Page 72 of Don't Lie to Me

“Hello Perry. I’m here to see Jack.” I plastered on my most friendly smile, hoping for old time’s sake that he’d let me through.

Perry’s expression paled and he slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry Miss Emma. Jack said you’re not allowed up in the building.”

I tried to hide my hurt at learning this. What other lengths had Jack gone to keep me away from him? Why would he even bother doing this?

“Well, can you please tell him I’m here? I really need to speak to him.” He looked at me doubtfully and the little light bulb in my head went off. “Tell him it’s about Logan, and it’s an emergency.”

“Is it about Logan?” Perry asked me with a mischievous smile. I smiled innocently and shrugged as he picked up the phone. “You’re not going to cost me my job are you?”

“I doubt it, Perry. It’ll be fine, trust me.”

I watched him dial Jack’s penthouse number and then stiffen once he explained I was here. He looked at me and frowned, and I knew Jack refused to see me.

I smiled sweetly and wiggled my fingers at Perry, gesturing for him to hand me the phone. ‘Please?’ I mouthed silently.

Reluctantly, he handed me the phone.

“Hello, Jack. I’d like to talk to you.”

Jack sighed through the phone. “I can’t see you, Emma.”

“Okay. I’ll stay right here in this lobby, or in the garage by your car, until you leave and agree to see me, or call the cops to have me removed from the building. Although I doubt that would be the smartest move considering everything else you’re going through.”

I could practically see him running his hands through his hair, gripping the edge of the countertop and a vein in his neck sticking out as he considered his options.

“What game are you playing right now, Emma?”

I smirked, even though he couldn’t see me. “What game are you playing? Just ten minutes of your time, Jack. That’s all I’m asking – you owe me this and you know it.”

“Fine. Tell Perry to send you up.”

“See you soon,” I sang sweetly into the phone. I swear before he hung up that I heard a low growl come through the phone.

I handed the phone to Perry and allowed him to walk me to the elevator. Once inside, I took a deep breath, fluffed my hair, and tightened the belt on my knee-length grey rain coat. I kept my eyes on my reflection in the shiny metal doors the entire ride up to the penthouse, hoping I had the courage to go through with my plan to not only get Jack to talk to me and tell me what was going on, but to admit that he loved me and wanted to be with me.

It was a huge gamble. And one that I was willing to risk because after taking a long time, days and weeks to think about everything I had with Jack and lost once he kicked me out, I realized that he was who I wanted.

I had yet to let Marcus know, but it didn’t matter. Logan would forever link us, and while I was thankful that we could be friends, and even though I may have been physically attracted to him, I didn’t feel the same way for him that I used to. I had grown up in the five years since we’d been together. Jack was the man I loved.

Jack was the man I wanted.

The elevator dinged and I took a deep breath, waiting for them to open in the entryway of his apartment. I only hoped I could convince him he still wanted me.

“Hello,” he said curtly as I stood in the doorway to his condo.

I raised my eyebrows and clenched the knot on my coat’s belt with both hands to keep from fidgeting. He looked as incredible as ever in faded jeans and a long-sleeve grey fitted t-shirt. I had rubbed my hands and tongue over every single valley on his muscular stomach and chest. I missed it like crazy.

“You going to invite me in?” I asked saucily as he stood there, watching me with hooded eyes. I pulled out whatever bravado I had to keep my fears at bay and inwardly smiled when he watched me lick my bottom lip suggestively.

A quick look down showed me that he wasn’t unaffected by my presence.

Good.

Slowly he stepped back from the door and I watched him erase the look of lust that had flicked across his face. I walked through the apartment and took a deep breath as I saw his couch come into view. It was the last place I had been with Jack. Where he had so forcefully taken me, not caring that he hurt me. I bit my lip to keep my tears and hurt away.

I flinched when Jack came up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at it, then him. By the look of sorrow written across his face, he was thinking and remembering the same thing I was, and he wasn’t any happier about it.

He slowly removed his hand from my shoulder without saying anything, but I knew. I knew why he did it now. He knew it was the last time we’d be together and he was desperate.

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