came to my senses, I broke it off. You checked my vitals and I moved to the other bed.” He glanced away, and straightened the folder on the counter. “That was the end of it.”
“That’s everything?”
“I apologized.”
“An apology isn’t always enough. You can’t be doing this, JD.”
“I’ve said I’m sorry, and I am. I don’t want you to quit. I know ours is a professional relationship. And I respect that. But I’ll tell you this, having you around calms me. You ground me in a world out of control. Ever since I realized my memory was gone, it’s all about getting it back, finding my identity. Everything is focused out.
“Kissing you is something I did for me. It brought me peace. It brought me joy. It took me out of myself and into you. And I am sorry if it hurts you, but it just may have saved my sanity. So do I regret it? No.”
“I don’t know what to say to that. Because a kiss involves two people, JD. It can’t just be about you.”
Oh, no, she didn’t. He leaned halfway over the counter. “Don’t pretend you weren’t right there with me.”
Flames flared in her eyes, confirmation she couldn’t deny her full participation. She picked up her purse, and swung the strap over her shoulder. “I think we need a break from each other. I’m going back to the other hotel. I’ll stay there tonight and bring our stuff over in the morning.”
She swung around and headed toward the arch leading to the foyer.
No. This wasn’t what he wanted at all.
“Grace,” he called out. “You don’t have to go.”
“I really do.”
But she stopped and came back. His spirits lifted. She wasn’t leaving him, after all.
She grabbed the folder. “I’m taking this with me.” Without waiting for a response she headed out again. “Enjoy your steak dinner.”
A moment later the door closed with a distinct thud.
He wasn’t feeling any joy now.
Wait, the women he knew? That was strange. Not that the women in his past had little in common with Grace—he was getting used to the certainty without foundation. But he’d experienced no pain with the thought.
If Grace was here, she’d probably claim it was a sign of his mind healing.
Testing, he tried focusing on his last girlfriend; he opened his mind and tried to picture her here. Pain shattered through his head. Nausea curled in his stomach. Dots danced before his eyes. He dropped onto a dining room chair and lowered his head between his knees.
Sweet merciful dog biscuits. As the ringing in his ears began to fade, he conceded. Maybe he did need to rest.
* * *
Grace let herself into the Pinnacle Express hotel room and tossed her purse on the bed. She needed this time alone. JD had her so off-kilter she didn’t know how to act.
Her mind buzzed, refusing to settle on a single thought. She was flustered. And a master-at-arms never got flustered.
She hadn’t signed up for this. She’d agreed to a professional relationship.
Kissing did not belong in a professional relationship.
She dropped into the armchair and looked out on the pool. It was empty, the cool weather chasing most guests away. But in the far corner a small family enjoyed the bubbling spa.
Her bubbling emotions were much less fun.
The memory of their first kiss rolled on the screen in her head. The temptation of him sprawled nearly naked on the bed, the surprise of him reaching for her, the tenderness in his touch, the sensual feel of his mouth on hers. And him pushing her away.
Except she wasn’t one for self-deception. And she didn’t miss the fact he was the one to pull away in both encounters. She obviously had no restraint when it came to him. And, just as obviously, he did. So she’d given in to her instincts to flee, to put time and distance between them. If she was smart, she’d keep going.
Yet she’d committed to helping him.
And she had. He now knew his name. Jackson Hawke, billionaire. The truth was he didn’t need her anymore. Sure, he felt vulnerable, but
“That’s everything?”
“I apologized.”
“An apology isn’t always enough. You can’t be doing this, JD.”
“I’ve said I’m sorry, and I am. I don’t want you to quit. I know ours is a professional relationship. And I respect that. But I’ll tell you this, having you around calms me. You ground me in a world out of control. Ever since I realized my memory was gone, it’s all about getting it back, finding my identity. Everything is focused out.
“Kissing you is something I did for me. It brought me peace. It brought me joy. It took me out of myself and into you. And I am sorry if it hurts you, but it just may have saved my sanity. So do I regret it? No.”
“I don’t know what to say to that. Because a kiss involves two people, JD. It can’t just be about you.”
Oh, no, she didn’t. He leaned halfway over the counter. “Don’t pretend you weren’t right there with me.”
Flames flared in her eyes, confirmation she couldn’t deny her full participation. She picked up her purse, and swung the strap over her shoulder. “I think we need a break from each other. I’m going back to the other hotel. I’ll stay there tonight and bring our stuff over in the morning.”
She swung around and headed toward the arch leading to the foyer.
No. This wasn’t what he wanted at all.
“Grace,” he called out. “You don’t have to go.”
“I really do.”
But she stopped and came back. His spirits lifted. She wasn’t leaving him, after all.
She grabbed the folder. “I’m taking this with me.” Without waiting for a response she headed out again. “Enjoy your steak dinner.”
A moment later the door closed with a distinct thud.
He wasn’t feeling any joy now.
Wait, the women he knew? That was strange. Not that the women in his past had little in common with Grace—he was getting used to the certainty without foundation. But he’d experienced no pain with the thought.
If Grace was here, she’d probably claim it was a sign of his mind healing.
Testing, he tried focusing on his last girlfriend; he opened his mind and tried to picture her here. Pain shattered through his head. Nausea curled in his stomach. Dots danced before his eyes. He dropped onto a dining room chair and lowered his head between his knees.
Sweet merciful dog biscuits. As the ringing in his ears began to fade, he conceded. Maybe he did need to rest.
* * *
Grace let herself into the Pinnacle Express hotel room and tossed her purse on the bed. She needed this time alone. JD had her so off-kilter she didn’t know how to act.
Her mind buzzed, refusing to settle on a single thought. She was flustered. And a master-at-arms never got flustered.
She hadn’t signed up for this. She’d agreed to a professional relationship.
Kissing did not belong in a professional relationship.
She dropped into the armchair and looked out on the pool. It was empty, the cool weather chasing most guests away. But in the far corner a small family enjoyed the bubbling spa.
Her bubbling emotions were much less fun.
The memory of their first kiss rolled on the screen in her head. The temptation of him sprawled nearly naked on the bed, the surprise of him reaching for her, the tenderness in his touch, the sensual feel of his mouth on hers. And him pushing her away.
Except she wasn’t one for self-deception. And she didn’t miss the fact he was the one to pull away in both encounters. She obviously had no restraint when it came to him. And, just as obviously, he did. So she’d given in to her instincts to flee, to put time and distance between them. If she was smart, she’d keep going.
Yet she’d committed to helping him.
And she had. He now knew his name. Jackson Hawke, billionaire. The truth was he didn’t need her anymore. Sure, he felt vulnerable, but
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