Page 21 of The Jellybean Dilemma

Before I could stop myself, my fingers ran over the ink on his back, and his muscles tensed under my touch. “Sorry.” I made myself step away. “It took me by surprise. I didn’t think you were the tattoo type.”

“I didn’t think you were the type who liked tattoos,” he murmured over his shoulder.

Not sure what else to say, I followed him to his bedroom. He plugged my phone in on the side near the door, then folded back the covers and gestured to the bed.

My mouth went dry as a whole different set of tension gripped me, and my bladder reminded me it had never been emptied. “Um, be right back.”

I rushed to the bathroom where I took care of business, then stood in front of the mirror as I racked my brain for some option that didn’t involve me sleeping with Greg.

Next to Greg, I corrected. Not with.

I didn’t trust myself to sleep beside that gorgeous man all night without exploring him. And I was supposed to be mad at him, still. This wouldn’t do at all.

A knock sounded on the door. “You all right?” Concern laced Greg’s words.

I eased open the door and said meekly, “Maybe I should sleep on the couch.”

He set his jaw, staring at me with more determination than I’d ever seen in him, before he pointed to his bedroom.

I shuffled in, then perched on the edge of the bed before I tried again. “What if—?”

“Rhonda.” He loomed over me, making me look up. Way up. “I need some sleep. If you’re right here, I won’t worry about you. Your floor is covered with sharp things. I promise we’ll fix it tomorrow. I promise I won’t try to ravage you in the night.” A hint of humor mixed with exasperation as he ran a hand through his hair. “Please, just lay down?”

I searched his face, and, seeing the truth combined with his exhaustion, decided to give in. It was just for one night, and it didn’t change anything. Even if I was annoyed at him, he was still Greg. I trusted him enough to keep his word, despite his shady motives for bringing me here.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he watched me settle in. “Is it okay if I turn off this light? The one in the sitting room is still on.” He waited for my tentative nod before flicking off the switch. A moment later, his weight dipped the other side of the bed.

It took several long moments for me to adjust to the dark. I lay rigid on my side, staring at the crack in the door as I waited to discern the sliver of light. My breaths came quicker, my heart pounding as the fear trickled in.

“Hey, Jellybean.” Greg’s sweet voice cut through the flutters of panic beginning in me. “My shoulder’s here if you need it.”

I didn’t think twice, just rolled over to curl up against him. He slid his arm under me, and I felt safe. Cocooned in his embrace with his firm chest as my pillow, I finally went to sleep.

The next time I woke up, it was light outside. Greg’s mom hadn’t been kidding when she said the sun hit this room, but I was grateful for it. I tilted my head up to see Greg frowning. “What?”

“Just wondering which Rhonda I’m getting today.” His voice was wary.

The morning stubble on his chin was the same sandy brown as his hair, and I itched to run my fingers over it.

When I didn’t offer any information, he asked, “Care to fill me in?”

I sighed. I felt like I should move off him, but I was comfortable. My head fit so well in the crook of his shoulder. “I get tired of only being arm candy all the time.” My fingers traced a line through his small patch of chest hair.

He shifted, his frown deepening the furrow between his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

I tried to keep the pain out of my voice. “All my life, guys have looked at me and not seen me. They see dollar signs, a step up in the social ladder, a way to the top.” I took a breath, bracing myself for the reminder of the wound Greg had inflicted on me yesterday. “I’d pictured things so differently on our drive up here, and when we pulled in…” I trailed off, feeling the depth of that hurt all over again.

In one swift motion, he flipped us over, putting himself on top, his indignant expression inches from mine. I gasped, thrilling at the delicious weight of him resting on me until he fired off a barrage of questions.

“What are you saying? You shut down because my family has money?” Disbelief and exasperation coated every word. “You forgot everything you and I have ever said or done, everything you know about me, because you saw a big house?”

Anger flared in me, burning out the flickers of desire in my quest for the truth. “Why did you bring me, Greg? Why haven’t you come back here in years? Why now, when you have Rhonda Elgin to show off to everyone and cover your ass?” My voice rose with each demand, and I was almost yelling by the time I finished. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

The muscles in his neck stood out. His jaw clenched, and his face turned red. “I thought you’d be happy! I thought it’d be a nice surprise. That maybe if we were the same status, you wouldn’t have to be drunk to kiss me. Or feel the need to fuck someone else in the back seat while I sat there. Dammit, Rhonda.” He pushed off the bed with such force the mattress bounced for several seconds. Grabbing some clothes, he stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Anger had me grinding my teeth as I let out a growl. I flopped onto my side, punching a pillow. He had no idea what I’d been through that night, and him throwing it in my face only made me madder. The memory surfaced in my mind, and I couldn’t stop it from replaying.

The summer after I graduated high school, I’d tried everything to get Greg to notice me. But it hadn’t worked. He’d remained the same friendly, professional driver I’d always known.

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