“Gracie,” he breathed. “Fuck.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I gulped in his familiar scent. Sank into his warmth. Let him lead me down the corridor, the endless parade of doors going past. We stopped in front of a set of double doors, and Jaxson swiped a card and dragged me inside. He directed me to a sofa, pushing me down gently, pulling off my coat, rubbing my arms, murmuring hushing noises. I heard a strange sound and realized it was me. My ragged breathing was loud in the silent room, and I clapped a hand over my mouth. He knelt in front of me, pushing my hair off my face. “I’m so sorry. Damn it, baby, I’m sorry.”
I met his eyes. All I saw were concern and worry, his earlier anger gone. “Jaxson, what you overheard—I was upset and venting, but I shouldn’t—”
He cut me off, pressing a finger to my mouth. “It’s okay, Gracie. I understand.” He gathered me into his arms, settling on the sofa, and I relaxed against him, my breathing slowing, my fear dissipating, and the usual embarrassment settling in.
“I’m fine. I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. That asshole could have waited five seconds. If I see him in the lobby, he’s getting a facer.”
His use of the term hit me, making me laugh. “You can’t do that,” I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder. “You’ll have to go to jail, and you’re too pretty to be in jail.”
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my head. “Not the start to the weekend I had planned. I was sure by now we’d be on to round two.”
I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, wanting to tease me.
“Round two? You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
“The god complex in me, I suppose,” he stated dryly. “All us asshole lawyers have one.”
“Oh god, Jaxson,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean it.”
“But you said it. Why are you angry with me?”
“I’m not. I mean, I was—a little. Not mad. Annoyed is a better word. And I know it’s silly.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“I felt—” I huffed, trying to find the right word “—dirty and frustrated, I suppose. Unable to stand beside you, having to pretend I didn’t know you. Sitting in a hotel waiting for my lover, unable to even go upstairs by myself. I hated watching you walk away. I hated feeling like I wasn’t good enough.”
“Don’t say that,” he snapped. “Stop thinking that way.”
“You asked. I was being honest.”
Our eyes locked, the tension between us beginning to build again.
“You are worth more than I can say. But for now, we have to be careful. I was trying to protect us.”
“Which makes me a secret. Makes us a secret.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “I hate this. I don’t get enough time with you, and I don’t want to spend it arguing. I know it’s hard at times, Grace, but for now, that is how it has to be. One day, it will be different. We’ll move on, and this time will be just a blip.”
His words surprised me. It was the first glimpse I had that he was thinking of a future with me. I cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry. Between the woman dragging you away and the elevator, I’m tense and jumpy.” I ran circles on his cheek with my fingers. “I didn’t mean to say you were an asshole.”
“And the god complex?” he asked dryly, lifting one eyebrow.
“Um…”
He chuckled. “I have been accused of that before. The asshole part, too.”
“I didn’t mean—”
He cut me off with a swift kiss. “It’s fine, Gracie. You had every right to be annoyed. I knew you were upset as I walked across the lobby. You have no idea how incredible you looked, sitting there sipping a dirty martini, your legs crossed and swinging, looking perturbed. You were a fucking siren. Even pissed at me, you were sexy. I wasn’t the only one looking either.”
“Whatever. I wasn’t looking back.”
“I know. You didn’t even notice. You have no idea how astonishing you are.”
I had no response.
He kissed my nose. “I think, darling, we just had our first fight.”
I felt tears threatening, but he shook his head. “No crying. We’re both under pressure, and it happened. It’s all good.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’m more concerned about how you’re feeling after what happened in the elevator.”
“I’m tense,” I admitted. “It always lingers.”
I ran a hand over my head. “I hate that what is an everyday, normal thing for people turns into such a dramatic event for me. I hate you have to deal with it because of me.”
“We all have our elevators, Gracie.”
I looked up. “Will you ever tell me yours?”
He stood, taking me with him. “Not tonight. All I want is to figure out how to get you un-tense.” He walked into a luxurious bathroom, the marble gleaming under the lights. A massive tub was in the corner. “How about a soak, and we’ll order dinner in tonight? No risk of anyone interrupting us then.”