Page 55 of Work with Me

“I’m sure working at Synergy is great. But having my own company gives me independence. Flexibility. The power to say no.”

My chest tightened. “The power to walk away.”

“No, that’s not—” She bit her lip. “I guess that’s part of it.”

“Why is that important, Alicia?” It was unfair of me, especially after she’d told me she didn’t lie. But I couldn’t keep the question inside. Someone had hurt her, and I wanted to know who.

She paused a long time before speaking, so long I wasn’t sure she’d tell me.

“My dad left when we got Melissa’s diagnosis. I don’t know if it was because he couldn’t deal with the stress or if he already had one foot out the door, and that was the last straw. Except for the divorce papers, we haven’t heard from him since. Then I saw what happened with Noah’s dad. Melissa said he was already gone when she found out she was pregnant. And then, the cancer came back, more serious than ever, and she—she left, too.” She tucked her hands into the too-long sleeves of my sweater. “I guess after that, I wanted to be the one who did the leaving. The ending. Tiannah—she’s my best friend—says I come up with ridiculous reasons to end relationships.”

“Really?” I couldn’t imagine it. Solid, steady Alicia telling someone to hit the road because he chewed with his mouth open? “Give me an example.”

She smiled, and I was glad I’d lightened the mood. “Okay, here’s the worst one: the last guy I dated was perfect. Gets along great with Noah, even has a kid his age. Nice ass.”

“But?” I drew it out.

She smirked at my weak pun. “But, when we finally slept together, it was…not good.”

Heat rose up from my core, and I balled my hands into fists. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No, no. It was just…meh.” She shrugged. “I couldn’t imagine wanting to do it with him for the rest of my life.”

My hands relaxed. “I’m no sex therapist, but maybe you should’ve talked to him about it?”

“Maybe I should have. But it was easier to end it. Less painful than if I’d let myself get too involved, and then he left me. I know that sounds terrible. But”—she shrugged again—“prove me wrong.”

“Is that an invitation?” What was I saying? I was Mr. One-Night-Stand. Alicia ended things before they went too far; I never let them get started.

“You know we can’t. It’d be a professional disaster. For both of us.”

“It’s only a gig for you, remember. We’d be free to date once the project is over.”

“You just told me you were going back to San Francisco.”

“I said Cooper said I could. I could stay. If I had a reason.” My chest felt lighter as soon as the words left my mouth. I could stay. Here. With Alicia. I could sit on this swing with her. Hold her hand. Kiss her the way I’d wanted to the other night.

“I’d be a reason to stay.” Her tone was flat, unbelieving. Hell, I hardly believed what I was saying.

I reached over and took her hand, nudging back the sleeve of my sweater until our palms touched. “You’re the only reason I’d need.”

Her blue eyes, so much warmer than Cooper’s, softened. “Let’s talk about it when the project ends. If we still want to try it then. See how it goes for a couple of weeks.”

A test run, like we did at the racetrack. To ensure the car was fit to race. Only in this case, I was the car. “Okay.”

I lifted her hand and kissed her knuckle. Then I stood. “G’night, Alicia.”

“Night, Jackson. Wait, your sweater.”

I was already down the porch steps and walking back to my truck. “Keep it.” As proof I wasn’t going anywhere.

22

JACKSON

I proppedmy phone on the kitchen counter, leaning against the giant plastic jack-o’-lantern, and let the bags of decorating shit fall to the floor.

“You really can’t make it out a day early?” I added a hopeful twinge to my voice, like I wanted him to come.

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