Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(115)

“No, Jack.”

“We’ve tried being friends. It was the only thing we hadn’t tried,” he said, his voice changing.

He had a commanding edge to him that pushed aside what she had been saying.

“I gave it a shot, Lex. I gave you your space. I let you be happy. That’s what you said you wanted.” He gripped her hand a little harder. “How did that work out? Are you happy? Are you happy without me?”

“Jack,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes once again.

“I know I wasn’t.”

Chapter 21

Lexi spent the next four days, alternating between locking herself away at work and Jack’s apartment. The case was coming to a close. She could see the light at the end of the tunnel. At least things were going well in her professional life even if her personal life was shit. Her secretary had even stopped her on Monday morning to ask if she was all right. Lexi hadn’t thought that she looked that bad, but apparently, that hadn’t been the case.

She had splurged over the weekend and bought some new clothes, so she wouldn’t have to go home. She had felt guilty about it…about spending the money and about avoiding her place.

She had known she needed to talk to Ramsey. He had freaked out when she hadn’t come home the next night.

At nearly midnight, she had returned to Jack’s place, and she hadn’t responded to any of Ramsey’s messages or calls during the day. She hadn’t been able to talk to him. The memory of being locked in Jack’s arms, falling asleep in them, waking up in them, had kept her from being able to speak to Ramsey.

Nothing had happened, but still…something had happened.

Lexi had finally broken down and texted Ramsey.

I’m all right, but I don’t know when I’ll be coming back.

The response had been instantaneous.

Please come home. I’m sorry. I’m losing my mind over here. I can’t lose you, too.

Lexi had almost broken down at those words. Her heart had felt like someone had rolled over it with a steamroller. Every muscle in her body had itched to walk back to her car and comfort him. But she hadn’t.

I need some time away.

We should talk about this. Please come home and talk to me about this.

I can’t. Just give me some time, she had responded, biting down hard on her lip.

Where are you? I’ll come to you.

Yeah, she wasn’t even going to go there. If Ramsey knew that she was with Jack, he might do something drastic…like drive over here and come find her. She had remembered only a week ago when his fist had connected with John’s face. She had doubted he would be so merciful with Jack.

I’m sorry. I can’t. I have to go.

She had turned off her phone and tossed in her purse. She hadn’t spoken to him since.

Three days later, and still, all she wanted to do was sleep.

Jack had given her a key to the place, so she could come and go as she pleased. He hadn’t even hesitated. He had just placed it in her hand Friday morning before he had left for work. It hadn’t really mattered because she hadn’t been there without him, but it had been a nice feeling.

She slid the key into the lock and opened the door to the quiet apartment. She knew it was late. She wasn’t expecting Jack to be awake. The past three nights, she had found him passed out on the couch when she got back. She would shake him awake to let him know that she was home, and he would sit up to talk to her about her day, to try to get her mind off of everything else. She would relax back into his lap, and he would stroke her hair until she stopped speaking and fell asleep.

The next morning, she would wake up alone, wrapped in his sheets after he had carried her exhausted body into bed. It was the only way she found some peace from the headache and the heartache.

But tonight, when she quietly closed the door behind her and walked into the living room, Jack was sitting on the couch with his hands clasped together, staring at the coffee table.

“Hey. Did something happen?” Lexi asked, dropping her bag and walking over to him.

Jack dropped his head and then sat up straight. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me, too,” she said hesitantly. “Is everything okay?”

“Ramsey called me.”

“He did?” she asked, her stomach dropping out. What did Jack talk to him about? Did he tell Ramsey that she was staying here? She glanced back at the door, wondering if Ramsey would be breaking it down any minute. “What did he say?”

“He wanted to know if I’d heard from you.”

“What, um…what did you tell him?” she asked, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

“I told him that I had and to give you some space. He didn’t really like that answer.”

“Did you tell him I was here?” she squeaked.

Jack arched an eyebrow incredulously and stood. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t have told him. I’ve still kind of been waiting for him to show up all afternoon.”

“Oh,” she said with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that to your doorstep.”

She stared down at her feet and tried to figure out what the hell had become of her life. If Ramsey came here and messed with Jack because she had needed someone, then she was going to be so pissed. But she didn’t want Jack to have to go through that. She just wanted to do the right thing.