“Jared?” My heartbeat stills and starts again. “Why? I mean I know he’s at another firm, but we’re coordinating sponsors for our clients’ fundraiser, not swapping company secrets.”
“Nothing like that. I think he means to lure you over to Elevation.”
I laugh because it’s ridiculous.
“You’re mistaken.” I shake my head, relieved that this is all. “He doesn’t.”
“He definitely has an interest in you.”
I won’t stop until you’re completely mine.
An interest. That’s one way to put it. I bite into an involuntary smile and suppress a shiver. As complicated as Jared has made things with Zo, I haven’t felt so alive in ages. Anticipating the next time I’ll see him. The intimacy of his kisses, the fire in his touch, how he stimulates my body and my mind. I shift in my seat and uncross my legs.
“Don’t worry, Cal,” I tell him with a wry smile. “Jared’s no threat.”
“Really?” Cal looks anything but sure. “He told me himself that my prize mare, as he put it, was safe, but that he could take better care of you at Elevation.”
All the gooey residual feelings congeal and thicken, settling like a lump at the bottom of my belly.
“Prize mare?” I ask numbly. “He said that?”
“Word for word,” Cal says, watching my face closely. “He all but warned me. You’d tell me if he made any offers, right? At least give me a chance to match whatever he presents, Banner.”
“Uh . . . he hasn’t made any offers,” I say absently.
Of the professional variety anyway, but maybe that was his end game. Even though Bent told me Jared wasn’t in on Prescott’s cruel joke, doubt floods me again. It’s like a habit, doubting myself. From the outside, no one would suspect, but there’s a crack in every wall. I’m no exception. I’ve lost a lot of weight. I’m in the best shape of my life, but I’m not, nor will I ever be a Quinn. A Tanya. A Cindy.
I’m a Banner, and Jared made me believe—again—that’s what he wanted. Legitimately, desperately wanted that from the way he looks at me, the things he’s said. Did I misjudge the situation?
You’ve always been beautiful to me. I hope you know that.
Jared is a master strategist. He’ll do anything to get what he wants, but I thought he wanted me. The me I thought he had seen. Really seen. Not the agent who could bring in hefty commissions.
“Just be sure I get to counter whatever he offers,” Cal says, standing and tapping my desk. “We’ve invested too much over the last decade to lose you to some upstart.”
“Of course.” I clear my throat and try to clear my head. I stand to walk him to the elevator. “How much longer are you in town? When do you fly back to New York?”
“In the morning.” He squeezes my arm. “You’re doing a great job out here, Banner, in case I hadn’t told you.”
“Thanks.” I smile, bending my lips into a waxy curve that doesn’t reflect the turmoil and uncertainty this conversation caused.
The elevator doors open, and Maali gets off as Cal gets on. I thank her, take the salad, and head back to my office.
“You okay?” she asks, a frown pleating her expression. “You look . . . I don’t know. Did Cal upset you?”
“No.” I dig into my salad and pull up my email to the Titans, avoiding Maali’s probing stare. “That look is probably hunger.”
She keeps watching me, like she needs convincing, so I look up and give her a confident smile. I’m good at convincing.
“I have some Titan ass to kick for Zo,” I say easily. “Could you close the door behind you?”
Assured, she smiles back and leaves.
Yeah. I’m great at convincing, but Jared is even better.
20
Jared
I’m a reasonable man. Most people who know me would agree. Two days with no word from Banner and I’m not feeling particularly reasonable. I’ve given her space. I know this situation is difficult for her and that she genuinely cares about Zo. I haven’t badgered with messages, but I hoped she’d call me.
Is this how women feel when men don’t call? When we go dark and they don’t hear from us? Do they wonder if we’re with someone else? Only I don’t have to wonder. I know that when Zo comes home from his trip, he comes home to Banner. To her house and her bed.
And I cannot fucking take it. The thought of him inside her even one more time is an itch in my veins, coursing through my imagination. My very blood is agitated when I think of them together. I’m not a jealous person by nature. You have to actually care about things to feel that way, and I care about my family and the few people I count as true friends. Expending that kind of energy and emotion on a girl I may not even remember in a month? Nah. But Banner? She’s like image burn, that impression left on your screen long after the photo is gone. Her outline is seared into my memory.
I told myself I wouldn’t call and I haven’t, but I’m sitting outside her office at seven o’clock and her car is still in the parking lot. I’ve never been to the Bagley offices, but of course I know where they’re located. Know your enemy. The reasonable thing would be to keep driving.
I dial.
“Hello?” she answers on the first ring.
Good sign.
“Hey.” I search for something neutral to discuss before diving into the decision she needs to make. “How are things?”
“You mean how are things at work?” Banner asks, her tone cooler than it’s been in weeks. “Why? Are you still deciding if this prize mare is worth the investment?”
Prize mare?
“What are you talking . . .”
Cal Bagley. Son of a bitch.
“So how is good ol’ Cal?” I don’t pretend ignorance.
“Concerned that you’ll lure me away.” Her laugh is made of tinfoil. “I assured him nothing could tempt me to work with you.”
The whip in her voice lashes my ears.
“Something wrong, Ban?”
“No, everything is very right.” I hear the dismissal before she voices it. “Thanks for calling. Let me know if we need to do anything for the sponsors, otherwise . . .”
Otherwise I can fuck off.
I kill the engine and head for the building.