He rips the blanket from my body. “I just want to be left alone!” I yell, selfishly uncaring I’m taking it out on my best friend.

“Not happening.”

“Ugh,” I groan, knowing exactly how Reed can be when he decides he knows best.

“Can’t I just stay in bed?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“For starters, you look like hell.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“And we have plans.”

“No plans.

“Yes, plans.”

“Why? Why can’t I just be left alone?”

“Because I love you.”

Digging my face in the pillow, I attempt to protest, “Can’t we have movie day and eat buckets of ice cream and stay in bed for two days?”

“You already stayed in bed for two days?”

“So.”

“Two days is the limit to stay in bed.”

“Who says?”

“I just did. Now get in the shower before I carry you in.” He reaches over to the bed and swats my ass playfully, although I’m in no mood.

I groan as I get out of bed, knowing Reed totally would throw me in if I didn’t do it myself. Dragging my feet, I pad to the bathroom and turn, sticking my tongue out at him before slamming the door shut.

How, in such a short period of time has my world become so small that I can’t seem to escape thoughts of Jax everywhere I go. Everything reminds me of him. Closing my eyes to allow myself to relax into the pulsating shower stream, I remember the last time I was in the shower with him. My hands pushed up against the cold tile as the warm water washed over the small of my back and Jax pounded into my relentlessly from behind. The sound he made as he emptied himself into me, a primal raw growl that was just so ferociously male. Maybe that was all it ever was…sex. I wouldn’t be the first woman to confuse love with lust from a man. But I was just so damn sure he was feeling the same way about me that I was for him.

Reed dragged me to lunch at our favorite little restaurant in Chinatown and then he took me to the best bakery in the City. He ordered us the warm molten lava cake with a side of vanilla bean ice cream and we sat at a table by the window so we could people watch. It hasn’t stopped raining in two days and the weather has definitely taken its toll on my fellow tiny apartment dwellers. New York City people aren’t meant to stay indoors.

Closing my eyes as the rich oozing chocolate meets my tongue, a small moan escapes as my lips.

“Really?” Reed grins wickedly. “Is that what you’re like when you come?” He digs a heaping spoon into the tower of chocolate heaven sitting between us and shovels it between his lips, the fact that his mouth is full doesn’t stop him from speaking. “I never saw the appeal of a vagina. But if it makes you feel like that, I might give it a whirl someday.”

“You need help,” I tease, feeling the most lighthearted I have in days.

“Wanna see my come face?” Reed offers. I’m positive I should say no, but of course I don’t.

“I know I should say no. But sadly, I really do.”

Reed closes his eyes and takes another spoonful of the molten chocolate lava cake. I watch both riveted and repulsed as his jaw goes slack and his breathing begins to speed up. He finishes with a giant moan. Meg Ryan has nothing on Reed Baxter.

He opens his eyes, arches his eyebrows, and scoops just the whip cream off with a wicked grin.

I can’t help but laugh.

“There it is,” Reed says.

“What?”

“The sound I knew was buried somewhere deep.”

I take a cleansing breathe in and exhale out deeply. “I think I was a little in love with him,” I admit without needing to tell him we’ve changed topics.

Reed sighs. “Me too.”

I chuckle. “I’m being serious.”

“Me too.” He grins and consumes another mouthful of cake.

“Tonight is the fight between them you know?”

“It was.”

“Was?”

“Cancelled,” Reed says, offering no more.

“Why?” My brows furrow. “And how do you know.”

“Jax called me.”

“He called you?”

“Yep. Think he’ll go out with me now that you kicked him to the curb?”

“What did he want?” I ignore his question.

“You won’t take his calls. Wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Why does he care?”

“Because he loves you, that’s why.”

“Did he say that?” I hate myself for feeling hopeful as I ask.

“Not in so many words. But he does and we both know it.”

“He betrayed me.”

“Maybe he wasn’t honest about why he came to New York, but that doesn’t make what happened between the two of you any less real.”

“He could have told me for weeks. He was using me to get to the gym.”

“I think you’re wrong,” Reed warns in a tone that pisses me off.

“Whose side are you on?”

“Yours always. You know that.”

“So why is the fight cancelled?”

“Joe said if Caden fought tonight, he wouldn’t be in any shape to fight in two weeks at the Open and he needed him to show well for business at the Open.”

My eyes go wide. “Caden showing well at the Open has no effect on our business.”

Reed shrugs. “That’s what Jax said Joe said.”

Chapter 27

Jax

Sitting idly has never been something I was capable of. I’ve sent flowers, called, even wrote her a hand written letter and slipped it under her door when she didn’t answer. I’m beginning to feel stalkerish. I walk circles in my small hotel room and bark at the Vice President of City Bank yet again.

“Bullshit. I’m not playing these games anymore. It was either you or Theodore. Committee my ass. One of you is behind it, and I want to know which one. Theodore golfs with my father. You’re on the Senate campaign expense panel. Which one of you does he have something on?”

It’s my third threatening call to Theodore Wells in the last forty-eight hours. The President of the bank was the lucky recipient of four calls. He again denies having anything to do with my father. Blaming the Ralley’s line being pulled on a routine quarterly review. A total load of crap, it’s not even the end of a quarter.

“When I find out which one of you ass**les is behind this, you’ll pay for it. And I will find out.” I slam the hotel phone down so hard it bounces out of the receiver and falls to the fall. I leave it there.