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“No, thank you” Jess sputtered “This circus is already big enough without throwingto wear I’”

Aedan’s heart skilled a beat as he heard Jess refer to his place as home It appears he had finally started to win her over Maybe he could persuade her to stay

31

The charity dinner was no different than hundreds of others he’d done, but this tiet out of there as soon as possible The fact that Kate tried to turn their fore by destroying so with Jess really pissed hioing there and doing this to get Kate off his back and wrap things up nicely He knew that the announcement for whatever TV show she wanted to be on would co

James had reassured hi the event other than the official photographers, and the pictures released would all be subject to approval The charity obviously didn’t want to send out anything untoward or piss off anyone donating to the event Aedan trusted they would keep to that promise

The plan was siraphed at the event, explain that they were attending as friends and there were no hard feelings at all about their co like a co anywhere near her in the first place, Aedan was ain

Tomorroould be a clean slate for Aedan and Jess, without any of the baggage of Kate and the tabloids James showed him a draft of the story that was ht possible—even Kate—and Aedan hoped it would get the press to back off the blood in the water they seemed to smell lately Aedan wanted to make sure that all loose ends were tied up so he wouldn’t have to worry about those headlines co out about Jess She was still so skittish and apprehensive that Aedan didn’t want it to ruin things

Jess was leaving in less than a week Their tiether had already been tainted by so much crap, stress, and unwanted attention that he needed these last few days to go smoothly, so that maybe he could convince her to continue what they had when she returned to the States Maybe she would even think aboutto the UK

He knew her company had an office in London He’d even checked their website to see if they took on si on, and they did He was getting ahead of himself, but that hat he wanted, what he needed, when it cah like she did, or appreciate just how bad so like she did Aedan needed her in his life and he hoped she felt the same way

Aedan stood by his designated table exchanging handshakes with several of the other attendees He posed for pictures withhands—all the standard shots As the announcement was made that the event was about to officially start, Aedan looked toward the entrance, Kate was supposed to be here by now

Withinto the room Anyone else would look at her and see an impeccable beauty with the perfectly crafted exterior Her flowing blue goould haveover to her, but to Aedan she had lost her allure With her practiced poses, she always ready for a camera to take her picture even when there wasn’t one there The fact that he’d once found himself so attracted to her made his stoe, she finally felt so inclined to come over the table, as she realized that the focus would no longer be on her

She stood behind her chair waiting for one of the waiters to pull it out for her The waiter didn’t disappoint, but she let out a huff that Aedan hadn’t rushed to do it hihtly toward her, “Kate”

“Aedan So, glad you could co"

“It’s for a great charity and you didn’t exactly give me much of a choice with all the denials you and your people have been trying to push in the papers,” Aedan said his fists clenching and unclenching

“Let’s not talk business yet”