The Renovation (Contemporary Reverse Harem 2)

“They couldn’t find you a job here in California?”

The questions came at me like a driving rain. I had known they would, though.

I’d thought Mr. Renner was throwing me out on my ass. But he offered me a job in the Chicago office working on a new account. He said he liked the idea of someone from the home office being there.

I’d just about fallen off my chair when he said that. Then I nearly cried. But I held it together until our meeting was done. It was then that I had to run to the bathroom, where I got sick.

But what an incredible break. Life had been so shitty, with Lance taking off, and then the house going into foreclosure.

An incredible break. Right. My dream job.

In another fucking city.

The universe was having one big, huge laugh at my expense.

“Are you really going?”

“What timeframe are you looking at?”

“Do you have to go?”

More questions were lobbed at me. Questions I didn’t have answers to. But I owed these guys responses. I owed them way more than that, actually.

“I leave at the end of this month.”

Saying those words felt like someone reaching down my throat and tearing out my heart. I could hardly believe I was even able to spit them out.

“Why? Why are you going?” Dig asked. The look on his face made me want to run away.

“The main reason is,” I took a slow look around the room, “that I’ve fallen for all of you. And I can’t eliminate anyone. So, I’m leaving town. I’ll be alone, and my house will probably have been foreclosed on, but at least I won’t bear the burden of hurting any of you by making a choice.”

“You think it won’t hurt us that you’re leaving?” Tanner asked, pulling off his glasses to rub his eyes.

“I know it probably will. But not as much as if I made a choice and rejected anyone. I can’t do it. I won’t do it.”

A lump slowly built in my throat. Dammit, the last thing I wanted was to be a crybaby in front of the guys.

“Jayma, you don’t have to leave town. Stay here. We’ll figure it out,” Carter said.

Everyone around the table nodded. They’d all put their forks down a while ago and dinner was now cold.

“Please, guys. I’ve made my mind up. Let’s finish eating.”

But dinner was over.

Hey! Over here!” Shelle called. She had only three dogs with her. Light day, it looked like.

I ran to catch up to her in the dog park, watching where I stepped in the hope of avoiding dog poo. I had to go directly to work from here and couldn’t drag dog shit into the office.

“Good morning. Fancy you being out here so early.” She didn’t look happy with me.

Hell, I wasn’t so sure I was happy with me, either.

“So. You’re out of here? Leaving on a jet plane, as they say?” she asked, avoiding my gaze.

“Don’t know what else to do.”

“The old balance of job versus love. Either way you go, you’ll have some sort of re