I pinched his arm.
He flinched, chuckling. “That one hurt. Remind me to block your hands when you’re mad.”
I scowled at him in irritation. “It was supposed to hurt.”
Jack glanced at the others, who were deep in conversation. Except for Thalia. She was looking over every few seconds, watching us.
He slid the wooden chair I was sitting in closer to his side. “Don’t worry about her. She won’t take me away from you.”
“You mean for the next few days?” My tone was cynical. “I’m sure I can hang on to you for that long.”
He frowned. “Is Thalia really what’s bothering you?”
I sighed. “Yes. No—I don’t know.”
Thalia’s behavior angered me. But I was also tetchy about my and Jack’s relationship and his reason for bringing me here today. I wanted to believe it was to spend time together, but now I wasn’t so sure. Our relationship was ending in a few days. And for my own sanity, I needed to move into a place of my own to prove I could fend for myself. But I wasn’t sure what that meant for me and Jack.
“If it’s about moving out—” he started, and then, by silent agreement, everyone at the table stood, noisily scraping chairs over the wooden floor and cutting him off.
Jack said his goodbyes to the others, and then we made our way to the valet, his car already in front.
“About earlier—” he tried again after we got in the car.
I wasn’t interested in talking about my feelings and why Jack only took me out when he needed to block Thalia. “Can we talk later? My head is pounding.”
I reassured him three times that I was okay, and he finally let it go.
Minutes later Jack pulled up in front of my work building. “What are you doing tonight?” He looked determined.
“Going home?”
“Good,” he said. “Don’t get home late. Your boyfriend has plans for you.”
And just like that, the butterflies returned.
ChapterThirty
Jack
I’d been livingwith Elise for almost a month, and in that time, my entire outlook had changed. I’d gone from a bachelor running from relationships to clinging to this woman for as long as she’d have me.
When Elise said she was confident she could hold on to me for another few days, it had lit a fire under my ass. I didn’t want just a few more days. And I didn’t want her to believe she wasn’t important to me.
Elise was my girlfriend. Not a fake girlfriend or a girlfriend to have someone around, but the real deal. She was the first person I’d dated whom I saw a future with. When I considered it, a futurewithoutElise didn’t seem right. I couldn’t let her go or let her think I’d allow Thalia or any other woman to come between us. And if any guy tried to take her from me—I’d fight for her.
I wasn’t the least bit violent, but I saw red when loser deliverymen and rich society snobs lusted after her. I’d battle whatever and whomever I needed to keep her by my side.
Which meant I also had to convince my very stubborn, sassy girlfriend to stick with me. So I’d brought my A-game tonight.
I left work early and picked up the best wine in town on my way home. Not technically—technically, I’d sent my assistant across town during rush-hour traffic to grab it, but the sentiment was there. I’d personally called in a few favors from the best restaurants in town for part B of the plan.
Rummaging through the kitchen, I discovered that yes, those blue cloth napkins Elise had found were in fact mine, along with other tabletop shit I had no idea existed. What did Max do on his days off? Peruse home magazines? Who had time for matching salt and pepper shakers?
I set out the table settings, and the “deliveries” arrived. I’d texted Elise a half hour ago, so I knew she would be home any minute.
After quickly running through the shower, I returned to the kitchen to light stubby fat candles in expensive glass jars I’d found—fucking Max. I’d have to thank him later. The candles were romantic and helped set the mood.
The sound of someone punching in the door code chimed, and I took a deep breath.
