Page 29 of Nailed

The muscle on the side of Jamie’s jaw clenched. He didn’t want to answer. But if he avoided the question again, I was through. In fact, I’d go to my room and call Natasha right now. I’d leave Reilly Contracting and never look back.

And I think Jamie knew it.

“I can’t tell you,” he said finally.

“No. Just say it, Jamie.” I leaned forward to make sure no one else could hear. “Enough is enough. We were… friends once. I thought there might even have been something…”

I hesitated. I’d never admitted my feelings for him to anyone, not even myself. But now that I was leaving—because I was, wasn’t I? The job with Natasha was a dream come true—maybe it was safe enough to finally admit there was something between us.

Jamie closed his eyes. “Sarah…”

He went quiet, and I shook my head. “Unbelievable. You don’t even have the balls to tell me you’re at least a little attracted to me.” I stopped short of asking him if he still was.

But Jamie surprised me. He laughed. At least, he barked out a sound that could have been a laugh. “A little attracted to you?”

I faltered, suddenly mortified. I’d misread everything. What if… what if he’d gone cold with me because he’d seen how much I liked him? What if he’d been trying to distance himself ever since?Work and pleasure don’t mix, Sarah!That little voice screamed.Ever!

But Jamie didn’t storm off. He did the opposite—he reached for my hand. “Come with me,” he growled.

I was too shocked to resist. Jamie led me toward the corridor next to the Christmas tree. For him, it wasn’t even a question whether I’d follow. He might as well have thrown me over his shoulder. I should have pulled away, I knew. But I also knew he’d let go if I did. He’d never use force on me.

But I didn’t want him to let go. I wanted to live in the rush of heat coursing through me at his touch.

The moment we were in the corridor, he spun me around so my back pushed up against the wall. Then he placed a hand next to my head and bent down so we were at eye level.

My heart thundered in my ears.

“Are you looking for a new job?”

He knew. Of course he knew. There was no point denying it. I lifted my chin, hoping he wouldn’t sense the nerves shooting through me. “Yes.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

I looked away. “When I got an offer.”

“You don’t have one yet?”

I opened my mouth to tell him about Natasha. But I shut it again. I didn’t want to use leverage. I wanted him to tell me the truth even if I still worked for him.

“No.” I didn’t meet his eye.

He knew I was lying. He took a step back and dipped his head. “Sarah.” The word sounded strangled. He looked up again. “You’re smart. Maybe the sharpest woman I’ve ever known. You see things other people don’t. You catch problems before anyone else.” He seemed to soften for a moment. “And you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. The funniest, kindest…”

Jamie’s eyes raked over my body, sending heat spasming through me.

“Sexiest.”

He brushed a strand of hair from my face, searing my skin. My pulse throbbed at my throat, my awareness of the world contracting right down to him. To the shrinking space between us. To the scent of him swirling in my nostrils.

“You said you thought I was a little attracted to you,” he rasped.

My stomach plunged, only this time not with embarrassment. This time it was with the spread of molten fire. I couldn’t help it—I clamped my teeth down onto my lower lip.

Jamie’s eyes dropped there. He gripped my jaw, touching my top lip with his thumb.

Alarm bells went off like a five-alarm fire.He’s your jerk boss! He hates you! This goes against everything you stand for!

But I couldn’t move. Every cell in my body screamed his name.

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