Page 82 of Mistaken Desire

“Sex does not equate compatibility.”

“Oh, but it does. And you can’t deny that we were really good at that part of our relationship. But it’s not just that. I miss the closeness that we had together.”

“Look, I just don’t want your kind of life. I don’t want reporters stalking me about your fiancée. I don’t want people to think I’m with you because I want your money. Do you know what people think about me right now?”

“Who gives a damn what people think!” Jake thrusts himself from his chair in a flash of irritation. “Amanda made everything up. None of it was true. The articles will be retracted, and eventually, people will move on to bigger and better gossip.”

“I care what people think of me! I know, but this type of thing will always happen. And I’ll always be known as the other woman. But it’s not just that, Jake. I don’t think I could handle us breaking up like that again. It was too painful.”

“It becomes too hard, so you just quit. Is that it?”

“Yes, I guess so. I don’t want to go through that again. You broke my heart,” I say miserably. “You said everything we had was a lie.Yousaid that, not me.”

“Well, guess what. I’m not a quitter, and I’m not going to allow things to end like this. I’m willing to fight for you. Fight for us.” I can see thefrustration building in him, and I want so badly to reach out to him. To touch him. To hold him.

“It’s not your choice,” I say sadly, shaking my head at him. “Let’s not make this more difficult than it needs to be.”

“The hell it isn’t my choice!” Jake stalks over to me and puts his hand under my chin. Despite his anger, he is gentle as he tilts my face up to his. “Listen closely. I love you, and you love me. Don’t even bother denying it. It’s written all over your face,” he grinds out.

When he dips his head to mine, I feel the pull to lean in. My entire body thrums with a forbidden awareness.

He’s going to kiss me. And oh my God, I want it so badly.

When our mouths touch, I feel the heat and passion that he pours into me with a gentle sweep of his lips.

He doesn’t give me time to react but straightens back up quickly and drops his hand from my face. After one smoldering look, he wrenches the door open and walks out of the apartment without looking back.

I remain staring at the door for several long minutes, dwelling on the goodbye kiss that will be our last. Once my mind is made up, there is no changing it. No matter how much I love him, we’re done. Forever.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jake

The next morning, I wake up and make a plan. I should have listened to Lana that day in my office, but I didn’t. I have wrongs that I need to right. Nothing will stop me from winning her back. I’ve had to work hard for everything important in my life, and this is no different. I won’t fail. Lana and I belong together, and she knows it as well as I do.

When I heard that she was in an accident, I almost lost my mind. Until that moment, I didn’t realize how important she had become to me. In just a few short months, she has become my life. I can’t imagine going another day without her by my side.

She feels the same. All of her objections are based on fear. She is afraid of the unknown and what will happen if she gives our relationship her all. I can overcome those fears for her. She and I deserve a chance at happiness.

For all of the bravado I am showing, it’s difficult to ignore the self-doubt that lingers. There’s a voice that’s telling me that she won’ttake me back, that I’m not what she needs in a partner, and that I hurt her too badly. I push those thoughts into the far recesses of my mind. It’s time to focus.

But just how do you win back the love of your life?

She doesn’t care about money.

She doesn’t care about cars.

Jewelry?

No, the first thing I need to do is fix the situation with Amanda. She should have arrived an hour ago, but as usual, she does as she wants. I wanted to talk to her over the phone, but she insisted we meet in person. Even knowing it was a terrible idea, I agreed to have her come to my penthouse.

By the time the concierge finally texts me that she’s on her way up, I’m thoroughly pissed off. I know that I need to remain calm around Amanda. Letting her see that she’s getting to me will only make things worse. When she finally knocks on the door, I take a calming breath before opening the door and allowing her to come in.

“Hey, sweetie!” she coos as she breezes by me. The smell of her perfume assails my nostrils, and I wonder how I ever was attracted to her. My nose twitches, and I feel the urge to sneeze. “Hope you didn’t have to wait long. I got tied up.”

Tamping down my irritation at having her in my space, I wait until she turns back to face me. Her makeup is flawless, and her hair is twisted up into a purposely messy coif. She’s beautiful, no doubt, but I see the malice staring at me from her gorgeous chocolate-brown eyes. It’s like a gut punch to know I wasted so many years with a woman I barely knew. “Amanda, let’s just get this over with. I’m in the process of having my lawyers send a cease and desist to the magazine.”

“Oh, sweetie, it’s much too late for that. They’ll probably take it down, but everyone knows about your extracurricular activities now.”

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