2. Jareth
Today was a total fuck-up of epic proportions.
I clenched my hands, relishing the bite of pain as my nails dug into my palm. I was a fucking monster. The way Hazel’s face paled when we locked eyes almost destroyed me. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.
Hurting her was the only way to keep her safe.
There was no way I missed the bruised smudges beneath her dark green eyes. She watched TV in the living room, curled up on the couch, while I sat in her armchair working from my phone. She didn’t fall asleep until close to 3:00 a.m. When her breath evened out, I lifted her curvy form into my arms and put her to bed.
I sat in the uncomfortable high-back chair stationed at her vintage vanity until the sun rose. After the events of the night, I told myself I stayed because I’d been afraid to leave her alone in case she had nightmares or woke up scared. While that was partially true, I was a selfish bastard and knew this opportunity wouldn’t present itself again. And next time, I might not have the strength to deny myself the pleasure of being in her bedroom.
This morning, I left before she woke up. I feared that seeing her again would weaken my resolve to stay away. That my traitorous dick, instantly hard the moment I was in her presence, would convince me that our kiss last night had not been the mistake I’d pretended it to be.
I had the urge to strangle Jess.
I straightened my spine and slipped on the figurative mask I’d carefully crafted over the years. I never ran. From anything.
Once I reminded Hazel of the cold bastard I was deep down, she’d realize her infatuation with me was misplaced and find someone else.
A growl escaped my mouth at the thought of some other fucking guy putting his hands on my girl. I dropped back to stare at the blue sky above and counted to five. I had to shove this shit down so far it could never resurface. Hazel was not, and never could be, my girl.
With one last inhale, I schooled my face into a neutral expression and pushed open the bakery door again. This time, I didn’t hesitate before I strode to the table, exuding confidence in every step.
I raised an eyebrow. “Jess.”
She glared at me, my first indication that she knew what happened last night. Then came the second. “Dickhead.”
I shifted my attention to Hazel, ignoring Jess’s dig. It was best not to engage when she was like this. Hazel’s pale cheeks flamed fire engine red. Her teeth bit her rosy plump bottom lip, and I remembered how soft her mouth was against mine. Now that I’d tasted her sweetness, I wanted more.
I tightened each muscle in my body, forcing myself not to react to the desire raging through me. I resisted the urge to lick my way up to the pulse wildly beating in her neck.
“Hazel,” I said, proud of the steadiness of my voice. “I hadn’t expected to see you again so soon.” The last comment was also indirectly for Jess.
“Same,” Hazel muttered, ripping her gaze away from me. Immediately I felt the loss.
She reached for her coffee, a jerky movement, knocking into the cup. As it tottered for a second, Hazel’s green eyes widened. She tried to grab it, but it was too late. The to-go cup fell over with a soft thud, and the top popped off. Coffee splashed up like lava exploding from a volcano, spilling all over the table and my pants.
I looked down in shock as the hot liquid burned my upper thighs.
“No, no, no, no,” Hazel whispered as she snatched up the napkins on the table. She threw a wad down, trying to mop up the spill before dabbing at my legs with the same soggy mess of napkins. The stain on my pants spread with her movement, and my dick pushed hard at my zipper.
Her face was so close to my crotch that there was no way she missed it. Hazel’s sharp gasp told me that I was right. She jerked back in her seat, her flushed face darting nervously around the room.
“Hazel—” I started.
“Napkins. We need more napkins.” She shot up, and hurried to the bakery counter, her luscious curvy backside swayed beneath her tan slacks with each step.
On the other hand, Jess was bent at the waist, one arm clutching her stomach, as she laughed uproariously like the deranged lunatic I knew her to be.
“I hope you’re satisfied,” I growled at her.
“In ways you can’t even imagine. You are so screwed.”
“I have no idea what you’re blathering about.” My harsh retort only made her laugh louder.
Hazel hurried back to us. She threw a towel on the table before shoving one into my hands. “I’m so sorry, Jareth. I don’t know what got into me. Your poor pants. The coffee will stain, and knowing you, they’re worth more than that Michael Kors weekender bag I’ve had my eye on. If you hand over your pants, I’ll get them dry-cleaned immediately.”
I raised an eyebrow, effectively stopping her tirade.
Her mouth dropped into the most enticing ‘O.’ “I mean, not now. I’ll get them from you tomorrow.” She snapped her mouth shut, then let her chin drop to her chest.
Taking pity on her and against my better judgment, I laid my palm on her shoulder. Electricity zipped through me at the slight touch, and I gritted my teeth. After a few awkward pats, I let my hand drop. I wasn’t used to consoling someone. “It’s fine.”
Jess swiped at the mess on the table and then the floor once I stepped back.
Hazel let out a weary sigh that made me want to wrap my arms around her. “I’m going to go. It was nice to see you, Jess. And, um, you too, Jareth.”
Before Jess or I could say another word, Hazel had grabbed her purse and darted out the door. The jangle of the bells mocked me, telling me, without words, how badly I’d screwed up that entire encounter.
I sat in the seat Hazel had vacated and lifted my eyes to Jess. “Is that what you were hoping for?” I asked, sarcasm fully evident in my tone.
Jess waved her hand. “You can’t fool me.”
“Considering I’m not hiding anything, that seems like a stretch.”
“I can’t tell if you really don’t know you’re half in love with her or if you’re being your totally douchey self and pretending there’s nothing there.” She pursed her lips as she stared at me.
I fought not to shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“Douchey self. It’s fine. I can work with that, too,” Jess declared before sipping her coffee.
I ignored her comment. “You invited me here to discuss what we’re going to do about Harold.”
Jess’s smile fled. “That fucking bastard needs to go down. He doesn’t get to hurt our Hazel and get away with it.”
Her use of our was not lost on me. “He won’t.” Harold was lucky I’d stopped carrying a concealed firearm unless the situation called for it, otherwise, I’d have used him for target practice last night.
“Whatever you’re planning, I want in.” Retribution gleamed in Jess’s golden brown eyes.
“Just make sure he resigns, or you kick him off the board. I’ll handle the rest.” I hadn’t needed to meet with Jess to put the wheels in motion to destroy Harold, but she insisted. I should have known there was an ulterior motive.
“I want in,” she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. “Gage is on board and will help too.”
“My own hacker will be sufficient. Besides, I thought he was playing bodyguard to some prince in a tiny European country.” Gage Christensen was best friends with Jess’s boyfriend, James Alden, and was one of the world’s top hackers. It still irked me that I’d never convinced him to work for me.
Jess frowned. “He can do both at the same time.”
“The Board,” I reminded her.
“I called an emergency meeting this afternoon. Due to a morality clause and the Board not wanting additional bad press, they will all agree to remove him even without his resignation.” I understood the satisfied look on her face.
“I’ve already found a way to transfer a portion of their money into an account solely in his wife’s name,” I revealed.
Jess patted my arm. “See, you do have a heart somewhere in there.”
I shook off her touch. “By the end of today, any other money left will be distributed elsewhere, and the businesses he has a hand in will all fail. His employees will be left with generous severance packages. My hacker is looking into any past indiscretions that have been covered up. Once we have the information on every person Harold Richards has tried to take advantage of, we’ll release it to the press.” Satisfaction roared through me. This was the hidden side of business I liked the best. I’d had practice taking people down over the years, and nothing was more satisfying than ripping the lives apart of those who deserved it.
“Good. Richards deserves no mercy.” She frowned.
“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts?” I asked, picking up on her change in mood.
She shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. I just wished I’d listened to you when I first took over and booted him then.”
The part of me that was protective of Hazel wanted to rail at her for her poor decision-making, but I held back. Oddly enough, Jess had become the closest thing to a friend over the past few months, and I knew how much she cared about Hazel. She was already beating herself up far better than I could. “It’s happening now.”
Jess gave me a grateful smile. “It is, but… ”
“But what?” I asked when she didn’t continue.
“We need to keep Hazel safe.” Her worried gaze met mine.
“Hazel is safe. I’ve seen to that.” And I’d continue to protect her for as long as I needed to.
“Harold will be desperate and looking to discredit her accusation.”
“He won’t if he knows what’s good for him,” I assured her. I’d taken care of that today in a way that Harold could not ignore. My friends on the police force and in the prison I hoped he’d be sent to knew what to do. And if he didn’t listen, he wouldn’t be there long. He’d be in the fucking ground.
Jess’s mouth opened and closed. Then she waved her hand. “You know what? I don’t even want to know.”
I smirked. It was better that way.
She tapped at her chin, a speculative look in her eyes. “I do want to know more about what happened last night between you and Hazel.”
Fucking hell.
“Nothing happened,” I lied.
She sighed. “Don’t be an unhelpful dick. How can I make things better if you don’t tell me the truth?”
“I certainly don’t want to be an unhelpful dick.” I arched an eyebrow. There was no way she’d get me to crack.
“I’m worried about Hazel.”
I groaned internally. Jess was smart. She was aware of my Achilles heel. Knowing it was likely a trap, I responded. “Is she okay?”
Jess shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Even though I was being played, the concern in her eyes was genuine. “What did she say?”
“You two kissed.”
Even with the lie on the tip of my tongue, I didn’t give in to revealing it. I didn’t mind lying about my actions, but Hazel didn’t deserve to get caught up in my untruths. She was too sweet and pure for that. “We did.”
“Why did you pull away? I know you care about her.”
“Of course I care about her. She’s worked for me for three years.” I sidestepped the question.
“You care for her more than as a boss/employee relationship, and we both know it. I just don’t get why you’d push her away. She’s the most amazing person I know.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I bit out. “That’s why it must not go any further.”
She shook her head sadly. “Initially I questioned her crush on you, but I’ve watched the two of you together over the past few months. You’re different with her. Softer, more gentle.”
“Which are two things I can’t be if I want to succeed.” Anger seared my veins. Anger that Jess was forcing me to admit why I’d never be good enough for Hazel and anger that I had lost my willpower last night. If I’d stayed strong, she would never have known I wanted her.
“Jareth—”
“My desire for her is purely sexual. It will pass.” This time, it was harder to push the lie past my lips.
Jess rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to dignify that with a response. Against my better judgment, I even agree that the two of you need each other. You balance each other out.”
“Jess,” I said, working to keep my tone even. “Let it go.”
“I can’t, Jareth. Not when two of my friends are being fucking idiots.”
I stood. “We are not friends. Hazel’s crush will disappear once she realizes I’m right and that loving me will only bring her pain.” It didn’t escape me that I’d just inadvertently admitted that there might be more to my feelings than I wanted her to know.
“Jareth—”
“If that’s all you need from me, I’m leaving. Rest assured, I have the situation with Harold under control.” I spun on my heel and strode out of the bakery, ignoring Jess calling me back.
I’d been alone for the majority of my adult life. There was no reason for that to change. I had more important things to deal with than my infatuation with my assistant.
It was time I found the person responsible for the death of my father. That needed to be my one and only objective.