The Stopover (The Miles High Club, #1)(74)

I smile broadly. “Cucumbers are good for a lot of things. Maybe it should be added to our sexual regimen as well.”

She bursts out laughing. “You’re a sicko, Mr. Miles.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“I’ll let you go.”

I smirk as I look out the window. “Goodbye, Emily.”

“Goodbye, Jay,” she whispers. The phone goes dead, and I head back into the boardroom and take a seat.

Christopher is now talking about something, and I take my seat next to Elliot.

He leans over and whispers, “You have Zuckerberg on speed dial now?”

“Huh?” I frown.

“FB . . . that stands for Facebook, right?”

I frown and then realize he’s talking about the call from Emily.

FB stands for fuck bunny, not Facebook. I smirk, and then I pinch the bridge of my nose as my chuckle breaks through.

“What’s so funny?” Elliot whispers.

“Zuckerberg bought motorized sneakers.”

Elliot rolls his eyes. “It wouldn’t surprise me. That guy’s fucking crazy.”

I catch a cab with a thousand thoughts running through my mind. There’s so much history between the two of us. I’m on my way to see my ex, who was supposed to be the love of my life.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Claudia. She was in the States the last time I was in London. Both being workaholics has always worked against us—time together is precious.

I knock on the door and exhale; my nerves are thumping heavily. The door opens in a rush, and her beautiful face comes into view. She smiles broadly and wraps her arms around my neck.

“Thank God you’re here,” she whispers into my neck. “I’ve missed you.”





Chapter 16

“Hello.” I smile as she leads me into her house by the hand. Her touch is warm . . . familiar. “How are you?” I ask.

“Good now that you’re here.” She takes me in her arms, and I smile down at her. There’s a bond between us that can never be broken. Realizing what I’m doing, I pull out of her arms and stand back. Being in her arms wasn’t on today’s agenda.

Her face falls before she quickly recovers. “Any news on the sabotage?”

“No, none yet.”

She watches me for a moment, and her knowing eyes hold mine. “You have something on your mind. What is it?”

“I’ve met someone.”

“Don’t.” She turns her back to me and walks to the kitchen and puts the kettle on.

“I couldn’t help it.” I walk up behind her and put my hand out to touch her and then recoil it. I take a safe step back.

“Don’t tell me you couldn’t help it when we both know you can.”

“The pull to her is strong.”

“Physical pull?” she asks flatly.

I roll my lips as I watch her; she’s going to go postal any moment. “At first, yes. I thought it was just physical.”

Her eyes come to mine. “How long ago did you meet her?”

“Twelve months.”

Her face screws up in fury. “You’ve been seeing someone for twelve months?”

“No,” I snap. “I met her on a flight a year ago, we spent a night together on a layover, and I’ve recently run into her again.”

“Big deal, Jameson. You’ve slept with a lot of women while we’ve been on this break,” she fires back angrily.

“This one’s different, Claudia,” I say softly.

She rolls her eyes in disgust and turns her back to me once again.

“I’ve thought of her”—I pause, unsure how much to share—“a lot since we met, and then it was as if I . . .” My voice trails off, and I stare at her back as I wait for her reply.

“As if you what?” she eventually asks.

“It was as if I willed her back into my life.”

She turns sharply. “Meaning what?”

“She’d been on my mind a lot . . . and then she showed up in my office.”

She rolls her eyes, unimpressed. “Of course she would—you’re Jameson Miles.”

“She had no idea who I was when we met. I gave her a fake name.”

“So why are you here, Jameson?” she demands.

I swallow the lump of regret in my throat. “I’m here to end it with you.”

“Don’t you.” She points at me. “Don’t you dare throw away everything we’ve worked so hard to keep together.” Her eyes fill with tears.

“Claud.” I sigh softly. “We’re no good together. We’re both workaholics, we live on other sides of the world, and unless one of us loses our job, that’s never going to change. I can’t be anywhere but New York.”

“What if I moved back?” she offers.

“And give up your dream job?” I sigh. “I wouldn’t let you do that for me. I know how hard you’ve worked for this job.”

She stares at me, and I take her in my arms. “You need to fall in love with someone who can support you in your role.”

“I have,” she whispers as she clings to me.

I close my eyes as I kiss her temple. “Two people who are wired the same way can’t be in a forever relationship. We need to be with opposites, Claud.” I squeeze her a bit tighter. “Two workaholics will never work. We’re both too focused and too stressed out to properly look after one another.”