Page 87 of Opening Strain

She takes a step back. “I have a meeting this morning and can’t oversee your exercises. He’ll do a great job for you.”

“What meeting? Where?”

“It’s with the bank about a loan for our third location.” Her chin wobbles for a moment, then solidifies. “We were supposed to meet yesterday afternoon, but I left him a message when it became clear I wouldn’t make it. We rescheduled the meeting to today.”

A distant memory about a meeting yesterday flits through my mind. Whatever. She’s not making any sense about the need for a meeting. “I thought you were using the money from working with me to get your third location?”

“Yeah, well I already had this meeting scheduled with the bank when you sort of fell into my lap. If I get this loan, I’ll apply the money I’m earning from working with you for our fourth location.”

Her logic makes sense, even if it does leave me to work withAustin. “Don’t you have another therapist I could work with? One who doesn’t have the hots for you?”

“No. All my other therapists are busy with clients. Because the location where Austin works has been hounded by the paparazzi, he’s available.” Her lips purse. “And he does not have the hots for me.”

I wince at her description. “I hate my presence has disrupted your business.” A second later, I add, “And yes, he does.”

“Well, you’re leaving in three days and then things will return to normal.”

Except for the fact Jenna’s changed me, I admit to myself. She doesn’t treat me like a rock star or some god who can get away with everything and anything. She’s seen through all the bullshit, and still likes me. I grin. She also likes how I made her come on my fingers.

I lean forward. “I wanted to throw Luke off your scent because I don’t know what’s between us, Jenna. I like you. A lot. The more time I spend with you, the more I want to, and that’s simply not how I usually operate.” I wrap a lock of blonde hair around my index finger. “What are you doing to me?”

“Back at you. You weren’t in my plan. No man was.” She swallows. “I don’t understand what’s going on between us. Darren?—”

“Was an amazing man.” No denying this truth.

“He was.” She licks her lips. “He exposed me to a whole new world, one without rules or order.”

“Let me guess. You loved him despite all that.”

“I did.” Her head drops. On a whisper, she replies, “I need order and control, two words definitely not in his vocabulary.” She lifts her head. “Or yours.”

She has me there. I don’t need either because everything is taken care of by others, and I don’t give a shit. So long as I’m where I need to be when the gig starts, that’s all that matters to me. Not to Jenna, though. Can I see her living in my world, the way she blended into Darren’s?

I do. If she’ll have me—which she probably won’t. No one does.

“Maybe we can meet in the middle?”

She shakes her head. “I’m leaving for the meeting now. Due to the time and, well, everything, I’ll stop at a boutique and buy a new suit. I don’t want to have to deal with reporters at my house on top of everything. Applying for this loan is nerve-wracking enough.” She takes a couple of steps away from me.

“It’s your third time. Has to get easier?”

“You would think so. It was even more challenging the second time.” She backs farther away. “I don’t expect it to go any easier now.”

I start to get off the bed but remember I’m naked underneath. Despite everything that went on between us last night, and this morning, I don’t think she’d appreciate seeing me in all my glory right now. Instead, I hold my arms wide. “Let me give you a good luck hug.”

“I think it’s best if we don’t cross that line again. You’re my patient.”

“Technically, I’m Austin’s patient this morning.”

Her cheeks lift. “You’re still under my supervision. We shouldn’t have done those...things. We can’t fool around any longer.”

“Fuck that.”

I don’t give a crap about the fact I don’t have a stitch of clothes on either. I shove the blankets off my body, stand, and cross to where she’s standing—transfixed. I wrap her in a hug and kiss the top of her head.

After a long moment, her arms go around my naked hips. We stand, locked together, for an exquisite beat.

Then she steps away. Without saying another word, she escapes from the room, leaving an unfinished melody of desire and confusion in her wake.

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