Page 34 of Don't Lie to Me
“She’s mine.” I finally managed a sincere smile at Jack’s possessive tone. Over the last two weeks, it had either driven me to frustration or driven me wild; right now, it was exactly what I needed. It calmed me. Every tightly spun nerve in me began to release and I felt myself leaning into Jack’s shoulder, relaxing.
Those few seconds gave me the courage to gather my nerves. I didn’t want to screw anything up with Jack and his company. He said that Marcus was important to him, and even though I hated the man in front of me, personally, I knew his connections were invaluable to Jack. I couldn’t screw this up.
So I took a deep breath and smiled, pretending that my life wasn’t falling apart right in front of me.
“Do you want a drink?” I asked Marcus as politely as possible. At his nod, I moved out of Jack’s reach. He scowled at me but I nodded my head towards the kitchen, hoping he’d understand to meet me there.
Marcus followed me to the wet bar where I poured him two fingers of scotch.
“How are you?”
I ignored the question. I refused to look at him afraid I might spit in his face or dump his scotch down the front of him.
Marcus cleared his throat again and I ground my teeth together knowing another question was coming. I could do this. Five minutes and I was out of there and somehow I’d make sure I never came across Marcus again.
“How long have you and Jack been together?”
I snorted and finally looked at Marcus. I resisted the urge to flinch when I saw the left side of lips twitch. It was his one tell that gave away his stress. It was also the exact same thing Logan did when he concentrated on his drawings or building the perfect Lego tower. I hated their similarities. I hated that Logan had anything to do with this man in front of me.
“It’s none of your business Marcus.” Without giving him the chance to say anything else, I led him into the living room where the other board members congregated. After making sure everyone in the room knew each other, I excused myself.
“Jack will be with you all in just a few minutes.”
I turned and left the men without another word and went to the kitchen. Jack was standing hunched over the sink. Even through his suit, I knew that every muscle was tightened as he gripped the counter so hard his knuckles were white. I could practically envision the veins on his forearms sticking out.
“Who is he to you?” He hissed angrily at me. I knew he wasn’t angry at me. Most likely he was jealous, but I also knew his lid would flip when I told him.
“He’s nothing to me anymore.” Except a thorn in my side that was gouging my abdomen and spilling my blood all over the place.
Jack turned to me, inspecting me. He doubted me and I hated it.
I walked toward him until there were only inches between us and placed my hands gently on his biceps. They twitched beneath my hands but slowly relaxed a little bit.
“This is a big night for you and I won’t screw it up. Can we please talk about Marcus tomorrow?”
He shook his head adamantly and I knew he was going crazy just imagining my past relationship with Marcus. He hated the very thought of me with another guy before him, and I was about to make him face it head on.
“You need to get out there and have your dinner. Please. I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s just….” I turned from him for a second; trying to think of something that could explain it and get us out of this mess and found the right words. The exact words he told me when he refused to talk about his brother. “I don’t talk about him. Ever.”
He knew what I meant and I hated using it against him, but I was desperate to get out of there. If I told Jack now how I really knew Marcus, I had no doubt he would beat the shit out of him, and that would be the worst thing for both of us. He rubbed the back of his neck and then let out a quiet, frustrated growl before roughly grabbing my hip.
He kissed me roughly, plunging into my mouth without allowing me to catch my breath. Nevertheless, I took it. I threw my arms around him and pulled him closer; taking everything he gave me, letting him mark me as his, even if no one else was watching. He needed the assurance and I gave it willingly.
“You promised me honesty.” His eyes flashed in anger and I swallowed slowly, knowing that I did.
“I will Jack. Just not right now.” He sighed reluctantly.
“Tomorrow.” He growled against my mouth when he finally pulled away, both of us panting desperately.
I nodded. “Tomorrow. And behave tonight.”
He walked me to the door, a hand lightly on the small of my back, just as Martin finally arrived.
“Late as always, huh old man?” Martin smiled a wide smile that reached from cheek to cheek as the two men embraced in a typical man-hug; one hand clasped around the other’s forearm and two quick pats on the back. I couldn’t help but smile at Jack’s casual nature around him. It was something rarely seen and I knew he loved the older gentleman in front of us, dressed immaculately in a perfectly tailored suit and a full head of salt and peppered hair.
He smiled down on me adoringly. I loved it. “Hey there, Emma. You staying tonight?”
“No sir, Mr. Crawlson. I’m on my way out right now.”
