Awkward Love (Stumbling into Love 2)

“I didn’t know it was his dad! Obviously not!” I shook my head. “I can’t… Just tell me where he is. I told Leon I was sick, and I just want to talk to Jameson and get this figured out. Did he leave with…?”

“If you think that, you don’t know him at all,” Kira replied, and Ali sighed.

“Damian is with Cherise, Jameson’s sister. You just missed Jameson. He left when Leon was onstage, talking about how incredible of an addition you are to Crane Entertainment.”

Fuck. I knew it. I turned to go, but Kira’s words stopped me. “Don’t hurt him. Please don’t. I’ve never seen him like this, and God, I don’t know what it’ll do to him if you hurt him.”

She didn’t owe me anything, but all I could do was wonder why nobody realized this could hurt me too. “I’m gonna go find him,” I replied, then walked out.

I paced outside while I waited for the car I ordered to pick me up. Thankfully, it didn’t take long, but I was a nervous wreck the whole drive to Jameson’s place. I couldn’t get over the fact that this had happened. What were the odds of me finally finding a job I loved, then discovering the guy who purchased a date with me in a bachelor auction, who I’d decided to have a fling with and really liked, would be my new boss’s son? And that was putting it simply. It didn’t include the intricacies of Jameson’s feelings about his dad and the business.

My hand was shaking when I knocked on his door. It took a few moments, but then Jameson slowly opened it. He had changed already. He was wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt, and all I could think was I didn’t get to tell him how cute he’d looked tonight. I loved the hat and suspenders. “Hey. Can I come in?”

“I guess now is as good a time as any.” He stood out of the way, then closed the door after me when I went inside. Jameson didn’t speak as he walked over to the couch. He sat down, his legs spread, his elbows on his knees, his hands covering his face. “My brain keeps telling me you knew.”

“What?” I went over and sat on the other end of the couch. “How could I have known? This all started when Kira and Ali bid on a date with me. I’m good, but I’m not good enough to orchestrate all this.” I was pissed he’d even think that, but the anger gave way to hurt pumping through my insides. “I can’t believe you think I’d do that.”

“I know that. You don’t think I know? Logically, I get it, but it’s all tangled up with my thoughts and insecurities. I never got why you were willing to do this with me anyway. I was ridiculous around you at first, and it’s not like no one has used me to get to my dad before.”

Shit. I’d forgotten about that. “I would never do that.” When he didn’t respond, I moved over, sat on the coffee table in front of him, and pulled it closer. My legs were tucked between his, and Jameson had no choice but to look at me. “You saw ridiculous when we first met. I saw adorable. I still do. You’ve made a bit of a mess of me.”

Jameson closed his eyes, his thick, coal lashes touching his rich, brown skin. He bit his lip the way I liked, and then his eyelids fluttered open. “You’ve made a bit of a mess out of me too.”

My pulse skyrocketed, and I started feeling a little shaky. Jameson licked his lips, and this overpowering surge of want rushed through me. This was supposed to be just a little fun, but fun didn’t feel strong enough. I wasn’t sure what it was, just that it was more.

My brain turned off. I wasn’t thinking about our situation or my job and what this could mean for me. I leaned in and pressed my mouth to his. Like he always did, Jameson opened up for me, and my tongue slipped inside. He tasted like mint, so he’d obviously brushed his teeth when he got home. I smiled against his mouth, thinking of when he’d asked me mid-kiss if I had a peanut allergy, afraid he was going to kill me with his tongue.

The moment I pulled away, the reality of our situation came crashing back. Could this—whatever this was with Jameson—make me lose my job? Was it a conflict of interest? How would Leon react? And even if he was okay with it all and I kept my job, would people assume that every time Leon praised me, or if I got promotions, it was because I was dating his son? Would I be able to find another job? Would I be able to keep saving money to help Mom?