuse for my thoughts.

But whew.

Rugged.

Chiseled.

Buff body.

What more could a girl ask for?

“What are you doing here, girl?” I’d been impetuous in my decision, emailing my resignation to my boss like some coward. I’d felt I’d had no other choice. Yet I kept asking myself: What now? I didn’t have any answers. At least we were safe.

For now.

With Cally sound asleep, I headed into the kitchen, opening every cabinet and the pantry door. When I noticed a couple of bottles of red wine, I almost jumped for joy. Maybe the last thing I needed was alcohol, but my nerves were still on edge. Using my maiden name wouldn’t mean anything to a man like Joel Brockford.

Maybe Susie would keep his sorry ass busy and he’d forget about me.

At least I could hope for miracles.

I tugged my phone from my purse, grateful to see I had internet service. Checking in with my bestie was at least a hold onto my past. The furnishings inside the A-frame cottage were incredible, comfortable with a flair of color. One wall was painted a bright turquoise, which complemented the artwork adorning the walls. The leather furniture wasn’t something you usually saw in a rented facility unless it was a posh hotel in the penthouse suite.

I’d stayed in a couple during my marriage, the vacations we’d shared meant for a king and queen.

But all of it had been a lie.

I eased down on the couch and the sadness of my ordeal almost overwhelmed me all over again. No matter how many promises I made to myself I wouldn’t allow Joel to hurt me any longer, I’d resorted to extreme sadness almost every night.

The feeling of Jagger’s kiss lingered as I dialed Esme’s number. Even the heat of his body when he’d been so close to me had been a welcome change in the iciness I’d felt for months. Just to imagine for a few seconds what it would be like to have a man embrace me with passion in his heart instead of anger was an excellent reminder of why I’d left.

I closed my eyes, envisioning the kiss in front of the fire.

If only things had been different and I’d been able to let go.

That wasn’t going to happen for a long time if ever. I’d learned my lesson about trusting a man with sexy dimples and a killer smile.

“Well, hello, sunshine,” Esme said as she answered. “I was beginning to wonder about you. What took you so long?”

“You don’t even know where I landed.”

“So why don’t you tell me?”

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