Page 25 of Stripping Bare
“You…you didwhat?”
“Let meexpl—”
“I am not your client, have never been your client, will never fuckingbeyour client.” With one swift movement, he slammed his laptop closed with aswack.He stood there gripping his computer, the tendons in his forearms making his gaming tats bulge. For the first time ever, they looked menacing instead ofsexy.
Tessa swallowed back her ripple of unease. “I know that,” she said in an even tone. “Recording a journal is a habit I started in graduate school. Harmless because I never forced my opinions—sometimes naive and untrained—on people. It was just a way for me to teach myself to observe andthink.”
“And diagnose people who didn’t give you permission to muck around in their shit.” With a careless hand, he gestured toward his computer as if it suddenly disgusted him. “And obviously not harmless if some hacker compromised yourfiles.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, some notes about my own past were stored there as well.” Recording her thoughts were helpful when her memories—and the vulnerability that came with them—came roaring back. Like they had last year when Jonah had asked her to talk with the authorities and clearhim.
“That was your own decision.” The fire burning in his hazel eyes said this was a big deal to him. Very big. Maybe toobig.
Jonah ran his hands up his cheeks, creating a subtle scraping sound against the stubble Tessa found so incredibly sexy. He pressed his palms against his temples and dragged his fingers up through his shaggy hair, making little tufts stick up on either side and giving him a Wolverinevibe.
Tessa wasn’t able to suppress hershiver.
Uh-uh, sister. Not the place. Not thetime.
She had a serious mess to clean up. “I’m sorry I’m asking you to do something like this, but if my files were compromised, I have an obligation to myclients.”
“To your clients?” His lip twitched into a tiny snarl. “I sure as hell don’t remember signing a consentform.”
She reached for his arm, but he jerked away and stalked toward the refrigerator. The force he used to open the stainless steel door made all the condiments inside rattle against one another. He stood there, staring into the cavernous space, his hand curled so tightly around the door handle that his knuckle bones looked as they might suddenly burst through hisskin.
Stop with the Hugh Jackmanthoughts.
“I overstepped and I admit it.” How would he respond if he knew the recorder had accidentally been rollingwhilethey had sex? In layman’s terms, he’d lose his shit. “I’m trying to make itright.”
“No, you’re askingmeto make itright.”
“What the hell do you want from me,Jonah?”
He swung around to stare at her, because of her acerbic tone or the curse word, she didn’t know. And cared evenless.
“You’re right. I screwed up, and now things are afuckingmess. Are you going to help me ornot?”
“I’ve never heard a four-letter word come out of your mouth. I didn’t think you had it inyou.”
Oh, he had no earthly idea what was inside her. And it was a lot. Years ago, she’d been full of anger and self-pity, falling into complete victim mode after therapes.
The nightmare Jonah had ultimately rescued her from. He’d carried her out of thathouse.
From what Tessa’s mom told her later, she had been a physical mess—clothes torn, nails jagged, skin bloody—when they found her lying on the front porch of their Ashevillehome.
And later, she’d been an emotionalmess.
But she’d worked hard to get back on track. When she’d been awarded a full ride to University of Washington, she was elated. Finally, she was back in the driver’s seat of her life. Professionally, atleast.
Recovering personally had taken her awhile—both in time and therapy. Her therapist had guided her on a journey to regain agency over her ownbody.
Eventually, she’d been able to have consensual sex with a man. Unlike some sexual assault survivors, Tessa hadn’t delved into a pool of promiscuity. Actually, she’d slept with only a few men. And she’d made her choices verydeliberately.
So she had all kinds of hidden reserves Jonah knew nothing about. She stalked—her hips swinging and her head cocked in challenge—towardhim.
The scent of evergreen and pleasantly sweaty man almost distracted her. Almost made her back down and try to smooth thingsover.
No, he needs to hearthis.
