Captivated by the Millionaire

He studied her reaction before turning away to the coffeepot. It was hard not to notice that he didn’t offer her a cup this time, unlike yesterday.

“Help yourself to some coffee,” he told her instead.

Jess wanted to hit the reset button on this whole morning. Instead of waking to find herself alone, she wanted to find a way to ensure he was there when she opened her eyes. Maybe Jess might have then found a way to entice him into staying under the covers a little longer.

Maybe they could have somehow avoided this whole awkward and strange conversation about his family finances.

She was about to admit to all that when his next words stopped her.

“I have the car coming for you in about half an hour,” he told her. “I figured you’re probably ready to be back home.”

She was? And when exactly had he decided that for her? Without so much as speaking to her about it.

“What about you?” she asked.

“I’ve decided to stay back another day. Sonya’s well taken care of with Elise. They usually just spend Sundays by the pool or reading. And there are some work issues that could use more of my attention before I leave the city.”

Jordan wasn’t even going to ride back to Massachusetts with her. For all practical purposes, he was sending her away. Like an errant child.

Jess tried to clamp down on the wealth of disappointment and sheer hurt that flooded her chest.

He nodded solemnly, then rubbed a hand down his face. “Speaking of Sonya, I hope the events of the past couple of days won’t make you change your mind. About working with her.”

Had he really just asked her that? Jess had to find her voice before she could answer. “Of course not.”

Just the fact that he was asking such a thing made her realize just how little he really knew her, despite all they’d shared over the past two days. And all they’d shared last night. Despite their heartfelt conversation on the roof and the intimacy it had all led to. Perhaps it was even an indication of how little he thought of her. To think just a moment ago she’d believed she was actually beginning to know and understand him.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Did you really think I might do that to her?”

He lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “I didn’t want to assume.”

“I wouldn’t let Sonya down that way.”

She decided to focus on the practical rather than the heaviness that had suddenly gripped her chest in the area of her heart. “I can get a car service, Jordan. You don’t have to have your personal driver waste a trip just for me.”

His gaze hardened on her face. “I insist.”

Of all the things she wanted to argue with him about at the moment, her ride back ranked pretty low in importance.

“I guess I’ll go pack, then.”

She’d never been one to overstay her welcome.

* * *

Jordan watched Jess walk out of the kitchen and toward her suite of rooms and resisted the urge to call her back. As soon as she shut the door behind her, he slammed his ceramic coffee mug hard enough against the Italian marble counter that a hairline crack appeared down its side.

What was there to say if he did call her back? He’d awoken this morning to a text message asking when he’d need the car to bring them back to Massachusetts. The message had served to remind him that reality was about to descend upon the sweet little fantasy he’d indulged in for the past forty-eight hours.

His life no longer consisted of regular charity auction balls or afternoons in Times Square. He had more responsibility on his shoulders now. He’d forgotten that last night. He could only hope to atone for it somehow. He could only hope to make Jess understand.

He’d never been one for one-night stands. And Jess was the last person in the world who deserved that from him. But there was no way for them to continue any type of relationship when they returned to their everyday lives. He’d lost sight of that reality last night.

That made him a unique sort of bastard.

He should have known better. He should have reminded himself that he was spread perilously thin already. There was no excuse for his lack of control—both physically and when he’d unburdened himself to her. Nothing but selfishness had motivated him. He couldn’t deny that if he tried. Regardless of how he was beginning to feel about Jess, he had nothing left to give.