Chapter Fifteen
Damon
I’m deep in thought as I trek back toward my office.
Jason and Joslyn seem to be quite comfortable with each other.
How do they know each other? What if they used to date?
Shit, what if they’re dating now? I’m an idiot.
Why would I even expect that she’s not dating someone?
She’s beautiful, intelligent, and kind. Of course, she’s seeing someone.
You don’t know that. Maybe just ask her.
It looks like I’d rather stew in my jealousy than ask why she was hugging Jason River by the elevator. A hug doesn’t mean anything. Not really. They could just be friends. Or they could be dating. Ugh, I need my brain to stop.
I have some serious concerns about Joslyn confronting Bill this week, particularly in light of the discoveries at the audit meeting.
Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I have this feeling he won’t back down easily.
The idea of just her and Debra, our fifty-five-year-old HR lady, being the only ones present during a confrontation with him is making my inner caveman foam at the mouth.
If Jacob were there, there wouldn’t be a cause for concern, but he’s out this week.
If I ask to join the meeting, will she misread my intentions?
My protective feelings are anything but professional.
Just the thought of someone hurting her makes me livid.
Maybe she’ll go to dinner with me again, and I can work my request into casual conversation.
With that in mind, I make my way toward her office.
Abby greets me with a head bump and doggie kisses, so I bend down to stroke the downy soft fur around her ears, while Joslyn sets her meeting materials on her desk.
“Well, what do you think? Interesting meeting, huh?” she asks.
“I would love to discuss it more in-depth, but I haven’t eaten since eleven, and I’m starving. How about we hit the diner again?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
“I was just going to suggest that myself.” Her gorgeous smile illuminates her face, making her gray eyes sparkle. That cheery look goes straight to my heart. I would do just about anything to keep her smiling like that.
She grabs her purse and leashes up Abby so we can head out. I hold the elevator door for her, sweeping my arm out wide.
“Your elevator awaits, my lady.” I give her a bow with a little flourish.
She laughs and steps on the elevator. Turning back, she flutters her eyelashes at me before replying with a terrible English accent. “Thank you, kind sir.” She sounds ridiculous, but God, she’s so damn cute.
“Shouldn’t quit our day jobs for acting?” I quip, waggling my eyebrows. She laughs, and my insides light up. That laugh. My inner teenager wants to do all sorts of crazy things to keep her laughing, but I hold back because I’m a grown man. Mostly.
We kept the conversation casual on our walk to the diner to lighten the mood.
That was an intense meeting, and I can tell she needs a break from that.
It’s a gorgeous night, with a refreshing breeze providing welcome relief from the day’s heat.
Denver’s weather is just one more perk of living in this city.
Boston is a fascinating city, but I don’t miss the humidity.
The diner is considerably more crowded tonight, but as luck would have it, we still manage to get a booth in the corner.
Abby greets Sid as we walk in the door, as usual, and I scan the crowd, bemused by the large turnout.
It’s quite an eclectic group, from teenagers to seniors, and I’m glad to see the place is bustling with customers.
I like Astrid, and her food is spectacular.
We give the waitress our order and settle in with our drinks to discuss the meeting. I don’t know where to begin, but Joslyn jumps right in.
“So I was thinking, if you’re free, maybe you could be there for the meeting with Bill? “ She sounds nervous asking me, but I’m incredibly relieved by her request.
“Of course! I was concerned about you meeting with him alone, but I didn’t want to say anything.
I don’t want you to think for even a moment that I’m a misogynist who thinks women need a man to handle tough situations.
I’m well aware that they can, but I can’t stand the way he disrespects you.
It would kill me if something happened. I don’t know him well enough to predict what he’ll do.
” I’m so worried about her reaction that I can’t stop babbling like an idiot. Silence.
I look at her with trepidation, hoping she’s not about to take me to task, but her eyes are dancing with laughter, and her hand is covering her mouth to keep it in.
“Are you laughing at me?” I quirk up my brow, trying to maintain my composure. I’m equal parts relieved and amused.
“Oh, I absolutely am.” Her laughter is sweet and bright, just like her. It’s contagious. I try to keep a straight face, but it’s impossible because she’s so beautiful when she laughs. Giving in, I let the mirth take over.
“First of all,” she says, trying to put on a serious face, “I don’t think you are a sexist jerk.
I was married to one, and I’m intimately acquainted with their behavior.
I can say with complete conviction that you are not one.
Second, I’m also worried about how Bill will react to this, so there is no way I’m going into that meeting without some backup.
You immediately came to mind as a substitute once I learned Jacob would be out this week, and it’s nice to know that you’re concerned for my safety.
” She gives me a shy smile, cheeks pink and flushed.
“Third, I don’t like physical confrontations because angry men are scary and unpredictable.
You’re a large man, Damon, and I feel safe around you, so I would have likely asked you to be there regardless.
I can ask for help when I need to.” She says the last part like she’s trying to convince herself it’s true.
I’ll admit I’ve been contemplating her relationship with Kurt more than is healthy.
I’m pretty sure, based on the comments that both she and Jacob have made, he was an emotionally abusive asshole, but the way she talks about their confrontations makes me think the abuse was also physical.
My mind flashes back again to that scene outside the arena.
That look on her face will never stop hurting my heart.
I can’t bear the thought of him hurting her physically.
I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and beat the shit out of that asshole.
It would have ended with me in jail, so that’s by far not the best idea, but just the thought of making him pay gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Maybe if I had tried harder to be her friend back then, I could have made a difference, since I don’t think she’s had many friends.
I reach out and place a gentle hand over hers, giving it a squeeze of reassurance.
I’m here now, though, so maybe I can give her that in the present.
“Why do angry men scare you, Jos?” I ask, my voice soft as I try not to spook her.
She bites her plump lower lip, her soft gray eyes shiny and sad. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she replies in a whisper.
“You might feel better if you do. I felt better after talking to you about Lexi.”
She shakes her head, tawny curls bouncing, gray eyes troubled.
“It’s embarrassing.”
“You have no reason to be embarrassed. You are not the one who should be ashamed. Please, Jos, let me in. Just a little?” I plead.
She doesn’t want to meet my gaze, looking down at the table, and struggling with her emotions.
I wait, using all my patience, for her to work through her feelings, but my heart hurts as she grapples with her trust issues.
Then, right when I’m about to give up, she answers with a quiet firmness that stuns me.
Joslyn is stronger than I’ve given her credit for.
“I met Kurt when I was eighteen and he was thirty-two. I was so young and naive. He was older, sophisticated, and quite charming, not just to me but also to my family. My dad loved him. I loved him - at least, I thought it was love. He swept me off my feet, and we were married before I could even blink. I thought I’d found my happily ever after.
He was so handsome, and for once, my parents approved.
God, I was so young, only eighteen. He knew exactly what he was doing, and I was so damn clueless. ”
She shakes her head, revealing her frustration at her younger self.
I grip her hand, offering her my wordless support, but don’t interrupt.
She takes a deep breath to continue, but still, she won’t look me in the eyes.
I can see how painful this is for her. I’m honored that she’s sharing this with me.
I want to be worthy of her trust because I know it doesn’t come easily.
“So, I’m sure it will come as no surprise that he wasn’t the Prince Charming I thought he was.
It started with little things—small criticisms or judgmental looks.
He didn’t like my outfit because it didn’t present the proper ‘Robertson’ image.
Why was I wearing so much makeup? Did I think I could eat dessert and still maintain my figure?
Things like that. It escalated slowly. He didn’t like my friends or how I spent my time.
He didn’t want me to work so I would be available for him, yet he worked all the time and was hardly ever home. ”
She sighs, keeping her gaze averted.
“It creeps up on you, you know. Then, one day, you realize he controls every aspect of your life, and you have no idea how it happened.” She pauses for a second as the memories overwhelm her, but then she shakes her head with determination.