Page 16 of Hidden Heir, Italian Wife

“I—” Her mouth firmed and her chin came up in rebelliousness. “I didn’t take it. I left it in the room.”

“On purpose?” She had to be kidding.“Why?”

“You didn’t ask formynumber. Why should I take yours?”

“For this.Thiswas the reason I gave you my number,” he said through his teeth.

“I didn’t think it would happen, did I? I wasn’t sick when I walked out without it.”

“Have you been sick this whole time? You’ve hadfour yearsto contact me.”

“How?” she snapped. “I didn’t know your full name until a couple of weeks ago.”

“You could have called Alphonso at the restaurant in Como.”

“And saidwhat? Hey, you know that guy who picks up women when they’re dining alone? I was one of them. Can I have his number? How often does he fieldthatcall?” She clamped her lips together and looked past him, expression closing up.

There was a rap on the door. Eve stared crossly at him through the glass.

“What are you doing?” Her voice was muted, but Nico and Dom stood behind her, glaring with suspicion.

“Go to lunch without me,” Jax barked.

“I will not.” Eve pushed on the door. “Let me in.”

He yanked it open. “This is a personal matter.”

“Bree?” Eve prompted. “Would you like to come with me?”

“What do you think I’m going to do to her?” he demanded. “We’retalking.”

“I’m fine,” Bree assured Eve, but her sallow complexion and the way she had her arms coiled tightly around her torso told a different story. “We actually met once. I should have mentioned it, but I wasn’t sure he would remember. I’m fine. Honestly.”

Eve swung him a look of disgust. “You hooked up and ghosted her? Nice.”

“This is none of your business, Eve. Get out.” He jerked his head at the bunch of them.

“This is literally my business,” Eve insisted. “Bree works for me so let me have a moment to speak with her—”

“No. Come with me,” Jax said to Bree.

She touched the strap of the tote bag slung over her shoulder, then nodded jerkily.

“You’re obviously upset,” Eve said as Bree brushed past her. “You don’t have to go anywhere with him.”

“It’s okay.” She didn’t look at the men as she kept walking.

“What the hell are you doing?” Nico challenged as Jax came out of the boardroom.

As if there was a comprehensible answer to that question. Until he was able to wrap his own brain around this news, there was no way he was sharing it with anyone else.

Jax ignored his brother and followed Bree, aware of the blistering glares behind him.

At least they didn’t try to follow them into the elevator. When the doors closed, he pivoted to face her.

“Howlong did you say you knew who I was?”

“I saw your photo in Eve and Dom’s wedding announcement.” She spoke to the middle button on his shirt.

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