"I'm sorry," Jackson said. "Do you have somewhere else to be?"
I opened the message from Fenton. "Miss you. Join me?"
I ground my teeth, but forced a smile. "No, not at all. In fact, my whole day just opened up."
Jackson held out his arm and I took it. What exactly did Fenton want me to join? My stomach clenched as the image of the stripper in silver flashed through my head. Whatever he had in mind was no good for me. I had been a fool for long enough. Now, it was time to focus on my career, make up for the costly mistakes I made pursuing Fenton, and get myself back on track.
Jackson McRay was just the man to help me. We joined the line of children waiting to tee-off at the mini golf course. I dropped my phone to the bottom of my purse and banished Fenton from my thoughts.
It did not matter that I could still feel his lips on my skin and the full push of him inside me. Those memories would always bring a wave of heat, but they were in the past. He had moved on, within minutes, and now was my chance to do the same thing.
I smiled at Jackson and accepted the pink striped club he handed me. "I know you've got a reputation for clearing all the hazards, but you're on my turf now."
"Let's play," he said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Kya
I threw myself into the min golf game as if each hole would get me farther from the disaster with Fenton. I knew I hurt, but the champagne and silly game helped. Jackson smiled and laughed and everything was easy. He was not opposed to my job, he even knew some of the same people, and I did not feel like every time I brought it up I was detonating a bomb.
"So, Lawrence was not lying about your golf ability," Jackson said.
"Well, he's the one that taught me to putt, so I guess I owe this success to him," I said.
"Oh, so that's where you got that funny grip from."
"What funny grip?" I asked.
Jackson stood behind me and slipped his arms around me. "Not that many golfers thread their fingers together. Though, you make it work and you make it look good."
I laughed. "Mr. McRay, you're trying to distract me. You know if I sink this last putt, I win."
"No, I would never do that," he said with a wink. "I was just trying to find an excuse to get my hands on you."
I felt the warmth of his smile reflected in my cheeks. Then, I turned to concentrate on the putt. There was no reason I could not put the entire Fenton disaster behind me. With Jackson, I was on sure footing. He was flirting, but everything was open and easy.
"You won!" Jackson said. "Now, I suppose I owe you lunch."
"No," I said. "Lunch is on me, if you let me pitch a new vitamin supplement campaign to you."
"I'm buying, I lost fair and square. And I was hoping we could talk about business. Though, I gotta be honest, I don't mind mixing business and pleasure. Can we still call it a date?" Jackson asked.
I smiled and nodded.
"Then, it’s a date. I'll pick you up in the lobby in an hour?"
We agreed, and he gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before we parted. I found my way back inside and could not come up with a good reason to avoid my suite. I thought about showering in the hotel spa, but I could not justify spending one more cent of my boss' money.
Everything was quiet when I entered the luxury suite. The dishes had been cleared from our breakfast, the pillows were no longer strewn on the floor in front of the fireplace, and the door to Fenton's room was wide open. I glanced inside and cringed at the sight of a bright orange dress flung over the foot of the bed. His guest was definitely staying.
I crept into the master bedroom and locked myself in the bathroom. Despite the pleasant distractions of the morning, I burst into tears. I started the shower and let a few sobs escape. It hurt too much to ignore when I was alone. How could Fenton do that to me? He had been so tender, so entirely mine, we had made love twice. How I had been so mistaken? How had I let myself be so used?
The searing hot shower washed away my tears, and I stood under the spray telling myself I was going to be fine. I was fine. As an adult woman, I could handle having casual sex whether or not I put too much meaning into it. It was my mistake and when I saw Fenton, all I had to do was pretend it did not matter. It should not have mattered, but all alone in the shower, I leaned against the wall and let it hurt.
"Kya?" There was a hard crash against the bathroom door. "Why is the door locked? Kya?"
"What do you want, Fenton?" My voice was too harsh.