Page 32 of The Sacrifice
“Wow.” I blink and step out of his embrace. “I’m sorry. Crossing this line is something I’ve vowed never to do. I’m your employee, not….” Not what? The one-night stand that lives with him. His lover. His girlfriend.
“A random woman I picked up at the bar?” His jaw is tight as his eyes glisten with frustration, hurt, and anger. I can’t tell which one.
“Yes.” I shake my head and frown. “No.” I toss my hands into the air. “I don’t know. You’ve been thrown into a stressful situation with an unexpected baby. We’re tired. And when you add forced proximity and wine into the mix, it’s bound to turn into something we’ll regret.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and lowers his lashes. “Did you make out with all of your employers?”
“No.” My hands ball into fists. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Have you been tired before and not screwed someone?”
“Yes. Don’t be stupid.” My teeth gnash together at his condescending tone.
“Have you drunk wine with a man and not ground on him?”
My eyes narrow until I can barely see out of them, but I don’t respond. I was taught I should keep my big mouth shut if I didn’t have anything nice to say.
“Then it’s just me. I’m trying to decide if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.” He inhales and rotates his head from side to side. “I’ll take it for what it is. You’re not unlike Roxanne. I’m good enough for a fuck standing up but anything else, and you’re out.”
I clutch my chest as my stomach churns. “Did you want something more with her?”
“No. But maybe I did with you.” He rakes a hand through his hair. This is…. Surreal. Epic. Crazy. Horrible.
My hands shake as I swipe the excess sweat off my palms onto my pants. What does he want? A few weeks of fun? Dating? A relationship? Forever. My mouth dries. If someone had said two weeks ago, you’ll fall in love with Jackson, get married, and spend the rest of your life living a happily ever after, I would’ve punched them in the face.
But now? Now that the idea has formed in my brain, I can see it. I can feel it. I want it.
“But that’s impossible, isn’t it? I’m your brother’s best friend. The troublemaker. Not someone you’d ever take seriously.” He spins on his heel, snatches up the empty plates, and marches into the kitchen.
Jackson Rhodes wants something more with me. I stand in the dining room. The only sound is the central air conditioning as it kicks on, sending a chill through the room. Although, it has no chance of freezing me like his words did. No. Jackson Rhodes wanted something more with me, and I ruined it.
I rush after him. “Listen–”
“No.” He shakes his head, although it barely moves due to the stiffness of his shoulders. “It was stupid. You’re right. It’s exhaustion. Celibacy. Stress. Wine. Whatever it is, it’s something else controlling my thoughts.”
When he turns to face me, the dejection on his face makes me want to crawl into a ball and cry. “I apologize for imposing myself on you. I’ll keep things on a professional playing field from now on. It won’t happen again.”
“Jackson…”
“Stop.” His eyes flash. “Forget it happened. I have.”Shit.Tears spring to my eyes, and I rush from the room to keep him from seeing how his words cut into my heart.
Chapter Nineteen
Mia
After slamming the door to my room shut, I lean against the wood and suck down a ragged breath. I’m not supposed to fall for him. It’s the last thing I thought I’d ever do. But the way his rejection claws at my chest, skating over me and dragging me down with the weight of the world, it’s scaring the shit out of me.
I didn’t feel like this when I was with Warren. Not when we started dating. Not with our first kiss. Not the first time we had had sex. And certainly not when we broke up. This feels like chaos. Overwhelm. And all that shit I don’t like.
After I shove off the door, I pace between the bed and the dresser, ignoring the need to pick up something and sling it across the room. My teeth grind together. He compared me to Roxanne. How dare he. I don’t know her, but any woman who’d leave their child with a stranger and skips town is pathetic. That’s not me. I would never plan to drop my kid off at social services.
My fingernails bite into my palms. Why is it that people who want to have children can’t, and people who shouldn’t have children pop them out like a PEZ Candy Dispenser? Life isn’t fair.
My cellphone buzzes, and I snatch it up. If it’s a solicitor, they’re going to wish they hadn’t called me.Jade.My shoulders drop a fraction of an inch. “Hello?”
“Hey, lady, how’re things going at Jackson’s house? You were supposed to call me, and I’m tired of waiting to hear if it’s the trainwreck you thought it would be.”
“Not good. Well, great. No. Sucky.” I toss my free hand into the air. “I have no idea.”