Page 56 of Seduction

I tilted my head curiously. “An acquaintance? That’s pretty casual.”

She cracked a tiny smile. “Well… our circle is small but mighty.”

I was thrown off a little by her bragging.

“But it’s the way he carries himself. Like….” She shook her head as if it was difficult to come up with the words to explain it. My heart sank because I knew exactly how she felt. “Just… I’m sorry.”

I imagined myself taking up all the space in the hallway and not allowing her to get past me. But she was talking, and that was good.

“Was his name Dr. Jake Sparrow?” I asked, sounding desperate for an answer.

“Doctor? No.” She shook her head adamantly.

“What about Jake Sparrow?”

“No.”

“Then who did you think he was?”

Suddenly, she directed her attention above my head.

Two large hands clamped down on my shoulders before I could turn around. I recognized his touch. Slowly, I faced him, and I stared into Dr. Jake Sparrow’s eyes. I’d never seen such anger in them until then.

* * *

Jake gaveme space to use the ladies’ room, but as soon as I was done, he led me out of the party. The limousine driver held the back door open for us. I slid into the back seat first, and he entered behind me. On the way back to the penthouse, unlike our ride to the masquerade party, Jake sat on one side of the car, and I sat on the other. As the car rolled along, he kept his eyes forward. I felt as though he was refusing to look at me.

I sighed hard to fill the aggressive silence.

“Why are you angry with me?” I blurted.

“I’m not angry,” he said.

“You look angry. You feel angry, and distant.”

Jake scratched the back of his neck. “I think we should cool it for a while.”

My heart sank to my knees. “But why?” I couldn’t believe I sounded so desperate. And he still hadn’t looked at me yet.

“It’ll be best that way.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Why would it be best?”

“Because I’m your boss,” he snapped.

I sniffed sarcastically. “You were my boss the first time you kissed me and fucked me.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “That’s correct, which is why we should stop.”

I could hardly believe what was happening. Before he’d caught me questioning the woman, we’d danced, laughed, kissed, and eaten well. We were falling in love with each other.Does any of that matter anymore?

“Jake?” My tone was stern.

His jaw tightened. “Yes, Penina?”

Still, the way he said my name set my heart on fire. “Look at me.” He hadn’t moved a muscle. “Please,” I whispered.

Jake turned his head slowly. When our eyes met, I wondered if his pulse was pounding as hard as mine was. I also noticed how his harsh expression softened a bit before hardening again.