Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(37)

I have to admit I’m not angry at her anymore. I’ve reminded myself she was nineteen and under her mother’s control for a long time. While I am solid with the fact I loved her and she loved me, I also know a young girl confronted with seemingly legit evidence of my betrayal would be affected differently than she would today at age thirty-two with some experience behind her. I have to forgive Joslyn for not knowing any better.

And the minute I did that, I sure as fuck started itching to have her again. Just hugging her yesterday in her kitchen felt so goddamn great I could’ve just been happy standing there for hours. Bloody hell, but feelings have resurfaced for me and it’s a mind fuck for sure. I’m getting ready to let her perpetuate a lie to the world that we’re in love, except it doesn’t feel like a complete and utter lie to me.

More importantly, we have got to sell this if her stalker is going to believe it. I need him to believe so he gets pissed—hopefully sloppy—and decides to come after her so I can end the bloody ponce.

This job has become way too personal now. What I really want is for Joslyn to have peace and be happy again.

The makeup artist finishes and leaves the room. After a few more fluffs of Joslyn’s hair, the hair stylist leaves and it’s time for Joslyn to get dressed. She brought a light blue dress the same color as her eyes and a pair of high-heeled booties in a camel color to wear with it. It’s hanging on a hook beside the mirror. Joslyn pushes out of her chair, nabbing the outfit. She raises a brow pointedly. “Want to step out while I get dressed?”

I smile slowly, a silent admission I’ve seen everything she has to show me. She glares and I merely turn, giving her my back. “We need to talk so go ahead and get dressed. I promise not to peek.”

She makes a delicate snort that has me grinning bigger, but then I hear the unmistakable sound of her removing her jeans. The distinct sound of the zipper coming down makes my blood turn hot.

Shaking my head, I put that aside. “Look… you have got to sell this out there. To the audience.”

“I know,” she says with a resigned sigh. “They need to believe we’re in love.”

“No,” I say sharply, then turn my head just enough I can see her in my peripheral vision. She freezes in her panties and bra, eyes wide. “He has to believe it. He has to watch this interview, and he has to become enraged. So you have to do more than sell it, Joslyn. It’s going to be the biggest acting role of your career.”

“I’ve got this,” she snaps, and it’s enough to prompt me to face her.

“Do you?” I taunt, trying my damned best not to ogle her. A quick glimpse of her body in that sexy-as-fuck white lace lingerie is seared onto my brain. “Because things are kind of strained between us.”

“Well, yeah,” she snarls in outrage, completely glorious in her near nudity as she stares daggers. “I’m a little ragey still that you fucked me and then treated me like garbage after.”

“Joslyn—”

“I let you into my body, Kynan,” she seethes, and I realize she’s had some buried fury she’s been keeping deep under wraps with me. I don’t interrupt her—just let her get it out. “That wasn’t a whim for me, and I wasn’t acting on just pure sexual attraction. I fell right back into it with you the minute I realized you hadn’t betrayed me, and all you wanted to do was bust a nut. So I’m sorry if I’m having a tough time coping, but please rest assured… I’ll sell our fake little love story. I’m actually quite good at what I do.”

Joslyn stands there, chest heaving with indignation, but I can also see relief she managed to get that out. She clearly needed to.

“You’re wrong about one thing.” My voice is soft, noncombative. I need to ease her off the ledge. We have less than ten minutes before she has to go on national TV.

“What’s that?” she asks, her head tilted curiously.

“It wasn’t just about busting a nut with you. I left you because I was angry and in emotional overload over just how fucking amazing it felt to be with you again. Give me a little credit why don’t you? Maybe I was just as overwhelmed as you by everything I’d learned, and I just didn’t handle it very well.”

“Oh,” Joslyn breathes, as if she just had an epiphany. Then it dawns on her what I said, and she lets out an even longer, “O-h-h-h.”

I take two steps, come right before her, and put my hands on her shoulders. Bending slightly, I look right into her eyes. “I think you and I have things to talk about. But the one thing I need you to know is I’m not angry with you anymore over what happened. It’s in the past and I’m letting it go, okay?”

She nods, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. There are all kinds of things I’d like to do with her lip. Instead, I ask, “Let’s both put that bad stuff behind us. Okay, Jos?”

“Okay,” she murmurs in agreement.

It’s nothing for me to lean into her and press my lips to her forehead briefly. I only pull away because there’s a short knock on the door.

Turning from Joslyn, I head to the door and open it. A young woman holding an iPad with a headset on says, “Miss Meyers goes on in ten. Anything else I can get for her?”

I shake my head. “We’re good.”

The woman beams and leaves.