He cursed, realizing they’d drawn attention. He laced his fingers with hers and plastered a smile to his face. “No need to make a bigger scene than we already have. There are meeting rooms down the hall. We can talk there. Can you smile and be nice while we walk over? This place is still crawling with media.”
She squeezed his fingers. “Oh, we wouldn’t want to make a bad impression, would we? That would defeat the purpose.”
He shook his head in confusion and led her back the way he’d come, circling around to the empty conference rooms. He entered the first one he came to, pulled her in, and shut the door. Once he closed the blinds to give them as much privacy as possible, he turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well?”
She didn’t waste time. “Did my father tell you why I’m here?”
“Other than to babysit?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, tired of this cryptic conversation. “Quit with the twenty questions and spit it out, Jessa. Say what you need to say.”
“Fine. It’s come to my attention that my father sent me here to do more than oversee your progress. He planned the whole thing, Garrett. You and me.” Her lip quivered as the tears began to fall.
Garrett shook his head. “That can’t —”
“And I think you knew about it.”
Garrett didn’t move. Ice filled his veins, a chill that turned his spine to steel. She couldn’t be serious. After everything they’d shared?
He’d risked everything to be with her and now, she blamed him for something he’d had no part of. Without even asking for the truth.
This is what happens when you play games.
Jessa swiped at her cheeks. “You flirted with me from the first moment we met.”
“I’m a friendly guy,” he gritted out.
“You came to my room, tempting me with pizza. And you kissed me. Why would you do that, unless you had an ulterior motive?”
His temper broke its leash. “Tempting you with pizza? Ulterior motive? Are you listening to yourself, Jessa? You can’t possibly believe, first, that your dad would do something like that, and second, that I’d agree to it. What kind of man do you think I am? You think I’d use you like that?”
She took a step back as his voice echoed through the room.
“I think it doesn’t matter one way or another.” She motioned between the two of them. “We knew this thing between us was temporary. If that picture in the paper gives my dad what he wants — to start your career off with a bang and bring attention to the team — then so be it. No harm, no foul. You don’t have to worry about losing your job and I don’t have to worry about … well, anything. Never let it be said that I’m not good at my job.”
Before he knew what he was doing, Garrett yanked her to him. She choked back a sob, her nails digging into his chest.
“Just a job, huh?” He gripped her ass, ground his hips against her, letting her feel how hard he was. For her and her sassy little mouth. “Does that feel like a job to you? Even pissed as hell I’m hard for you.” He nipped at her ear and she shoved him. Pushed herself away and moved for the door.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going,” he demanded.
“I’m going home.” Anguish bled from her voice. “There’s nothing left for me to do here.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Garrett. I’m sure you and my father will be very happy together.”
And there was the real reason for this entire argument.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he muttered as she opened the door. She was about to walk away from him because she was jealous. Jealous!
The best few weeks of his life reduced to this, this mess. After all the time they’d spent together, she still didn’t get it.
Anger and hurt were like acid, burning through his veins, leaving nothing but ash behind.
She’d trusted him with her body, but she didn’t trust him with her heart.
He should stop her. Tell her they could figure something out, that it wasn’t as bad as she thought. He should tell her he cared about her. Instead, he stood there.
And watched her walk away.
Chapter Eighteen