Page 44 of My Ex's Best Friend

I shrug. “I don’t know. You haven’t shared your plans with me yet.”

“You don’t have to stick with me all the time,” he says.

“I know. But I came here to work. With you,” I say, then lower my head and sigh. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just tired or jetlagged. I know we had a truce and I’ll honor it.”

He smiles.

“It’s okay. Actually, I don’t have anything in my calendar this evening,” Jake says. “Since we’re going to be here for a week, and we have a lot to do anyway, I thought we would take things a little chill.”

“I think it is a good idea to take things slow,” I say.

"How about you take the rest of the day off? And you can relax and prepare for the project tomorrow.”

I frown. “Won’t you be needing me tomorrow?”

“I've got a meeting with a private buyer later. You can use the time to explore Paris or relax,” Jake says. “I don’t want to trouble you too much. I know that I gave you a very difficult timeline to work with, and the scope of the project is vast.”

“Actually, I’m already done with the presentation.”

He frowns. “Really? That was quick.”

“Might have pulled a few all-nighters,” I say bashfully.

Jake shakes his head. “I didn’t want to burden you too much.”

“You didn’t,” I say hastily. “Your notes were immaculate. And your vision is very clear to me.”

“It’s not too chaotic?”

I remember how Tammy had described our friendship.

No, scratch that thought, Kiera.

Jake and I are not friends anymore. He’s my boss, and that’s all there is to that.

“Not at all. It wasn’t very hard to figure out at all.”

Jake actually looks relieved. “Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

“Jake—” I begin.

“Yes?” His eyes are on mine.

I shake my head, and a few tresses of my hair come loose.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Jake reach out instinctively, but then seems to change his mind at the last second.

I put away the empty takeout box. “Never mind.”

I stand up and start walking away.

Jake groans as he comes to his feet. “Why do you do that?”

I freeze. “Do what?”

“Pull away—just when I think we’re getting somewhere.”

I turn to him.

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