“Of course. Why else would I call you?”
“I don’t know. To say hi, see how I’m doing, tell me you love me.”
“Don’t be foolish. I have a political event tomorrow night and I need you to act as hostess for me. It’s a charity event for something or other. Doesn’t matter. You will accompany me.”
“What about Mommy Dearest? Is she having more work done?” She wasn’t a child and refused to be treated like one. If this job had taught her anything, it’s that she could work in areas other than politics and be successful. And feel less dirty. She would not drop everything for her father just because her stepmother wanted more plastic surgery.
“Don’t be rude, Stacia. Actually she is… unavailable.” He stumbled uncharacteristically in the middle of the sentence, unlike her smooth and polished father where every word was bitten off specifically for the situation.
“Really?” Stacia leaned back in her chair. “I thought that wasn’t allowed.”
He huffed, another uncharacteristic sound. “If you must know, she and I are divorcing.”
Stacia shot straight up in her chair, not bothering to suppress her grin. “What happened? I thought you were both so happy.” The sarcasm slipped out but he ignored it as he did most things he didn’t like.
“Irrelevant, but it’s damned inconvenient. The political season is heating up and I need someone by my side. The event is at the—”
“I never said I would go, Father.” Stacia interrupted quietly. “I’m sorry about Vanessa, but I can’t go.”
“Nonsense. Of course you’ll go. You always go.”
“When you have no one else. You don’t care who is with you, only that someone is. Just once I’d love a call from you asking how I am instead of ordering me about. Then, when I don’t do it, you blow up and tell me how awful I am. Just once, I’d like to hear you’re proud of me and want to talk with me, actually be interested in my life.”
“Then do something I can be proud of.”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears and her chest choked up. “I’m sorry, but I can’t go. Find one of your political allies or better yet, Representative Glazier, to attend with you. You’d probably be happier that way anyway.”
She closed the phone quietly before he could reply. The small sense of victory she had felt at the beginning was replaced by the realization that she would never be good enough, no matter what she did. A tear dropped onto her hand, followed by another. She stared at it, uncomprehending. It had been so long since he had made her cry. Right after her mother’s funeral, when he demanded she cry for the camera, but do it pretty. Cold bastard.
A tissue dangled in front of her eyes and she looked up to see Jason standing next to her. Relief swamped her and a need to let go threatened to open the floodgates. He took the tissue and wiped her eyes gently, then drew her up and into his arms, his warmth seeping into her suddenly cold body. He rubbed his hands up and down her back, soothing and providing comfort while she cried.
After a few minutes, she gathered herself and, sniffing occasionally, wiped her face. “How do I look?” she asked through a watery smile.
He smiled, tilted her chin and kissed her. His lips were soft and warm, providing comfort and soothing, not asking for anything. “You look beautiful,” he whispered.
She laughed, a shaky sound. Instead of despising the weakness, as her father would have done, she accepted the emotion for what it was. “Did you need anything?” Hoping he would need her, just her. She held her breath for his answer.
He stepped back, putting a subtle distance between them. “Nope, just checking in. Why don’t you head home and we’ll connect tomorrow?”
She nodded and sat back down, opening her laptop. “Let me just finish a few things.”
He tugged her to her feet. “Call your friend Sophie. Grab some ice cream or whatever it is you girls eat or do when you’re sad and have a girls’ night. Just no strippers or porn, okay?”
She laughed. “That’s a guys’ night.”
“A guy could dream.” He handed her the laptop and her purse and pushed her out the door. “Now go.”
She took the bag and walked out to her car in a daze. When was the last time anyone had done anything for her, comforted her, and didn’t ask for anything in return? It was so nice to be held in his arms, safe and free. He accepted her for who she was, allowed her to be who she was and, dare she hope, loved her?
Shit. The realization hit her out of nowhere. She had fallen hard for her client, fallen hard for Jason.
*
After Stacia left,Jason sat down heavily in the office chair and caught his breath. Shit. He was getting in too deep, way too deep. When had the job turned into something more serious, more like a relationship and grown up stuff? What had started as sex, then work, had changed. She was under his skin, burrowing her way toward his heart.
And he wasn’t even freaking out. No, he wanted to shout it to the world, announce it to everyone. More importantly, he wanted to head straight home and make love to her, all night long.
His head told him to run, run far, run fast, run away. She would only hurt him, like everyone else in life. She would use him and then toss him aside when she had what she needed.