Afterburn

career.”
    Chad nodded. “I know how that goes. I’m glad we’ll be working together so much over the next few months—if everything pans out, anyway. Maybe we can carve out some time for fun. No strings.”
    My mouth curved. “Maybe. Ready to roll?”
    “Have been since I met you, sweetheart.”
    Laughing, I caught his arm and we headed out.
    * * *
    “R UTLEDGE C APITAL .”
    I glanced up as Lei reached my desk. I’d been waiting for her to get back so I could tell her the good news: David Lee was going to work out. He’d hit it off with Chad right away. Plus, when I talked vaguely with David about our plans for Chad, he hadn’t been shy. He’d said outright that he was hoping for a similar opportunity to come his way, too.
    “What about it?” I asked, rising to my feet.
    “According to Isabelle, Rutledge Capital committed to a significant investment in Pembry Ventures. She says she spoke with Jackson Rutledge himself on Sunday and he confirmed it.”
    A heavy lump of ice settled in my stomach. “Yesterday?” A weekend Jax had spent in my life. In me ...
    I sank slowly back into my chair.
    Lei nodded grimly. “Ian offered Isabelle a fantastically lucrative signing package. She would’ve been a fool to refuse it.” She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “So stupid of him! And petty. Ian isn’t making smart moves. Neither is Rutledge.”
    I’d slid out of Jackson’s bed, and he’d slid a knife in my back.
    “We can get David Lee,” I said hoarsely. I had to focus on the immediate goal. It would happen if I gave it my all. “He likes the idea of a trio. Less pressure and heat while he finds his way.”
    “Oh,” she said drily. “Is he really that humble?”
    “It’s a strategic move. He’ll want to cut loose eventually, sooner rather than later, but we can get a couple years out of him, I think.”
    She gave an elaborate sigh. “I went ahead and signed Inez before Ian got to her. It’s contingent upon a deal with Mondego, but it shores us up.”
    “So we’re back on track.” I glanced at the flowers on my desk. If Jax were planning on saying goodbye tonight, he was in for a surprise. I wasn’t going to let him just stroll into my life and screw everything up... again .
    Paybacks were a bitch. So was I, when the situation called for it.
    “You okay?” she asked, studying my face.
    “I’m good,” I said calmly, feeling the chill in my gut spread and numb me. “We should sign David as soon as possible.”
    “Agreed. I’ll take care of it.”
    “And we should probably take Chad back on a site tour of the Mondego in Atlanta. Let him get the sense that things really are moving forward.”
    “You want to do that.” It wasn’t a question.
    “I think I could use a few days away.”
    Lei leaned her hip against the front of my desk. “Away from Jackson?”
    “I’m having dinner with him tonight, actually.”
    Something in my tone must have given my thoughts away, because her lips curved wryly. “That should be interesting.”
    “You can bet on it.” I exhaled the hurt I couldn’t contain and let the anger spread. Worry followed swiftly. “You don’t have a problem with me seeing him, do you?”
    “I haven’t forgotten why I hired you, Gianna.” Lei headed toward her office. “Don’t worry, I’m good and you’ll be fine.”
    I would be. But I wasn’t there yet.
    * * *
    F IVE O ’ CLOCK ROLLED around and my excitement ratcheted up. Not just because Chad had agreed to head to Atlanta the next day and I was ready to get out of town. The truth: I was ready to see Jax and deal with him. I had to force myself to slow down when I saw him waiting at the curb for me after work, act as if nothing were wrong in my world and I had time to spare.
    He lounged against a black McLaren, a car I recognized because one of Lei’s chefs had bought one to celebrate the five-year anniversary of his first restaurant. Jax’s arms and ankles were crossed, his pose relaxed and sexy. Sunglasses shielded his eyes from the glaring reflections cast by the towering skyscrapers around him. He was dressed in black slacks, a white shirt and gray tie. His dark hair was tousled, like he’d run a hand through it and let his styling efforts go at that.
    Women stared at him as they walked by, their heads turning to keep their eyes on him even as their feet moved. Men glanced his way and altered course some, instinctively recognizing an alpha male at rest. Jax always had that