Page 39 of Forget

‘In that case, is it too much to ask an old friend for a goodbye hug?’

Appeased by his genuine apology, she placed her hand in his. He tugged her to her feet and enveloped her in his arms, his expensive aftershave tickling her nose, and she stifled a sneeze.

When he showed no signs of letting her go, she gently disengaged. ‘Take care, Ky, and thanks for dinner.’

‘You’re welcome, Jay-Jay, and if you need a donation for your charity, you know who to contact.’

Pleased their awkward interaction hadn’t effected their friendship, and that he’d opened the door to her approaching him for a donation when she had everything up and running, she smiled. ‘Thanks, I’ll hold you to that.’

He cupped her cheek for a moment and brushed his thumb across her chin. ‘You’re one in a million. I hope you know that.’

Exactly what she needed to hear, from the wrong guy. Stupid, to want more from Brock than he was willing to give, knowing he persisted in holding her at arm’s length. Last night had been the worst, his cool dismissal after finally opening up still stinging despite Ky’s attention over the last few hours going some way to soothe her bruised ego.

He planted a kiss shy of her mouth, before walking away.

Relieved, she turned to watch him go.

Only to find Brock standing three feet away, glaring at her as if she’d made a monumental mistake.

19

Brock had beenrelieved when Jayda suggested they meet at a restaurant to discuss her IT problems.

Until he walked in and saw some sleazy prick touching her, and by how close they were standing before the jerk folded her into his arms, she liked it.

An all-consuming, insidious jealousy made his fingers curl into his palms as he watched the woman he cared about being held by a creep with greasy, slicked-back hair.

He mentally counted to ten before he did something stupid, like cross the few feet separating him and them, wrench them apart, and punch the guy.

He’d experienced jealousy before. Growing up, he’d always wrestled with the green-eyed monster when the wealthy kids around him had had the latest video-game consoles, the high-end sneakers, the overseas holidays. He’d had to make do with a secondhand PC he’d repaired himself for games, old sneakers that had pinched his feet when he’d outgrown them, and a yearly weekend to bayside Rosebud if he was lucky.

But that yearning to have what other kids had was nothing on this out-of-control feeling now.

Thankfully, Jayda and the sleaze pulled apart and he had to watch the slimeball kiss Jayda before walking straight past him. The sleaze stank too, his overpowering aftershave making Brock want to wave his hand in front of his nose. Yeah, more petty jealousy, and he’d better get it under control before he confronted Jayda.

But she turned at that moment and spotted him, leaving him little time to wipe the bitterness off his face. Busted.

Her eyes widened in surprise before a disapproving frown dented her brows. What did she have to be annoyed about? He was the one who’d witnessed some guy pawing her.

Then again, he had no dibs on her. They might’ve laid out plans for a short fling but stupidly, he hadn’t insisted on monogamy. He’d assumed it, and felt like a prize ass because if Jayda was sleeping around… As soon as the thought popped into his head he wanted to hit it against the nearest brick wall to knock some sense into him.

If he was the first guy she’d slept with in six years, what were the odds of her fucking two guys at once? Non-existent, because he knew she wasn’t that kind of girl. It was his stupid jealousy making him jump to ridiculous conclusions and he’d better get it under control, right now.

Crossing the short distance between them, he touched her arm. ‘Thanks for meeting me tonight.’

‘It sounded important, so I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow.’ She gestured at the nearby bar, a polished chrome that ran the length of the restaurant. ‘Want a drink?’

He glanced at her flushed face and her sparkling eyes. ‘You sure you want more?’

She bristled and he hated himself for the jibe. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but I had dinner with an old friend I’ve known since we were kids. We had the degustation with accompanying wines so maybe I’ve had two glasses more thanI usually would, but I’d appreciate it if you refrained from chastising me like a child.’

So much for keeping his jealousy under control, but he didn’t apologise. Not when it annoyed the crap out of him that she’d sat here for hours with that prick, old friend or not.

‘After you.’ He stepped back and gestured towards the bar, gritting his teeth against the urge to touch her.

She looked incredible in a form-fitting purple dress that outlined every inch of the rocking body he’d explored in intimate detail. He noticed her makeup looked different too, sexier than usual, when he’d first seen her close up. She looked amazing and he didn’t blame that prick for drooling over her.

He’d seen the disappointment in the dickhead’s eyes when he’d walked past. The guy had put the moves on her and she’d knocked him back. The thought should’ve buoyed him. It didn’t, because the moment he’d seen that guy next to Jayda and felt it like a kick in the guts, he’d known he was in trouble.

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