Page 66 of Discretion

I tried to concentrate on the exercise. There was nothing I could do about our predicament, and stressing about it wasn’t going to help. “The lingering sweetness of the chocolate from your protein bar.”

“What’s one thing you see?” Jasper asked.

I took a moment to scan my surroundings. Gray walls. Gray floor. Black railing. I turned my attention to Jasper, allowing myself a moment to look at him.Reallylook at him.

I’d been so intent to avoid gawking at him all night that it was nice to finally take him in. His top button was undone, his bow tie loose around his neck. His black pants had a nice sheen to them, and I followed the line of his legs until I reached his ankles. I smiled at the sight of his socks, which were peeking out from beneath the hem.

“Dragonflies,” I said, barely realizing I’d spoken the word aloud. “In honor of your gran?”

He nodded, and I fell a little harder. The man had selected his socks because of his grandmother. And then he leaned in so that his arm brushed against mine, his breath caressing my ear when he whispered, “What’s one thing you hear?”

My heartbeat.It was pumping so hard, I was surprised he couldn’t hear it too.

I turned my head to face him, which had the effect of putting our lips mere inches apart. I wanted to kiss him. He cupped my cheek, and I closed my eyes, reveling in his touch.

And then the music from the party shifted, swelling as the crowd let out a loud cheer.

I opened my eyes and leaned away, reality encroaching on the moment. “I hear—” I laughed, though nothing about this situation was funny. I was stuck in the stairwell with the man I was trying to avoid being alone with. If that wasn’t ametaphor for my life lately, I didn’t know what was. “The music from the party.”

I held his gaze, and then I took a breath and forced myself to stand. To put some much-needed space between us.

But I wobbled, only then realizing that my leg had fallen asleep. Before I could grab the railing, Jasper was there, supporting me.

“You okay?” he asked.

I glanced up at him, and my breath caught.

Jasper was hot, yes. But he had this way of looking at you, of seeing you. And when he gave someone his full attention, well… My heart fluttered just thinking about it. I’d never felt as beautiful or as smart or as incredible as I did when I was with Jasper.

“Yeah. I’m good.” I pressed myself into the corner, letting the concrete hold me up. “Thanks. I wonder who’s on the auction block now.”

“Fortunately, not me,” he groused.

“Why agree to participate if you didn’t want to?”

He frowned. “Because it was Kendall’s first year on the steering committee, and I wanted to show my support.”

“That’s really nice of you,” I said. “And I wouldn’t stress too much about it. Your assistant can arrange everything, and besides, everyone knows it’s not a real date. It’s a chance to spend the evening with a celebrity or a billionaire. To show off.”

“You think the woman who purchased me doesn’t expect to be debauched in addition to being wined and dined?” He sounded bitter.

My eyes widened. “Does she?”

He stood, dragging a hand through his hair. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she suggested something to that effect, if she tried something.”

I knew Jasper probably had gorgeous women throwing themselves at him all the time, but I felt as if I might be sick. But then I remembered all the times Sloan had mentioned Jasper’s latest flavor of the moment, and the idea of him spending the evening with another woman made me irrationally angry.

“You are LA’s billionaire bachelor,” I teased, though it wasn’t funny. At least, not to me.

“First of all, my reputation was exaggerated,” he said in a bored tone, though I sensed that my accusations had needled him. “But even if it weren’t, that’s not who I am. Not anymore. I haven’t been with anyone since last summer.”

Was he saying what I thought he was? And why did I care so much? It wasn’t like it changed anything.

And yet, I still found myself seeking confirmation. “No one?”

He shook his head, his eyes locked on mine as he inched closer. “No one.”

“Why?” I leaned toward him, my body drawn to him like a magnet.