Crave (His Second Chance with Heiress Bryn Christmas Duet #1) - Z.L. Arkadie Page 0,32
just leave the fucking room already. I wouldn’t have said the last part of that, but I wanted to.
“Or do you not have the resources to make some real change around here? You say that you’re part of CFI, but you seem mom-and-pop to me.”
I was speechless. He was attacking my credibility. For some reason, tears pooled in my eyes.
“Enough already,” Jamison boomed with authority.
Dale sneered at Jamison. “Aren’t you the fucking help?”
Eden gasped and shoved her hands on her hips. “Dale, what’s wrong with you?”
I rolled my eyes, disappointed that it had taken her boyfriend insulting my… boyfriend, or whatever Jamison was to me, for her to address Dale’s behavior.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just asking a question,” Dale said.
She crossed her arms. “Well, the wall is staying, so get over it.”
“But you don’t even like the wall. You told me that. You said it needs to go, and we can make it all glass. I agreed.”
“Well, I changed my mind, Dale.”
“Why?”
I frowned at Jamison and shook my head. Dale had finally melted down, and it was only day two. I wasn’t surprised. The presence of my hunkier sidekick seemed to have set him off.
“Babe,” Jamison said.
“Babe?” Dale and Eden said at the same time.
Her finger shifted between Jamison and me. “The two of you are a couple?”
Dale laughed with an edge.
Jamison maintained laser focus on me. His shoulders were back, posture steady. “Does she know?” he asked me.
I knew what he was asking me. I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He nodded sharply. “Tell her.”
I chewed on my lower lip, contemplating what he was advising me to do.
Jamison glared at Dale as if he wanted to rip his head off. “Because this guy is milking the fucking moment. And he’s not going to stop until she knows. That’s my expert advice, babe. Tell her.”
“Until I know what?” Eden looked genuinely confused.
Dale’s mouth fell open as he stared at me like a lost puppy. I wished he’d said something to her the night before. I wished he weren’t so duplicitous. But I had tomorrow and then the next day and so on to come back and finish my job. The longer I waited to tell Eden the truth, the more I would be at Dale’s mercy.
“Eden, we need to talk,” I said.
“Okay,” Dale said, shaking his hands with frustration. “I’ll go. I’m leaving. Okay?”
I focused on Jamison, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. I inhaled deeply and then slowly let it out. You can do this, Bryn. Jamison was right to lead me up the path to exposing the truth. It had to be done.
“Dale and I were in a long relationship together.”
Eden’s frown intensified. It was as though she were trying to process every syllable I had spoken. “Relationship?”
“I’ve known Dale since high school, and I was shocked to find him here. I’m sorry I didn’t say something yesterday. It was just awkward, and him being here took me by surprise.”
“Dale?” Eden said, pointing out of the room, and stomped off.
He sniffed at me and then followed her.
Jamison walked over and wrapped his arms around me. “Good job, babe. That was brave of you.”
I gazed deep into his eyes. “Was it?” I said quietly.
Jamison planted a tender kiss on my parted lips. “Very.”
That one soft kiss led to the next and then the next until we were engaging in a scintillating and hungry kiss. We’d lost our heads, forgetting we were in my client’s house and I’d just informed her that her loser boyfriend used to be my loser boyfriend.
Eden cleared her throat. Jamison and I whipped our attention in her direction. She was grinning as if all was well in her world. “That was hot, by the way.”
My eyebrows pulled. “Is everything okay? We can end the job, and you wouldn’t have to pay for the work we’ve already done.”
Her hand shot up. “No way. I’ve been waiting too long for this, so let’s just…”
A cell phone rang. I knew it wasn’t mine because the ringtone sounded like one of those old bulky landline telephones. Jamison jumped as he released our embrace and dug a phone out of his pocket. I tried to sneak a peek at the name of the person who was calling, but the way he held the device prevented me from seeing.
“I have to take this.” He planted another quick kiss on my lips and then walked swiftly out of the room, leaving me and Eden alone. It was the moment I’d dreaded.