She watches me intently. She knows exactly what I’m asking. I can tell by the way she finally tips up her chin and meets my eyes so boldly. She surprises me by laughing. “Trust me, you don’t need to be worrying about me.”
Her bravado is belied only by the dilation of her pupils and the slight tremor to her lips. She wants to think she has it all under control, that resisting me will be a piece of cake. But, deep down, she knows there’s something between us. And that it’s inevitable.
Making her admit it is going to be the fun part.
CHAPTER TWELVE - Kennedy
I watch Reese discreetly from the corner of my eye as he guides his powerful, expensive car back to the highway. So many things are exactly as I remember them. The shade of his eyes. The unruly wave to his hair when it gets too long. The shape of his lips and the way he purses them when he’s concentrating.
But, on the other hand, so many things have changed. He’s older, harder, more worldly. He’s a stranger to me now. But still, there’s something about him… Even I can feel it. Something that tugs at me constantly.
Reese is still the handsomest man I’ve ever seen. Dark, slightly wavy hair, piercing aqua eyes, long lashes. His skin is smooth and tan, his nose straight, his cheekbones high. His mouth is a perfectly-sculpted bow in the center of his square jaw. God, he’s beautiful. Wealthy. Powerful. Charming. He was irresistible as a young adult, but now…women don’t stand a chance. The only reason I do is because we have history. Bad history. My scars keep my focus where it needs to be.
Mostly.
His big hands rest on the steering wheel with confident ease. I look away from them because they remind me of things I’d rather not think about. Things that make my stomach feel tight and achy.
When he reaches cruising speed on the highway, he glances over at me, grinning slightly when he finds me watching him.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he says softly.
“I was just thinking how much you’ve changed.”
“In fourteen years?” he laughs. “Yeah, I’ve changed. But so have you.”
To this, I just nod, turning to look out my window.
When I don’t move to continue the conversation, Reese does. “How have you been, Kennedy? Fill me in on your life for the last decade and a half.”
There is so much to say, yet nothing at all. He missed it. Every bit of it. When he left. Therefore he has no right to it. Not even to my memories of it.
“Not much to tell. I became a dancer. At one of your clubs.”
He is unflappable. “How did you know you wanted to dance?”
“I’ve always wanted to dance.”
“You never told me.”
“There were a lot of things I never told you, Reese.”
“So tell me now.”
“Why? What’s the point?” I turn to look at him. My voice is angry, which frustrates me. I don’t want him to know he got a rise out of me. “I mean, we don’t need to do this. I’ll be working for you. Everything you need to know about me is in an employee file somewhere.”
“Nothing that I want to know about you is in an employee file.”
“Then maybe you need to keep better records.”
Much to my dismay, Reese laughs, sending a little shiver of recognition down my spine. That sound…I always loved that rich, deep sound.
“That’s great advice. I think I’ll start now. So, how did you end up at my club?”
I sigh. Obviously this is not something he’s going to let go of easily. “I met a girl who dances there. She told me what it was like, that no one takes their clothes off. At least not many of them, and that we can be creative with our routines as long as they’re sexy. I liked the idea of being able to dance the way I want to, to wear what I feel comfortable in. So, she put in a good word with the manager, he let me audition and hired me on the spot. End of story.”
“I knew I liked that guy,” Reese mumbles, sending me a wink that curls my toes. Silently, I curse each tiny digit for not being stronger. “What are you thinking when you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Pucker your lips and frown like that. I noticed you doing it yesterday at Malcolm’s.”
His question takes me by surprise, giving way to me answering more honestly than I should. “I don’t know about yesterday, but I was just cursing my toes.”
“For what?”
I don’t answer, but I feel my cheeks sting in embarrassment.
You walked right into that one, dumb ass!
“So is this how it’s going to be for three months?”
I turn to give him my full attention and my most serious expression. “Yes. It is.”
“You know it doesn’t have to be.”
“Oh, yes it does.”
“Why?”
“I told you I’m not interested in anything but you getting me an audition with Altman. I’ll hold up my end of the bargain, but that doesn’t include answering your questions.”
“Why are you being like this?”
This irritates me, so I slap my hands down on my thighs. “Because we had our shot, Reese, and it didn’t work out. End of story. This…this…arrangement is only temporary. It’s serving a purpose for both of us. Nothing more.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes. His face is set in a pensive expression. He’s not angry or offended, just thoughtful.
“I’ll change your mind, Kennedy. One way or the other.”
My stomach twists into a knot. I can only imagine how persuasive Reese can be. But still, I don’t give in. I can’t. “You might as well save your energy. It won’t work.”
After a long pause, he speaks again. “You were right,” he says enigmatically.
“About what?”
Reese gives me his brightest smile. “I have changed.”
When he doesn’t continue, I ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
There’s still a sexy, devastating curve to his lips. “You’ll see.”
I let the silence stretch between us, mainly because arguing with Reese is turning out to be a lesson in futility.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Reese
I drive onto the tarmac of the private airstrip that I use for the jet I timeshare. A guy from the service is waiting beside the extended steps of the craft. I know that he’s from the service I use because he’s dressed entirely in white. From his button-up shirt and blazer to his sharply-creased slacks and spotless shoes, everything is white.