Page 21 of Fairy Tale Lies
She wasn’t positive he’d refuse her the position of Web Developer over office chatter, but why chance it? The mere thought of losing favor with her father caused anxiety to rear up and wrap around her like a vise.
Jacob wasn’t worth the risk.
Her heart might beat wildly whenever he was near, but it was an empty desire and nothing more.
It’d pass.
Heck, there was a sliver of time she’d felt the same way about Blake, and it didn’t last. Neither would this.
What she needed to do was focus on finishing her masters and on building her portfolio, by working for her father. There wasn’t a place in her life for lust and its delights. Or its complications.
Her plan was simple. She’d keep her distance from Jacob and resist her inexplicable and overpowering attraction. Nice and easy.
Yeah, right.
She suspected her self-control was going to be severely tested.
Chapter Seven
“You going to stare at that recorder thing until it magically fixes itself?”
“This is a World War II German Magnetophon, not a recorder.” Jacob set his wire cutters aside in defeat. He swiveled his chair to face his brother standing at his door. “And yes, I was hoping it’d fix itself because my mind sure as shit isn’t in it.”
“Why? Things not good at Swift?” Will came inside Jacob’s work/bedroom.
Did he want to get into it with his brother? Guys sucked at this stuff. Still, a sounding board might help sort his shit.
“Yes and no. The business side is fine… Um, you remember the girl I was telling you about? The one from Petite Bois?”
Will collapsed into the seat next to Jacob’s workspace, stretching his long legs like he was getting comfortable, preparing to stay awhile. “Yeah, she’s the rich lady you slept with some weeks back. Then pined after like a teenager for weeks but wouldn’t call her.”
Jacob huffed, annoyed. Sounding boards weren’t supposed to talk back. “Remind me again, why do I tell you anything?”
“Because I give great advice.”
“Nope. Not true. At all.”
Will scratched his nose with his middle finger. “Anyway, did you finally man up and call her?”
“No, asshole. I ran into her at Swift Financial. She works there.”
Will’s head jerked back. “No shit. Small world. Is she anyone important?”
“Her father owns Swift.”
Will’s eyes bugged out enough that Jacob was afraid they might fall from his head.
“Ah man. Damn.” Will whistled. “Was she happy to see you or plotting to have you tossed on your ass? Again.”
Jacob ignored the dig. “At first she wasn’t happy. Now we’re okay. I think.”
“Where’s the problem?”
“We’d never work as a couple, or anything, but…” He shrugged, not sure how to finish the sentence.
Will scowled. “You want her? Even after she threw you out like, well, like white trash?”
Jacob stood and began removing one of the Magnetophon’s reels. “She had her reasons.”
