Rebel Heir (Rush Series Duet #1)(28)

I pondered his advice. “So, pretend that no one will ever see it…”

“Yeah. If you find yourself stopping to think too much…just keep going…push through it. Worry about it later. Write the first thing that comes to mind and trust your instinct. You’re probably a way worse judge of yourself than anyone.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “Anyway, who cares what people think? Write what you like…I bet it will turn out that’s what other people will like, too.”

Nodding, I considered his advice. “I’ll try to adopt that approach.” His words repeated it my mind and prompted me to say, “But that’s pretty ironic coming from you, don’t you think?”

“What part is ironic?”

“‘Who cares what people think?’ This from the guy who refuses to date an employee for fear of what everyone will think?”

He slowed his pace, looking a bit pissed at me for bringing this up. “It’s not about what people think, so much as the principle of the matter. As a business owner, you don’t date someone you employ. It’s unethical. It’s also ripe pickings for a lawsuit and that’s a headache I sure as hell don’t need.”

“But it’s okay for you to sleep in my bed?”

That comment seemed to anger him even more. “No, that’s not okay. That was a mistake.”

The question that had been on the tip of my tongue somehow slipped out against my better judgment. “What if I got another job? Would that change things?”

He seemed to be struggling with how to respond to that. I braced myself because I knew the answer to that question was a game changer. It would prove his true feelings once and for all.

Rush reached into his pocket for a cigarette before lighting up. It had seemed like he was making a conscious effort not to smoke up until I drove him to it just now.

His eyes almost looked pained when he said, “I like hanging out with you. But I’m not right for you, Gia.”

“Then the boss thing is just an excuse? It’s really not the reason you won’t date me.”

“It’s not the only issue, no. The issue is me…not you.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not you. It’s me. What an original line! I should put that in my sucky book.”





My little interrogation must have angered Rush more than I knew, because he was quiet the rest of the walk to the parking garage.

Once we got to the car and on the road, the silent treatment continued as he proceeded to just smoke the entire time.

I was mad at myself for bringing up the subject of our relationship. He’d made his intentions clear, and I had to accept that. But there was still the fact that I wasn’t sure if I fully believed he didn’t want more with me. He was clearly attracted to me and protective of me. Was he scared? Or just not interested? It didn’t matter. As soon as he’d pulled the old “it’s not you, it’s me,” I was done.

I couldn’t stand the quiet anymore, so I was the first to speak.

“You said we were gonna play fortunately-unfortunately on the ride back.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not in the mood right now.”

Ignoring him, I said, “Okay…I’ll start. Fortunately, one of us doesn’t stay angry for very long and knows how to break the ice.”

He gave me side-eye and surprised me when he started to play along. “Unfortunately, Gia decided to break the ice by reminding me of this stupid game.” He shook his head and blew smoke out the window.

“Fortunately, Gia’s not sensitive, otherwise you calling her game stupid would have upset her.”

“Unfortunately, I think Gia is sensitive and takes certain things personally when she really shouldn’t.”

“Fortunately, Gia doesn’t have to be told twice, so you don’t have to worry about her inquiring about the status of our relationship anymore ever again.”

He lit up another cigarette before he said, “Unfortunately, I think that’s for the best.”

“Fortunately, I now understand that we are, in fact, just friends.”

His expression dampened. A few seconds passed before he responded with, “Unfortunately, I have to apologize for my actions that have led you to believe otherwise.”

“Fortunately—for you—I forgive you.”

“Unfortunately, this means I can’t sleep in your bed anymore, either.”

I admired his apology, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to stick it to him.

“Fortunately, now that you’ve made your feelings clear, this frees me up to accept the date I’ve been putting off with Rhys, the roof bartender.”





“Bring the kegs up to the rooftop bar,” I snapped at the shadow of a man passing by my office. The hall was dark, but I knew exactly who it was. The asshole had been on my radar ever since Gia dropped a bomb in the car on the way home from the City.

“Me?” Rhys took a step back into the doorway of the office. I didn’t bother to lift my head from the paperwork I had my nose buried in.

“Who the fuck else would I be talking to? Is there another person in the vicinity?” I still didn’t look up.

“Umm. Oak usually carries them upstairs. Those things weigh a hundred-sixty pounds.”