Page 127 of Delicious Surrender

Gage took out his phone and left a curt message for John on his voicemail.

“Jared has already told him about it. I’m sure he’s looking into it.”

Gage sat back and rubbed his jaw. “I forgot you met him at the club. I gather they’re still seeing each other?”

Brynne paused, not wanting to break a confidence. “I believe they are still in touch.”

Gage looked like he had more to say, but changed his mind. He made a plate of food and stood. “I have to make a few calls, so I’ll see you later.”

Brynne hid her disappointment. “Cool. I’ll finish what I was working on this afternoon before I fell asleep.”

He smirked. “It looked to me like you were looking at graphic massage videos.”

She leveled him with a stare. “Yeah, I was wondering if that was the type of massage Krylie usually gives you.”

“Kylie is a registered massage therapist. Is that why you told me no happy endings?”

“She looked flushed when she came downstairs. I wondered what made her that way.”

“Probably embarrassment. I told her I wasn’t interested in any extra services.”

“For now, I suppose. But when I’m gone, you can get your rocks off with her, right?”

“Why are we talking about this? I told you I am monogamous for the duration of our agreement. This subject is closed.” He stalked to his office and kicked the door shut.

Brynne cursed herself for showing him how jealous she was. It was none of her business what he did before her or after her. It shouldn’t depress her, but it did.

After making a plate of snacks, she gathered her stuff and headed to her bedroom. As she passed the office, she heard Gage’s voice raised in anger. Curiosity got the better of her and she stopped to listen.

“I don’t care who she fucked back in Canada. Did you uncover anything else about her time at the Mirror?”

Brynne froze; her stomach churned. He was having her investigated?! She was living in his house and sleeping in his bed, and he still didn’t trust her! The urge to howl threatened to choke her. The sword had dropped and sliced open her heart, just as she feared it would. She stood frozen, feeling all the joy bleeding out of her.

How could she have been so stupid? She had allowed herself to dream of more, hoping the past was behind them—or that they would conveniently never talk of it again.

She needed to get out of there so she could think. After changing into yoga pants and a warm sweater, she knocked on his office door.

“Come in.”

She poked her head in. “I’m going to pop down to my house for some things. I’ll be back in a while.”

“If you can wait a few minutes, I’ll drive you.”

“No, it’s okay—I need the walk and will drive my car back up and park it here.”

He looked placated. “Okay. Be careful, the sun is setting.”

“I will.” She shut the door and bit her lip to stop the words from tumbling out.

The urge to run was strong. The sky was a fiery combination of red and orange swirls tonight. It made her think of Aunt Josie and the last sunset they watched together on the porch. Josie would sip Drambuie and impart kernels of wisdom. What she wouldn’t give for a visit with Josie right now.

The main floor of her house was chaotic, and Brynne wondered if it would ever be the safe haven it used to be. Would she want to stay after their agreement ended? It was impossible to say. She could ignore him and get on with her life, maybe date Logan. But running? No. Fuck no. Not anymore.

She went upstairs and dialed Jared, praying that he picked up.

“Bree! How are you, doll?!”

Her breath caught on a sob. “I’m a mess, J. I’m a bloody idiot who is falling for a man I can never have.”