Page 57 of Unbuttoning Her Brooding Boss

He made the most of it. Again.

‘Whatisyour jam, then, if not movies?’ he asked, still needing to keep it light, keep it easy.

‘Art and design books. I shop online for them. They’re my guilty pleasure.’

She washisguilty pleasure. ‘Online? You don’t browse for hours in some fancy bookshop and decide which ones you want over some complicated coffee order?’

Something shadowed her eyes, but she forced a laugh. ‘I don’t have time.’

Because she was such a busy blogger, always out and about, compiling pictures and data for her lists?

He tried to smile but the dread was setting in. He didn’t want her to leave. He’d spent almost all day not thinking about his meeting tomorrow, thanks to her.

And right now he didn’t care that his muscles ached from the acrobatics of last night. He just wanted to stay locked away with her like this.

His sex drive had roared to life from the moment he’d first laid eyes on her, and now the need was spiking higher the nearer the end loomed.

‘Stay another night,’ he whispered, unable to hide that edge of desperation.

He hated the way she dropped her gaze, shutting him out. He felt tension stiffen her body, and she pushed at his shoulder so he’d shift off her.

‘Don’t worry about the blog.’ He felt certain that whatever it was shewasn’tsaying was related to that.

She nibbled her thumbnail and gazed through a gap in the drapes, obviously thinking. Obviously deciding.

All Jack could do was hold his breath. He wasn’t going to ‘torture’ her into saying yes again. He wanted her towantto stay—and to be able to say it.

‘If I sell “The List” to you, there’s nothing more for us,’ she said suddenly—super-decisive. Super-businesslike. ‘And I’ll walk away from the blog entirely.’

His blood chilled. Nothing more for them? Okay. He could take that rejection like a man. There wasn’t supposed to be anything more for them beyond this anyway.

But he’d seen for himself how much she enjoyed interaction with her readers, how dedicated she was to her blog. Was she worried that things might be awkward because of their affair?

He wasn’t letting that happen. She wasn’t walking away from something she loved and had worked hard for because of this couple of days.

They meant nothing, right?

‘You don’t have to walk away from it. If you’re worried about this affecting your work in the future, then don’t. I live in the States. I spend a lot of time travelling. More than likely we won’t see each other again. You are too much a part of it to be able to walk away.’

He felt his stomach drop as he said it. But it was the truth and it was a good thing. This was only a fling. A distraction.

He’d expected her to withdraw more from him because he’d spoken so bluntly, but now she rolled to face him.

Even though she’d stopped biting her nail, she looked even more worried. ‘There’s something you should know.’

His heart thudded, striking an uncomfortably fast beat. She wanted to tell him something important. And he wanted to hear it too much.

From the look on her face it wasn’t something awesome.

‘I get a lot of help with the blog.’ She reached down and pulled the loose top sheet up around her.

He waited.

‘From my friends. I can’t get to all those places myself. They call it in for me. Email me recommendations. I always verify... always take the time to get a second opinion... but the truth is the lists aren’t all my own work. Not any more. And Tara with her make-up tips—that’s such a big part of it now...’ She drew in a sharp breath. ‘So, you see, I’m a fraud.’

Thiswas what she’d been holding back from him? That wasit?He tried to hide his smile. ‘You’re not a fraud.’

She had more integrity than most people—her ‘confession’ told him that.

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