Don't Lie to Me Read online

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he took a long swig of his beer without removing his eyes from mine. He set it down, and wiped his lips with his thumb.

  “I wanted to make sure you were safe.” He sounded like he hated himself for his admission.

  It irritated me, again. I leaned a bit away from him and crossed my arms. “So, you followed me?”

  I watched as his eyes erased any emotion they previously held and went back to his typical professional indifference. He was starting to give me whiplash with his looks that looked like he cared, only to have them erased immediately.

  He shrugged unashamedly. “You’re important to me.”

  I had a sense there was something more to his statement, but I was too nervous to ask. If Jack cared about me for something other than my job, it would cause disaster. Because as much I was attracted to him, I knew his style, and I knew it wouldn’t last. And if something happened, and then ended, it could be uncomfortable working at his place all day. The best thing for me to do, regardless of how much I wanted to be important to him in an unprofessional way, was to shake it off.

  “I’m sure you could find another housekeeper.” I rolled my eyes in a teasing way, hoping to break the ice. It worked.

  Eventually, we fell into an easy banter, much like we normally shared during the week as we talked about a few new properties he was investigating. The man in front of me was a finance genius.

  All things I could appreciate since I majored in finance and headed into corporate law before I dropped out of law school.

  “So, your date tonight.” He frowned and waved for the bartender to send him another drink.

  I smiled as I thought about how nice Dean was. He was wholesome, the perfect boy next door. He was the guy every mom wanted their daughter to bring home. Unfortunately, he caused nothing to stir inside of me, unlike the man currently sitting in front of me.

  “We will be good friends,” I answered with a slight grin. I didn’t miss the sudden tenseness that rippled across Jack’s chest and shoulders as he shot to a straighter sitting position.

  “Friends?” He asked after he took a sip of his beer.

  I nodded. “I felt like his sister.”

  Something deep inside me enjoyed watching him relax. He was jealous. I never would have guessed before that very moment that the reason for all of his tension had nothing to do with Jessica, but something, whatever it was, to do with me.

  “That tie looks nice on you.” Instantly I wish I could take the words back, my fingers however were short in getting the message. They slowly reached out and played with the ends of the dark purple tie I bought for him just a week ago. Jack looked down at my hands, fiddling with the sharp point at the end of the tie and back at me.

  “My assistant has good taste.”

  I rubbed my tongue across my teeth. This wasn’t happening. I had known Jack too long to risk my job over throwing myself at my boss. The realization shocked me back to reality and I let the tie fall from my fingers. I needed to get a grip on myself, and quickly. I waved at the bar tender for a refill and drained my first drink, pretending nothing had just happened.

  It didn’t last long though because almost instantly Jack’s hand was on my thigh, resting softly just above my knee.

  He looked down at his hand and then back at me. “This is probably inappropriate isn’t it?”

  Fuck no...or yes. Good grief, what was wrong me? I took a sip of my re-filled drink, wincing slightly at how strong it was before turning to him.

  “I’m not sure anymore to be honest.”

  Clearly I had drank too much to think straight. I wanted to smack my head into the bar and at the same time, grab his tie and take him….where? My place? Not with Logan there.

  “If it helps, I’m glad the guy thought of you like a sister.”

  I swallowed, slowly, wondering if he was implying what his deep, lustful voice sounded like. His eyes darkened and he leaned closer to me, incrementally slow, as if giving me the time to back away. I didn’t. Maybe I should have but I was in such shock over what was happening a bomb could have gone off and I still wouldn’t have moved.

  “We’ve been drinking.”

  He nodded. I could feel his breath on my cheek. “This is probably a really bad idea.”

  “You’re my boss, Jack.” Instantly, I wanted to take the words back because as soon as they came out of my mouth, his hand left my leg like my skin burned him. I shivered as I watched him bite the inside of his cheek.

  He took another pull of his beer and set it back down on the bar. The haze left his eyes and he immediately went back to the calm, cool and collected Jack McMillan that I had seen almost every morning and night for the last five years.

  I wanted hazy eyed, touchy-feely Jack back but I knew it was too late.

  “I should probably make sure you get home safely.”

  I looked down at my watch. How could it be almost midnight? I imagined Macy doing a happy dance at the thought of me being out so late with Dean. If only she knew what was really going on.

  “Yeah….” It probably was a good idea, but I didn’t want to leave. Finally, after five years of crushing on Jack, he was here in front of me, and for all that I could see, he wanted me. I didn’t want it to end.

  His fingers touched mine as he took my half-emptied glass and set it on the bar. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

  He was still too close to me for me to think clearly because at the sound of the word home, an involuntary grin spread across my cheeks. I bit it back quickly, knowing he didn’t mean anything by it, but the tension that was there earlier still lingered.

  I simply nodded and stood up, wavering for just a second before I finally found my equilibrium. I held onto the hand that Jack offered and warmth flooded me instantly.

  I looked up at him and smiled.

  His Adam’s apple dipped as he swallowed and breathed deeply. His white dress shirt flexed across his chest so I could see his muscles practically ripple. It caused my stomach to waver, and not in an unpleasant way at all.

  I didn’t like the frown line that appeared between his eyes. “You’ve had too much to drink.”

  Probably. Between the wine at dinner and now the vodka tonics I figured I would be sporting quite the hangover in the morning, but I was too proud to admit it to him. Not when he was looking at me so worried.

  “I’ll be just fine.”

  Jack simply grunted and pulled me towards the door. He opened the door to the silver Mercedes SLK that I had picked out just a few months ago and strapped my seatbelt for me.

  “I can do that myself you know.”

  “I know.” His worry line burrowed even deeper. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

  He shut the door and a few seconds later was sitting next to me.

  “My car is just around the corner.”

  He looked at me like I had lost my mind. Oddly, I felt the exact same way. Here I was, on a date with one guy, letting another take me home and I didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty over it. What in the world was happening tonight?

  “You’ve been drinking.” It was a statement filled with such conviction it left no room for arguing. “I’ll have someone get your car home for you tomorrow, but I want to make sure you get home safely.”

  “There are cabs for that you know.” I wanted to lighten the mood. To ease his worry and the sudden seriousness that had struck as soon as he touched my leg.

  Actually I wanted him to put his hand back on my leg, but wasn’t brave enough, or drunk enough, to ask.

  Instead of lightening the mood I just received a scowl. Was he mad I drank so much? He shouldn’t be. I was with him the entire night except for the first drink I had with Dean. I wanted to point that out to him but his body was so stiff sitting next to me and his knuckles clenched so tightly around the steering wheel I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to bring up Dean.

  I gave him directions to my place and ten minutes later, he was dropping me off in
front of my apartment building.

  I didn’t want to get out. I knew on Monday, we would both appear like nothing had happened, but something had. In the span of just a few minutes and just a few touches, I knew that Jack had ruined me for anyone else. I wanted him, job be damned.

  I watched him get out of the car and come around to my door. When he opened it, he simply took my hand, not saying a word and interlocked our fingers on the way to my door. I opened the front door and he followed me upstairs. He didn’t look at me, or acknowledge my presence in anyway, just simply walked like a man on a mission.

  I wanted to be that mission.

  When we reached my door, he let my hand drop back to my side. I gazed up at him longingly. I had had just enough of a taste of Jack McMillan for the night to want more.

  And I knew he felt it. His pupils were larger than they should be and his breathing just a touch faster for a man who ran five miles every day.

  I cleared my throat. “Thank you for making sure I got home safely.”

  His hand reached up and gently pushed a small piece of hair away behind my ear. “It was my pleasure, Emma.”

  His eyes moved to mine and I realized that I had my keys out, but hadn’t moved at all to unlock my door. I was frozen. Completely enamored by the man in front of me. I didn’t know what to say and he seemed in no big hurry to let me go through those doors, ending whatever it was that was happening between us.

  Without any warning at all, his hand moved from my hair and wrapped around my neck pulling me close to him. My eyes widened just slightly before Jack’s lips pressed down on mine. They were warm, soft and delicious. He kissed my top lip, and then teased my bottom, urgently seeking entrance. I opened my mouth and let his kiss deepen. My entire body melted into him and I grabbed the tie around his neck that I had fondled earlier and held on for dear life, pulling him closer.

  My back hit the wall in my hallway, causing me to gasp into his mouth slightly. He didn’t relent. Instead, he pressed up against me, his thigh pushing in between my legs that seemed to spread on their own accord. If I was able to think clearly, I mostly likely would have realized I was rubbing myself up against him like a dog in heat, but in the moment, I couldn’t. My insides were throbbing as I wantonly moaned and tried to ease the ache between my thighs that being so close to him created.

  With one hand on my neck, he pressed me up against the wall, and his other hand lifted my thigh so it wrapped around his waist. My blood felt like it was on fire, burning through me as I felt Jack’s erection press against my core.

  His lips moved from my mouth to my neck, as he rocked his hips into me again. I tipped my head up and moaned, giving him easier access to the soft skin on my neck. It felt so good, his large hands holding me firmly against him, his warm breath all over me.

  “You taste so good,” he whispered as he softly flicked his tongue across my skin. “And you’re so beautiful, Emma.”

  My hands flew to his hair, holding him against me. This was really happening. All my fantasies about wanting Jack were coming true. I was too lost until in the feel of his hands and body pressed up against mine that I didn’t even register the words he was saying.

  I barely registered the loud slam of a door closing shut from somewhere down the hall, but it registered with Jack. He immediately froze against my body and then moved away just a fraction, his breath heavy against my lips. I shivered involuntarily, still caught up in the passionate moment we had just shared.

  Jack didn’t look me in the eyes, but focused his gaze on the floor underneath our feet, his jaw tightened in what was clearly frustration even as he struggled to slow his breathing. Something really good or something really bad had just happened. It took me all of three seconds to realize it was the latter.

  My heart felt like it was on a runaway train, beating so fast it was almost completely out of control. I placed a hand over my heart as if that would settle the madness inside of me.

  Jack took another step back as one of my neighbors walked past us in the hall, giving us both a smirk that told us he knew exactly what we were doing in the middle of the night, with me still pressed up against a wall.

  It seemed to only frustrate Jack further. When he turned his piercing brown eyes on me, I wanted to wrench over in pain because I knew exactly what he was going to say. One of his hands fisted the back of his neck tightly before he shoved both of his hands forcefully into his pockets.

  He took two more small steps away from me. The space between us suddenly felt as wide as the Grand Canyon even though he was only two feet away. I couldn’t bring my eyes to him so instead I kept them fixed on the tie I had just grabbed so forcefully. It was wrinkled in the middle where my fist had held on to it, only minutes before.

  “That shouldn’t have happened.” Regret filled his rough voice and it only increased the distance I felt growing between us by the second. “I don’t know what got into me.”

  I nodded, but stayed silent, afraid my voice would show how much it hurt to hear. I knew Jack enough to know that once he made up his mind, he never went back on his decision. If he thought kissing me was a mistake, nothing I could say would change his mind.

  I bent down to pick up the keys that dropped on the floor during our kiss and slowly raised my eyes to his when I stood back up.

  “Thanks for the ride home,” I said solemnly. Turning my back to him, I put the key in the door. Just as I heard the familiar click of the door unlocking, Jack’s large hand covered mine.

  “Tell me you’re okay with this. I don’t want this to make your job uncomfortable Emma.” I blinked my eyes tightly together; feeling like a cold drink of water was just splashed all over me. Of course he’d be concerned about work right now. I suddenly felt incredibly stupid for even thinking he was interested in me.

  I looked back to him, only to be shocked to see a look of sadness fill his features. “It’s fine, Jack. I’ll see you Monday.”

  He nodded once. “Just like normal?”

  I blinked, his words shocking me even though I shouldn’t have been surprised. Slowly, as I processed what he said, I pursed my lips together. I wanted to either yell at him or smack him, but knew nothing would change what had just happened in the hall. “Like normal,” I replied and then opened the door without another word.

  I made it inside the apartment and shut my door before sinking to the floor, resting my head against the wall. There wasn’t going to be anything normal at all about showing up to work on Monday and I knew it. I had just had a taste of Jack, something I had wanted for years. And it would be my last.

  THREE

  I moaned in pain when the shrill beeping of my alarm clock woke me up first thing on Sunday morning. My head felt like it was going to explode and even though I had brushed my teeth severely before crashing into bed the night before, my mouth felt like I had slept with a handful of cotton balls in it. I needed water desperately. And ibuprofen. And coffee. Definitely coffee.

  Slowly getting up, I dressed in the pair of yoga pants I wished I could have stayed home and worn the night before and made my way to the kitchen for some much needed hangover relief. The delicious smell of coffee permeated the air and I smiled, knowing Macy was already awake.

  I had cringed the night before when I saw her huddled up on my couch sleeping peacefully underneath a quilt my mom had made me for my high school graduation. It was old and tattered after years of use, and Macy’s small body barely fit under it, but she was sleeping so deeply I didn’t want to wake her up to send her home. I also didn’t wake her up because I wasn’t nearly ready to explain why I was getting home so late from my date with Dean.

  I smiled just thinking about him, doing whatever I could to avoid thinking of the clusterfuck that had occurred between Jack and me. I also knew, as I hit the kitchen and saw Macy look at me expectantly, that my time of avoidance was now up. I couldn’t hide it from her either. Years of trying to hide things from Macy had taught me that she always knew when I was lying. I completel
y sucked at it.

  “So….” She started with a wiggling of her eyebrows. “I take it you charmed the pants off Dean, after all. How was he?”

  I snorted and teasingly pushed her out of my way on my way to the coffee pot. She should know better than to try to get any form of conversation out of me before my first hit of caffeine.

  She grew more aggravated by the moment as I slowly, poured my coffee, walked to my chair, pulled it out, and sat down, making the entire process take five times longer than normal. It was only then that I took the first, long, lingering sip of coffee. Macy was a half second away from exploding in frustration as I tortured her with my slowness. I bit back a smile when she slammed her hand on my kitchen table.

  She narrowed her chocolate brown eyes at me. “You have two seconds to start talking before I call Dean and get the story from him.”

  I chuckled. Dean would have no idea why I was out so late.

  “Dean and I decided after dinner that we felt more like brother and sister than anything more.”

  Her face fell in shock. “Seriously? He was perfect for you.”

  I shrugged and took another sip of the coffee letting it warm me and wake me up at the same time. “There was no chemistry and we both knew it.”

  “That was a really long dinner for you guys to not have any chemistry.”

  I exhaled slowly, wanting to prolong the moment where I told her the truth but desperately wanting to run from it. I set my coffee cup down and pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and finger. I wanted to erase the part that happened after dinner with Dean and just completely forget I had run into Jack at all. I didn’t want the reminder of how horrible the night had ended, and how I felt like a fool when I had closed the door to my apartment. I looked over at the door, wanting to erase everything but knowing I couldn’t, before looking back at the irritated little squirt sitting across from me.

  Her fingers impatiently tapped the top of my table.

  “We ran into Jack as we were leaving dinner and he invited me for a drink.”

  She was a stuttering, fumbling mess when she finally found her voice. “You…Jack…drinks?”