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When she was a good distance down the hall, I pulled the card froht?

The blunt query was so typical of Jax, I couldn’t help but grin But still, things had to be different the second go-round He’d insinuated himself into my life so well that I hadn’t been able to escape the as, yet I had barely dipped ain, it would be the same in New York--I’d have host

That had to change This ti to haunt themy smartphone out of ht I’d taken Chad to Denise’s salon I texted: Only if you’re cooking Your place?

It took five minutes before my phone vibrated on my desk His reply: What tie of triuhtened my day 5:30 And BTWTY for the flowers Lovely

Yes, you are, he sent back

I typed out a quick response: Says the uy I know

There was another pause, one long enough that I thought he wasn’t going to answer Then he sent, Skin deep

That lingered withtime

WHEN CHAD CALLED ht it’d be good to remind him of just how successful Lei was He showed up just before noon, looking handsome in khakis and a tucked-in dress shirt, with his collar open and cuffs rolled up

I uise of fetching my purse I wanted to use it as an excuse to show hilad you called," he said, walking beside oing on here"

"I’m sure you are I mean, how ht?"

"Right" He shot et it"

"Of course I do That’s why you’re going to trust me to tell you if the time comes to throw in the towel" We reachedto screw you over, Chad I promise you that"

He shoved his hands in his pockets "I’-of-war between Ian and Lei, and I can’t help thinking thatattention to me I could be anyone"

"But you’re not anyone You’re one of theto see that you shine"

Leaning forward, he caught iving lanced at the lilies on ot an admirer? Do I have competition?"

"It’s not serious"

"Hard to be serious when you’re working as ht the handle of my purse and shut the drawer "I’m married to my fabulous career"

Chad nodded "I kno that goes I’ether sopans out, anyway Maybe we can carve out sos"

My mouth curved "Maybe Ready to roll?"

"Have been since I ht his arm and we headed out

"RUTLEDGE CAPITAL"

I glanced up as Lei reached et back so I could tell her the good news: David Lee was going to work out He’d hit it off with Chad right away Plus, when I talked vaguely with David about our plans for Chad, he hadn’t been shy He’d said outright that he was hoping for a similar opportunity to co to e Capital conificant investment in Pee himself on Sunday and he confirmed it"

A heavy lump of ice settled in my stomach "Yesterday?" A weekend Jax had spent in my life In me

I sank slowly back into ri package She would’ve been a fool to refuse it" She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose "So stupid of hie"

I’d slid out of Jackson’s bed, and he’d slid a knife in et David Lee," I said hoarsely I had to focus on the iave it my all "He likes the idea of a trio Less pressure and heat while he finds his way"

"Oh," she said drily "Is he really that huic move He’ll want to cut loose eventually, sooner rather than later, but we can get a couple years out of hih "I went ahead and signed Inez before Ian got to her It’s contingent upon a deal with Mondego, but it shores us up"

"So we’re back on track" I glanced at the flowers on ht, he was in for a surprise I wasn’t going to let hiain

Paybacks were a bitch So was I, when the situation called for it

"You okay?" she asked, studyingthe chill in n David as soon as possible"

"Agreed I’ll take care of it"

"And we should probably take Chad back on a site tour of the Mondego in Atlanta Let hi forward"

"You want to do that" It wasn’t a question

"I think I could use a few days away"

Lei leaned her hip against the front ofdinner with hi in hts away, because her lips curved wryly "That should be interesting"

"You can bet on it" I exhaled the hurt I couldn’t contain and let the anger spread Worry folloiftly "You don’t have a probleotten why I hired you, Gianna" Lei headed toward her office "Don’t worry, I’ood and you’ll be fine"

I would be But I wasn’t there yet

FIVE O’CLOCK ROLLED around and reed to head to Atlanta the next day and I was ready to get out of town The truth: I was ready to see Jax and deal with hi at the curb forin ainst a black McLaren, a car I recognized because one of Lei’s chefs had bought one to celebrate the five-year anniversary of his first restaurant Jax’s arlasses shielded his eyes fro skyscrapers around hiray tie His dark hair was tousled, like he’d run a hand through it and let his styling efforts go at that