He smoothed his hand over her thigh and she pulled her skirt back into position, brushing him away. Moving to fasten her blouse next, she felt the need to cry, sudden and chilling.
‘We can’t work together and do this.’
‘I beg to differ,’ he said confidently. ‘I think this is essential if we are going to get our heads back in the game once more.’
She shook her head.
Back in the game? Was that all this was to him?
‘Hear me out,’ he said. ‘We both work too hard to support any decent relationship outside of work.’
She didn’t respond, her fingers shaking as they fastened up the last button.
‘So why not get this fix on the doorstep?’
She could feel the heat of his gaze on her as her brain struggled with the very idea he was putting forward, as her body impulsively demanded her agreement.
‘We’re both grown-ups,’ he pressed. ‘We can sate this need, free our brains to concentrate on work and not worry about the usual relationship baggage.’
No baggage. No feelings. Just sex.
Jennifer felt her heart shrivel and hated it for being so pathetic. Why couldn’t she simply say yes? No one had ever driven her as wild as he could. She’d never desired anyone the way she desired him.
But you’ve never been as crazy about someone either.
‘Take the weekend,’ he said into her continued silence. ‘Think about it and you can give me your answer on Monday.’
How did he remain so focused when her entire world was shattering?
Because he wants this, wants you... But he doesn’t want more.
That was the real issue. He could take the sex and leave the rest.
She only wished she was capable of the same.
‘I’ll think about it,’ she said, grateful that the car was pulling up at the station and she’d soon be free.
Shrugging on her jacket, she didn’t wait for Colin. As soon as the car stopped she opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind her. She didn’t say goodbye, she didn’t thank his driver—she needed space, now.
It turned out space wasn’t enough.
He hounded her the entire journey home.
She threw herself into her to-do list: co-ordinating Tony’s rehab, paying the bills, managing her inbox and so on. But he was always there...at the back of her mind.
By the time the taxi pulled up outside her home her head was swimming and the tension knotting at the base of her neck signalled the onset of a full-blown migraine. She rubbed at it as she stepped out of the car and followed the driver to the boot.
‘Jenny!’
She turned to see Kate bounding down the stone-stepped entrance towards her. ‘Hey, sis!’ she called, turning back to the driver as he handed over her weekend bag. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome, miss.’
Kate’s arms came around her from behind, squeezing her tight. ‘It’s so good to see you.’
‘You too.’ She turned, easing her sister’s embrace enough to give her a kiss on the cheek and hook her arm through hers. ‘How’s Mum?’
‘She’s good—really good,’ Kate said emphatically as they headed towards the house. ‘She’s reading in the library—we’ve found it helps settle her with the nights drawing in.’