Page 30 of Twice as Forbidden

She twirls back, catching my gaze. So does Jackson. His eyes flick to mine, scanning my face, unreadable. Blank.

And just like that, I no longer exist.

Without hesitation, he shifts his focus to his assistant. “Cancel the rest of my meetings. I’m leaving for the day and won’t be back.”

The blonde loops her arm through his as they move past me, not sparing me another glance.

“Miss Price,” Jackson acknowledges coolly, his tone devoid of any personal emotion.

I watch them go, my stomach twisting into knots so tight I feel sick.God, how stupid am I?What did Ithinkwould happen between us? That I was different? That this meant something?

I bite the inside of my cheek, willing myself to keep it together, to swallow down the sting of rejection clawing its way up my throat.I should’ve known better.

“Is there anything else I can help you with, Miss Price?”

I shake my head, pushing down the disappointment, and plaster on a fake smile. “No. Nothing at all. Have a good night.”

“Noah?” I call out when I enter the house. The television blares from the media room, so I make my way there. “Hey,” I say, finding him slumped down on the couch, watching Sportscenter.

“S’up?” He leans forward and grabs the beer from the table. “How was work?”

I slump into the open seat next to him. “Awful.”

Noah chuckles, taking another swig of his beer. “That bad?”

“I mean, how can someone be so chipper to call a stranger only to be hung up on?”

“It takes a special breed to do that job.”

“Yeah, and I’m not it.” Noah laughs. He leans forward, grabs an unopened beer, and hands it to me. “Thanks. I see your day was better than mine.”

“Nah. Slept most of the day. It wasn’t curing my hangover, so I decided on plan B.” He raises his beer. “Chasing a hangover with more booze. Want in? The night is still young.”

“Why? So you can be hungover again tomorrow and not go to work?”

“Are you saying you missed me, George?”

“Nope.”

“Lies. Did my dad bitch to you about it?”

My smile falls. “I actually didn’t see him today. I don’t know if he even knows you played hooky.”

His demeanor shifts. I assumed a small part of his no-show was to get his dad’s attention—a plan that failed because his dad was too busy in animportantmeeting. “That frown isn’t a good look on you, Price. What do you say we go fix that?”

“What do you have in mind? I’m not having sex with you.”

He brings his hands over his heart. “You wound me, dear ex of mine. No sex. Just shots. Lots of shots.”

I wrinkle my nose but let it simmer for a moment.This is a terrible idea.

For one, unlike him, I actually have to show up for work in the morning. Second, mixing alcohol with Noah hasneverended well. And if I want to stay true to my word, drowning my problems in liquor isn’t the answer.

“Oh, come on. Since when do you turn down shots? My dad has top-notch tequila. Best you’ve ever had. Comes with zero hangover.”

“That you’re going to get deducted out of your paycheck?”

Noah laughs and hops off the couch. “It will be money well spent. Up we go. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

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