Page 41 of His Ruthless Match

“You’re coming?” I asked as he slid in after me.

“Damn right I am. I’m not done annoying you for the day.”

Huffing, I stared out of the window as the cab pulled into traffic. If anyone could take a crisis and make it feel like a personal vendetta, it was Jareth.

The cab ride was the longest ten minutes of my life. Jareth sat far too close, his arm stretched across the back of the seat. I pressed against the door, desperate for space, but it didn’t help. His presence filled the small space, his confidence radiating like a neon sign screamingannoying asshole.

I still couldn’t believe he’d found me in the library. Reading smut.This could not be real life.

“Oh, by the way,” Jareth said. “The whole reason I came to find you is because your brother texted you, and you didn’t respond. I know you were having your sexy book time, but it might be a good idea to reassure The Shadow that you’re still alive.”

I shot him a glare, but he was staring out the window. Sighing, I pulled out my phone.

Eva:Your pet cat found me. I’m fine.

Raffaele:Glad to hear it. Be nice.

“Be nice.” I snorted as I shoved my phone back into my bag. “As if that’s possible.”

“Talking to yourself?” Jareth asked. “I must be a bad influence.”

I ignored him as we drove through the bustling streets of Manhattan. Genevieve was staying in a swanky hotel to escape the reporters camped outside her apartment, but it wasn’t working. Someone was out to destroy her, and it was getting under my skin. I hated that I hadn’t cracked the case yet.

Jareth looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, his sharp gaze idly scanning the passing buildings. He never seemed fazed by anything. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have him at the meeting. Genevieve’s nerves were shot, and she needed calm energy. Jareth wasn’t exactly calm, but at least he wasn’t a panicked mess.

The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a pedestrian who had no regard for the traffic. Jareth’s arm shot out, catching me just before I slammed face-first into the back of the driver’s seat.

“Gotcha,” he muttered.

Relief turned into something else entirely when I realized his hand had landed firmly over my left breast.

Jareth’s eyes widened as he followed my gaze. “Oh,” he said, pulling his hand back so fast you’d think I’d burned him. “Shit. Sorry.”

I crossed my arms, trying to mask my awkwardness. “Quick reflexes. Must be the cat in you.”

He didn’t laugh. Instead, he ran a hand through his dark hair and looked out the window again. The muscles in his jaw were tensed, and for the first time since meeting him, he seemed almost flustered. Speechless.

Good. He deserved it.

A few minutes later, the cab pulled up to the hotel, and we stepped out into the bright midday sun. The building’s gleaming glass façade towered over the street.

I strode to the front desk. “Amy Biggerstaff,” I said, giving Genevieve’s fake name.

Jareth snorted.

I turned to find him biting his knuckle, his shoulders shaking as he tried—and failed—not to laugh. “Amy Biggerstaff?” he choked out. “Oh gods, Eva.”

“Shut up.” I kicked his ankle lightly. “If you’re going to stick around, you have to be professional.”

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and flashed me a wicked grin. “I make no promises.”

The receptionist handed me a keycard, completely ignoring the chaos beside her. “Ms. Biggerstaff is expecting you.”

I thanked her and dragged Jareth toward the elevator. The ride to the top floor was awkwardly silent, the air between us practically crackling with tension. I kept stealing glances at him—how his shirt pulled taut across his chest, the way he leaned casually against the wall as if he hadn’t just mortified me moments ago.

I reminded myself to get laid soon. Maybe then I could stop thinking about this infuriatingly hot and annoying cat-man.

Before the elevator door opened, I took a moment to remind Jareth that I was the one in charge today. “Listen, Genevieve is fully human and has no knowledge of magic or The Below. I expect you to be on your absolute best behavior and not to do or say anything magical. Understood?”