Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 7
“I’m not here to ruin your evening.”
“Don’t get full of yourself,” I laughed harshly. “I’m very capable of getting up and leaving you sitting here alone.” I was tempted to, but part of me didn’t want to say goodbye just yet. I wish I didn’t miss him, but I do, and it sucks.
“I’m glad you haven’t. I’m…very sorry for how things ended between us. I guess that apology is long overdue.”
“And not necessary. If you hadn’t left, I wouldn’t be where I am now. So maybe I should thank you.” For ripping my heart out and stomping on it.
“This is obviously a sore subject. Maybe we can talk about something else,” he suggested.
Chuckling, I said, “You think?”
The lobsters arrived, providing something to do other than speak. But this wouldn’t last long. Eventually one of us would break the silence. I needed to be prepared for a quick end to this dinner. I’ll never know which was driving my body at that moment, my mind or my heart, but as I took the last piece of lobster meat between my fingers, ready to dip it in the melted butter, I knocked the bowl over in his direction. As I grabbed for it, my hand hit the tall glass of ice water, sending the contents in his direction. and the cold water soaked Jace from the waist down.
If that wasn’t bad enough, a waitress had been carrying a tray filled with clams and lobsters and Jace knocked the tray and the food flung up in the air in every direction. All the nearby tables now had clams and lobsters crashing down on them. I couldn’t do anything but sit there agape. It all happened so quickly, but seemed to have played out in slow motion. If I wasn’t so embarrassed, I’d have burst out laughing. All I had wanted tonight was a quiet, enjoyable, uneventful dinner. I should’ve known that was impossible the moment I saw Jace.
He turned his attention back to me as he wiped the front of his pants vigorously with a cloth napkin. “Were you worried things were going to get hot between us? There are easier ways to cool things off.”
I chuckled. If that were the case, I would’ve poured ice water on myself.
“Not at all,” I said. “And if this was payback for what you did years ago, it wouldn’t have been ice water. More like hot coals.” I pulled forty dollars out of my purse to cover my portion of the meal and stood up, smugly brushing the crumbs off my nice, dry lap.
“You’re leaving?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’m done eating. And there’s nothing else for us to discuss.”
Without another word, I walked away. Part of me wanted him to follow me, and ask me to stay, to say that the night was early. But Jace didn’t. Instead I was on the sidewalk, waving down a taxi to take me back to my father’s house.
No matter what, there was no happy ending tonight.
Chapter 3
Jace
I was in the office so early this morning that the sun hadn’t even risen yet. Sleep wasn’t what I needed right now. My fucking mind and body were battling me for control. There was no way I was giving in. What Shannon and I had was over. My rock hard cock was a reaction to having dinner with a beautiful woman, nothing more.
Of course, even after jerking off in the shower last night, it didn’t put out the fire. The chemistry that had connected us years ago still existed, at least for me. What pissed me off was the fact that I let it get in the way of getting what I wanted. Not once had I mentioned the towers or her father. Shannon probably wouldn’t have shared shit with me, but I never even tried. That was the only reason I’d agreed to go as Betsy’s replacement. My one chance, and I blew it.
I was right never to contact Shannon before. She fucked with my judgment. No one else had ever held that power and I sure as hell won’t allow myself to sink back into that trap. Granted, I no longer give a fuck what Ralph Hamel thinks of me. Hell, I could probably use my connections to crush the bastard if I wanted. And if I know anything about a man like Ralph, he probably doesn’t even remember my name. I was just the first of probably a long list of men he chased out of Shannon’s life. It was the only explanation as to why someone so beautiful wasn’t married by now. Someday someone was going to want Shannon enough to put Ralph in his place. For me, there is only one thing I want from Ralph, and that is his contacts at the Bachelor Towers.
The intercom buzzed, which meant Betsy had arrived early as well. What the fuck, woman? Are you in a rush to get your ass chewed out?
I pressed the button and said, “You might want to reconsider speaking to me today.”
Her snickering echoed in my office. “Funny, that is exactly what Shannon said when I called her before coming to work. Did your date turn into a…late night?”
“It wasn’t a date and no. She wasn’t pleased with the change of plans. You might want to think of a way to make it up to your friend.” God knows I had a lot more to make up for, but there wasn’t any going back and Shannon didn’t want to hear it anyway.
“She really wasn’t mad,” Betsy said. “I would say…surprised.”
“I’d say pissed,” I corrected. They might be friends, but Shannon and I had been lovers and there are things I know about her that Betsy doesn’t. A certain look in her eye, when those baby blues of hers turn so dark they’re almost stormy. Only happens when she’s horny or pissed. She sure as hell hadn’t been thinking about fucking me last night. Maybe