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Oh hell, he can see into my soul. He knows all the things I think about his son. He knows that in eighth grade I let David Ramber touch my boob to prove I didn’t stuff. He knows about that night when I told my mom I had the flu but I was really drunk and had held the thermometer near the light bulb.

Okay, he knows I’m lying and it was multiple nights.

He knows everything!

Abort lunch! Abort lunch!

“Hmm,” he interrupted my panic. “Well, Miss Skye, that’s an interesting point.”

Thankfully, we moved on and finished lunch on a lighter note. Gregory told endearing stories that gave me a glimpse into what Jake was like as a child. He told me about how he would try to fix anything and everything, even if that meant he had to break it first.

“I can’t really picture Jake as a kid. I just see this mini-badass trying to boss everyone around and caveman grunting.”

Gregory chuckled and nodded. “Yes, that is actually about right. Sarah, his mom, is going to be very relieved to hear about you. She’s been a bit worried about his ability to hold a conversation since he was little. From the time he was about seven and all the neighborhood girls would come flocking around, he’d ignore them or growl at them to leave.”

Well, nothing has changed there.

When we got back to Hyde, Gregory surprised me by pulling me into a hug as we said goodbye.

“Make sure Jake brings you to dinner soon.”

“It was nice to meet you,” I said noncommittally.

“Jake, can I have a moment?” he asked as they moved towards the door. They stood close and began talking again. Though, thankfully, this time Jake didn’t look like he was going to throw something.

Okay, he lookedlesslike it.

Walking to the break room, I thought about how much Jake looked like his father. Jake’s build was bulkier with muscle and he was, in general, rougher, but their frame and body language was the exact same.

I’d anticipated Jake feeling the same sense of freedom that I felt when I left my mom’s. But when he walked into the room a few minutes later, he looked pissed.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Ignoring my question, he grabbed my hand and pulled me from the room into his office.

I opened my mouth to ask again, but the words and my brain flew out the window as he prowled towards me.

Pushing me against his desk, his hand went into my hair and fisted as he kissed me. His hips ground into me, the long, hard length of his cock pushing against me and making me ache for him.

Almost every kiss we shared was intense but something was different about this one.

I was breathlessly disoriented when he suddenly pulled back. I quickly got my head together when I saw the look on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“This shit is what I was wantin’ to protect you from. You have your own stuff goin’ on and you come here and get shit. Here? Fuck that. I know you don’t wanna talk about it, but fuck what Rachel said. That was fucked up bullshit. But you just smiled up at me, so fuckin’ sweet. You didn’t even give me shit and I would’ve deserved it for dippin’ my dick in that.”

“Why would I give you shit about something you can’t change?”

“That’s just what’s happened before. I figured, at the very least, it’d be the silent treatment.”

“I’ve already told you I don’t play games. I’m still not getting why you look like someone scratched the Harley.”

“After that shit with Rachel, I figured you weren’t comin’ back. You shouldn’t have had to be in the same room as that bitch. Then my dad showed up and, I’m sure it didn’t escape your notice, I’m not his favorite person and he’s not mine. But you charmed him. You not only made him smile, you made him fuckin’ laugh.”

“I’m not gonna drag your past up and throw it in your face. And your dad obviously cares. He was nice and I see where you get your charm from when you want to,” I joked, wanting to ease some of his agitation.

“Kase said he only caught the last bit of your conversation with Rachel. Now that my dad isn’t watchin’, you wanna fill in the rest?”