Page 7 of Nothing But It All
My lips are parting to respond when the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Billie smirks and stares over my shoulder.
I hold my breath as a voice rings out behind me.
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this.”
Great.
CHAPTER TWO
LAUREN
Jack.
His Tom Ford cologne mixes with the distinct scent of his sweat. It floats through the room with a confidence that used to be a huge turn-on. Now it’s annoying.
I used to joke with him—years ago, when we had fun sex and not get-it-over-with sex—that all he had to do was work out for a few minutes or mow the lawn. The scent of his body was the match to my libido’s fuse.
He squeezes the back of the chair, causing his knuckles to graze my shoulder blades.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, still facing Billie. “Eavesdropping is a nasty habit.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you, too, Lo.”
I roll my eyes and turn to face him. His brown eyes deepen as he holds my gaze. Despite my frustration—my lord, he’s handsome.
Unlike me, he’s unbothered by our unofficial separation—because that’s what our life really is. We’re both here for the kids and maybe convenience, but this isn’t a marriage and hasn’t been for a long time.
Jack’s hair tapers down the sides, and the back blends into the skin at his nape. It’s brushed up with a slight part, as if he woke up and ran his fingers through it.Has he seen a barber?
He leans forward, his gray T-shirt darkened by his perspiration, and smiles.
“I didn’t say it was a pleasure to see you,” I say, leaning away from him for good measure. “You can’t just sneak in my office like that.”
He winks. “I just did.”
Smart-ass.
“I’m meeting the kids here,” he says, lifting a brow. “I assume you’ve heard about the party Michael wants to go to.”
“I’m trying to figure a way around that without a fight.”
“I took care of it.”
Really?“How?”
“Asked him if he wants to go to Hocking Hills for a couple of days. I’d already planned to be gone from the shop for two weeks when you decided we weren’t going to Story Brook.”
I glare at him.That’s not what happened.
He holds my gaze but doesn’t miss a beat. “So I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone. Spend some time with the kids and keep Michael out of trouble.”
“Is there a reason you had to personally tell me that? Texts were suddenly inefficient?” I ask.
His forearms flex as he grips the back of my chair even harder. “No. Not really.”
Billie hops off my desk. The movement causes me to twist around to look at her and catch her wide, shit-eating grin.
What’s that all about?
