Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(54)

He had to get this under control, he thought grimly as he waited for coffee to flow into his mug. There had to be a solution. Kenny had been right. Getting involved with Larissa would mess up everything. He liked her and he didn’t want to lose that.

Last night had been a disaster. Worse, it wasn’t her fault. It was seeing her in the robe, he thought grimly. Imagining her naked. Wanting to touch her. That was a slick road to hell. So what now? How did he make things better?

He lost himself in work and waited for the caffeine to do its thing. Sometime around seven-thirty other people began to arrive. At eight, Taryn strolled into his office.

“You look like crap,” she announced.

“Thanks.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I didn’t sleep.”

Taryn’s violet-blue eyes always saw too much. “Larissa?” she asked.

“She told you?”

Taryn shook her head and muttered something under her breath. “Told me what?”

Now it was his turn to not get it. “You haven’t talked to her?”

“I talk to her every day. I need context. Did she do something? Did you do something?”

The questions had easy answers, but he had a feeling they were talking in circles. “What do you know?” he asked.

“Nothing I’m telling you. You want answers, go see Larissa.”

There were answers?

Jack was out of his chair and through the door. He walked to the end of the hall and entered Larissa’s tiny office. She was already sitting at her computer.

“Hi,” she said cheerily when he entered. “What’s up? Oh, wow. You look tired. Didn’t you sleep?”

He closed the door and leaned against it. “Talk.”

“About?”

He raised one shoulder. “Whatever it is that has Taryn checking on me and asking what it is you’ve done. I’ll stay for as long as it takes. I have a clear morning.”

Larissa’s smile drooped. “Taryn asked that?”

Jack crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. On his side was the fact that she’d never been much of a liar and she couldn’t handle pressure. He would give her two maybe three minutes before she cracked. Because if there was something going on, he wanted to know what.

“You won’t like it,” she said, staring at her desk. Her long, slim fingers twisted together.

“I’ll deal. Now tell me, what’s going on?”

She pressed her lips together and swallowed, then stared up at him. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes were huge.

Jack felt the first slice of fear. It was bad, he thought suddenly. Real bad. Was she sick? Did she have cancer?

Okay, he told himself. He had resources. He would find her the best doctors in the country. Or in the world. They could fly anywhere. Switzerland. India. It didn’t matter. He would make sure she got better.

“My mother was right. I’m in love with you.”

The words were so unexpected, he didn’t understand their meaning at first. Relief came first. Larissa wasn’t sick. That was something. She would be fine.

“What did you say?”

The words burst out of him in a roar. She jumped a little, but didn’t take them back.

“It’s not my fault,” she began. “Look at yourself, Jack. Is it any wonder it happened? I’m amazed I held on as long as I did. You’re pretty irresistible.”

“Lots of women resist. You should have tried harder.” In love with him? He swore. If Kenny had been pissed before, he was going to blow a gasket now. In love with him? Why did that have to happen? Why couldn’t she think of him as a brother?

“...getting over you. It’s the only solution.”

He shook his head as he tuned back in to what she was saying. “You want to get over being in love with me?”

“Of course. It’s the only way things can work out between us. Don’t take this wrong, but as a boyfriend, you’re a disaster.”

He told himself not to take offense at her words. His ability to be a good boyfriend wasn’t the issue on the table.

“You have a plan?” he asked cautiously.

“I did. I was going to sleep with you. I figured that would do it.”

Jack stared at her. “Excuse me?”

She actually smiled. “I wanted us to have sex.”

“Because it would be so awful that you wouldn’t be in love with me anymore?”

“No. I thought it would be pretty good. But if we were that close, I’d see your flaws more clearly and then I’d get over you.” Her smile was triumphant. “It’s a good plan.”

“What if I’m a god in bed?”

The smile widened. “Jack, I doubt you’re all that. Taryn says nice things, so I’m sure you’re fine. Don’t get defensive. It wasn’t about the sex, by the way. It was about being in a relationship.”

His head hurt. “So last night was on purpose?”

“Yes. I was trying to seduce you. It didn’t go well.”

It had gone just fine, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

“Stop being in love with me,” he told her.

“I agree, but telling me that isn’t going to work.” She looked up, her expression hopeful. “Are you open to the sex thing at all?”