Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I shake my head. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
With a nod, she backs out of the office, shutting the door behind her as she goes.
Jason doesn’t stand. He rocks back in his chair and studies me. I wince when I see the purple bruise under his left eye.
I shove my hands into my pockets. “I came to apologize.”
He arches a brow but doesn’t reply.
“I saw Molly scrambling out of your car, and it looked bad.”
“You made assumptions.”
“I did.”
“You realize how insulting that is? That you think I’d force Molly . . . or any woman?”
“You would have done the same thing in my position.”
He opens his mouth to protest, then snaps it shut and sighs. He drags a hand through his hair. “Hell. I probably would have.”
“I’m sorry about the black eye.” I shove my hands into my pockets. “And I’m sorry about the assumptions I made in that moment.”
Jason studies me and then nods slowly. “Okay. Forgiven.”
“But I don’t want you dating Molly.” That was unplanned, but the second the words are out, I’m glad for the change of direction.
He pushes his chair back and stands. “Excuse me?”
“She’s had a tough year and—”
“That’s Molly’s choice to make. Not yours.”
He’s right. I fucking know he’s right. But that doesn’t stop me from saying, “She deserves better than what you have to offer.”
“You don’t know shit about what I have to offer.”
“You have a reputation.”
He grunts. “So does she.”
Every cell in my body lurches forward at those words, but I force my feet to stay rooted in place. Punching this sonofabitch again isn’t going to put me in Molly’s good graces or do a damn thing to change what assholes assume about her. “You didn’t just say that.” My voice is deadly calm.
He slowly walks around his desk to stand in front of me. When he stops, he tucks his hands into his pockets and mirrors my posture. “You know the difference between you and me, Jackson?”
I hold his gaze but don’t answer.
“You want to pretend she doesn’t have a reputation—that the pretty blonde you’re chasing after isn’t the same girl who got on her knees for half the guys in her high school.”
Adrenaline spikes in my blood, and my hands curl into fists. “Don’t.”
“Whereas I,” he says, his voice low, “don’t give a shit about her past.”
“You don’t give a shit about anything but your dick.” This isn’t going well. I came here to apologize, but now I don’t feel sorry for that bruise beneath his eye. In fact, I’d really enjoy giving him a matching set.
His lips twist into a smirk. “We can’t all be perfect like you, Brayden. And if you try to make Molly into someone she’s not, I think you’ll find she can take herself out of your life as completely as my cousin did.”
I flinch at the mention of Sara, just as he intended me to.
“Is that really what you want?” Jason asks. “To make another woman feel like she has to disappear to escape you and your unreasonable standards?”
He’s trying to piss me off. Trying to pick a fight here, where Molly isn’t watching and he can swing back. But his words—and the mention of Sara—make the fight drain out of me.
I turn around and leave his office without another word.
Brayden
“Do you want to watch a movie with me?”
Molly has been sitting at the kitchen table with her laptop and a cup of tea since she put Noah to bed an hour and a half ago. I’ve found half a dozen excuses to come in here since then, and she’s managed to avoid looking at me every time. When I try to start a conversation, I get one-word answers. She’s been distant since the day of the Christmas party, but her silence tonight has been remarkable.
“No thanks,” she says without looking at me.
I roll my beer between both hands, searching for patience. “Are you going to tell me why you’re giving me the silent treatment, or am I supposed to guess?”
Molly’s mug drops to the table with a clatter. She closes her laptop and blinks up at me. “I’m not giving you the silent treatment.”
“Aren’t you? You’ve avoided saying more to me than absolutely necessary since moving in.” God, I’m being an immature ass. I should keep my mouth shut and let her ignore me, but I hate it. “Is this about Saturday? About me punching Jason?” Either that, or my comments regarding a certain pink toy collection pissed her off.
Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she studies me—but at least she’s actually looking at me, unlike the masterful avoidance she’s managed the last two nights. “A little bit.” She swallows. “I wasn’t going to say anything until after Christmas, but I guess it’s only fair that you know I’m looking for another job.”
Dread twists my stomach. She’s leaving. I force myself to keep my face neutral. “Why?”