Page 155 of Hard Rock Tease

We’d been thoroughly enjoying our new relationship, trying to get as much private time together as we could. We didn’t want to make it too obvious that we were together, but sometimes he just couldn’t keep from sneaking a few kisses in places where we shouldn’t. We’d almost gotten caught a time or two. Jayce loved the rush of almost getting found out, but it always made me tense and nervous. I didn’t hate it enough to turn down his kisses, though.

Although everything was fine on the surface, I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation in the hotel room. I still didn’t know what he’d meant by it. Every so often, when we were alone, Jayce would just stare at me, eyes intense, as if he was trying to solve a puzzle. As if there was something about me he was trying to figure out.

And then there was Neil. He still wanted me.

Why did things have to be so complicated?

“There’s been a lot going on lately. I’m just trying to focus on my job.”

Kell flopped down next to me and leaned forward.

“So you and Jayce have worked things out?”

I should have known Kell would notice.

“We did.” I gave a soft smile. “Things have been great. Except…” I paused, not knowing how to put into words what I was feeling. Why did Jayce keep giving me those weird looks? Whenever I asked him what he was thinking, he just shook his head and smiled, saying it was nothing. “I don’t know. Something weird is going on with Jayce.”

“Like what?”

“That’s the thing. I can’t pin it down. He justlooksat me sometimes…” I sighed out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know.”

“Has he said anything to you about what he’s thinking?”

“He keeps on saying it’s nothing, but we had this weird conversation.”

“About what?”

“About Neil.”

Kell raised his eyebrows.

“And what did Jayce have to say about Neil?”

“Just that he knew Neil and I had a thing. That he knew I still liked him.”

“Was he jealous?”

“No! That’s what was weird. He seemed okay with it.” I frowned. “Shouldn’t he have been jealous?”

“Jayce is—” Kell paused to think for a minute. “Jayce is an open-minded kind of guy. You know what I mean?”

“No…” I scrunched up my nose, thinking. “I don’t know what you mean. You’re being just as cryptic as Jayce.”

Kell let out a small laugh.

“You got some good news though, right?” he said, changing the subject. “About your new job?”

“How’d you know about that?”

“Deena asked me what I thought about keeping you on.”

“She did?” I was surprised. “She told me to keep it quiet.”

“Deena usually asks my opinion before making a lot of decisions.”

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one to have discovered Kell’s sharp mind and serious side.

“Aren’t you excited about it?”