Page 52 of Under Daddy's Spell

“Are you sure? Sealed up, they might keep until he gets back.”

“They’re not for him,” she insisted, perpetuating her lie. Then she shrugged. “Do what you want with them.”

When she turned again, it took all she had to walk rather than sprint to the lobby and out the door, never to return. She got waylaid by a spandex-clad yoga class letting out, but, once the traffic had slowed to a trickle, she had a clear path to the exit and took it.

Outside, with the full force of New Orleans’ oppressive humidity hitting her in the face, she maintained her composure long enough to get past the windows. Then she staggered, putting her hand on the glass front of her store to steady herself.

Jordan acted like he cared. He had kissed her, spanked her twice, and last night he’d...

She rested her forehead on her hand on the window.

Good heavens. If he’d been in the gym just now, she would have told him yes while he had at least two other women on the side! Junior and his big mouth had saved her from that, at least.

Shock gave way to hurt, which morphed into anger.

Screw Jordan Cooper. And screw the apology she owed him. She’d be damned if she’d exert the effort again. He could take his Southern charm and oh-so-caring daddy act and shove it right up his—

Knuckles rapping sharply on the window startled Tessa so much she jumped. ?

Martha called from inside, her voice muffled, “Are you all right, hon?”

Nodding, she waved her off. It was her second lie in under five minutes; she was confused and far from all right.

Still, she took a deep breath, smoothed her hair and dress, and started walking again. She was fine before Jordan Cooper moved into the store next to hers, and she’d be fine when he moved on to torment some other young woman with his twisted games.

With a successful business to run and Rufus, who gave her unconditional love and a furry face to come home to, she didn’t need Jordan or any man.

She was kidding herself, however.

Jordan was the first to ignite a spark of hope that her humdrum, regimented, lonely life might be over. When it was extinguished by Owen the third minutes ago, it hurt a helluva lot.

Chapter Sixteen

AFTER JOGGING ACROSSthe rear parking lot, Jordan checked his phone while he pushed through door. He mentally calculated how much time he had to retrieve the figures he needed for Monday’s meeting which, like an idiot, he’d left on his desk, and still get to the airport in time to catch his flight. Variables between now and then were traffic on the West End this time of day, the line at check-in, and getting through security with no hiccups.

If everything went smoothly, it was going to be close.

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