Page 47 of Enemies with Benefits

While we’d been embroiled in enough sexual tension to break a few records, business had never been muddied by sex. This deal, for better or worse, meant too much to both of us to allow that so I was confident, once I left the room, he’d give it his full attention. Still, I basked in the sizzling heat of his regard as I headed for the rear of the plane. When the stewardess directed me to the bathroom, I thanked her, then, unable to resist, glanced over my shoulder.

As I suspected, Jasper was engrossed in the file, eyes slightly narrowed as he digested the facts and figures I’d painstakingly put together.

I took my time in the well-appointed bathroom, splashing cool water over my wrists and touching up the very light make-up I’d worn. My unbound hair didn’t need much attention, but I ran a brush through it all the same. Then, with nothing more to do, I left the suite.

To discover Jasper had moved from the living area into the business area and spread out more papers on the desk. He looked up as I entered.

‘I’ve read your contract. There are a couple of issues that need ironing out.’

‘Oh?’ It wasn’t a flat refusal. I could work with that.

‘I think you’re underutilising manpower on the ground. At least three per cent of the staff members can double up on other tasks without affecting quality or productivity. Here, take a look.’

I joined him at the table and within ten minutes I was admitting the sheer genius of Jasper’s input.

‘Give me an hour and I’m sure I can find other areas to increase productivity,’ I countered.

He gave an appreciative smile. ‘Do that and we have a new deal.’

My breath caught. ‘Really?’

‘Really. And once we’re done with that, we can get down to what’s bothering you and the reason why you haven’t kissed me since I picked you up.’

CHAPTER NINE

HERFEATURESTIGHTENEDand I knew she was about to shut me down. ‘I don’t need you to fix my problems, Jasper.’

An expected response. One I fully intended to smash through. ‘When that problem directly impacts me, I think I’m entitled to a basic understanding of what’s going on.’

Her eyes flashed with annoyance. And I admitted quietly to myself that it was way better than the bitter, silent pain I’d seen there before. That kind of pain was acidic, had a tendency to eat away inside you until only a husk remained. The last thing I wanted to see was the woman I was growing increasingly attached to stripped of her vibrancy. Of the passion that blazed through everything she did.

‘Impacts you in what way?’ she challenged.

I raised my eyebrow and let her read the answer on my face.

‘You mean sex?’ There was a tight edge to the question that made me wonder if the surface answer wasn’t what she wanted. And fuck if that didn’t thrill me. I wasn’t sure how much of myself I could give but if she wanted more, I would oblige. Up to a point. Because I was a Mortimer, after all. And we were renowned for the amount of dysfunctional baggage we tended to lug around.

‘Not necessarily. But I expected the trip thus far to be a little more...stimulating.’

She stiffened, her back going ramrod straight. ‘I didn’t throw myself into your arms like an overeager teenager when you rocked up in your fancy car, so I must be defective somehow?’

‘Stop. You’re deflecting.’ I hardened my voice.

She opened her mouth, about to snap my head off, but then swallowed and looked away. The weight of that action sat uncomfortably in my gut. Wren never shied away from confronting me. Added to that weight was the realisation that I would fix it, regardless of what it was. Regardless of my suspicion that this would hit close to my own parental issues. Issues I’d happily placed in a vault my whole life.

I cupped her chin and redirected her gaze towards me. ‘Tell me what’s bothering you, Wren. I may not have crystal-clear answers for you but, much like this contract here, we can figure our way through it, even if it requires several iterations before we’re satisfied with it.’

Her eyes grew suspiciously filmy, then she blinked them clear. ‘It’ll take much longer than a few weeks of hard negotiations to unravel a lifelong conundrum.’

Her voice was solemn, much more subdued than I’d ever heard it, and that unnerving weight in my gut grew.

I rubbed my thumb over the smooth-as-silk skin of her jaw, felt her pulse leap beneath my touch. ‘I get that. But conundrums remain that way if you leave them alone. Shove them into the light. Show them to me, Wren. I want to see.’

‘Why?’ she asked, her voice a little bewildered.

Why indeed? I could’ve given her the flippant answer, told her I was a ruthlessly determined Mortimer who despised secrets and wanted full disclosure for the sake of our business dealings. But since I hid fat, ugly secrets of my own...

I shrugged. ‘I’ve seen you in business mode and I’ve seen you content with a well-put-together meal. I’ve watched you wow a room full of corporate sharks and had you aggravate me with a trench coat I’m still determined to burn the first chance I get. Your many facets fascinate me. This sad version of you irks me. If helping you work through your pain is the only way for you to free yourself of it, then it’s a task I’m volunteering to undertake. No strings attached.’ Yeah, that last bit was a white lie. I wanted a few strings. The kind of strings that made me want to feed her when she was hungry. Tear a few arseholes to shreds when they upset her. Bask in her smile when she was happy.

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