Page 40 of Jack

Jazmine stared at him thoughtfully. "Shegot under his skin."

"She made him mad."

Jazmine shook her head. "It was morethan that."

"What do you mean?"

"I have seen only a glimpse of himwhen he was leaving, but that man looked like he was about to eruptlike a volcano. I have heard rumors about him. He's referred to asthe ice king."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means, darling, that nothing getsunder his skin, and no one makes him lose control. But your sisterhas done just that." A smile touched her lips. "It will beinteresting to see what happens next."

Zach stared at her frowningly, not likingwhere the conversation was going. "It was anger. The man wasboiling with it, and I can't say I blame him. I wanted to strangleher myself."

"They rub each other the wrong way. Isaw it that time at the gallery. And I also noticed that he could nottake his eyes off her."

"That's ridiculous!"

Lifting their joined hands, she kissed hisknuckles and gave him an amused look. "She's your sister, butshe also happens to be an incredibly beautiful woman. And Jack Hadleyis a man."

"Who's out of her league."

"Now, who's being ridiculous?"she chided. "I'm looking forward to what happens next."

*****

His suite was spartan. And was probably theplainest in the manor. He preferred it that way, because he did notspend a lot of time at home. He barely considered the place home andthat was deliberate. When he was growing up, it had been a prison. Anelegant and sophisticated one, but a prison, nonetheless. His suiteback when he was growing up had been lavishly decorated, the blue andgold décor echoing in the other rooms. Two bedrooms, aplayroom/study room, a game room, bathroom and a movie room. It hadbeen every boy's dream and his own personal nightmare.

Because he had been alone. Not just alone,but isolated and unloved. His father had only stepped foot inside tolecture and mete out punishments. His hand had been heavy, his tonguesharper than laser.

Dragging off his clothes, he blamed theencounter with that blasted woman for bringing on the pain of thosebitter memories. She had shaken him to the core. And bruised hisemotions. Shoving his fingers through the already disheveled hair, hemarched into the stark white bathroom and into the shower. He wouldtry and get some work done before turning in for the night. And damnif he was not going to get some sleep. He had to. His schedule wasfull to overflowing. He had meetings and might have to take a quicktrip to New York to take a firsthand look at the shopping mall inManhattan. It was a crumbling mess, but he had seen the potential,and his interest was piqued. Dipping his head beneath the wave ofwater from several jets, he closed his eyes and cursed bitterly whenthe first thing that popped up in front of him was the way she hadlooked, standing up to him. Even though he had wanted to wrap hishands around her pretty little neck, he had felt admiration coursingthrough him.

No one had ever had the guts or the courageto stand up to him that way and she had done so, not once, butseveral times. A reluctant smile touched his lips. Turning off theshower, he reached for a towel to wrap around his narrow waist.

Normally, when he wanted a woman, he simplyhad to make his intention known. Having a long-term relationship hadnever interested him in the least. As distasteful as the situationhad been with Jason's mother, she had actually done him a favor, byproviding an heir. He was never getting married and had vowed thatsince he was a young man in his twenties. He had seen what miseryaccompanies that kind of union and was staying away. Yes, there wereinstances where people enter into that kind of thing and appear to behappy, but he had history on his side. His father had been a lousyparent and an even worse husband.

He had no intention of inflicting that kindof grief on anyone. Pulling on a robe over his nakedness, he headedto the office and booted up his laptop, determined to push her fromhis mind, even if it took force to do it.

Chapter10

Zuri contemplated and tried to talk herselfout of it. There were several reasons she should leave well enoughalone. Her brother was right. She was going to have to stay away fromJason. As much as she liked the kid, and she did, he appealed tosomething deep inside her. A tug, a yearning. Maybe it was because ofher indignation that a mother could walk away from her child.

Or it might be the fact that she waslonging for a child of her own. Whatever it was, the yearning wasgetting stronger. But she was going to have to do damage control.Jack Hadley was a very powerful man,and having him as an enemy would not do. And then there was Jason.She did not want him taking it out on the child.

So, she was going to have to swallow herdamn pride, tuck her tail between her legs, and grovel if necessary,no matter how distasteful that was. And she was going to have to doit on his turf, which would give him an even greater advantage. Shewould get it done and be able to tell her brother that she had madeamends and from now on, she would mind her own business.

Things were awkward between them for thefirst time, and she could not stand that. They were barely talking toeach other. That would not do.

It took her until almost the end of the dayto make the call to his office.

"Mr. Hadley's office, how may I helpyou?" The voice sounded snotty and had her spirits plummeting.The woman sounded like a regular bitch, and there was no way she wasgoing to give her any information. But she had to try.

"Hi," she had to take a breath."My name is Zuri Bennett, and I would like to talk to Mr.Hadley, if he's available."

"May I say what it's about?" Thepolite voice had chilled slightly, causing Zuri's hackles to rise.

"It's personal."

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