Trusting Jay: (A Chicago Suits Romance) (Loving Jay Book 1) by Simone Sowood Read Free Book Online Page A

the wine in my glass.
    “I didn’t mean to scare you earlier,” he said grinning, “forget I said anything.”
    Can’t un-hear the heard, Jay.  But his words relaxed me a little, and his grin relaxed me a whole lot.  How was it possible for me to have such a perfect specimen of a man in my home?
    I smiled at him, “Are you ready for dessert?”
    “Not quite.  You seem stressed, is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, fine.”  Do I tell him?  This is my chance.  I don’t want a relationship, just say it already.  “Just a bad week at work is all.”
    Jay perked up, “Why, what happened?”
    “My boss has it in for me and has been on my ass all week.”  I took a long drink of my wine to cope with the thought of Calvin.
    “What did you do?” he asked.
    “I sent out a bunch of resumes.  I know I haven’t been with the company long and it will look bad, but I’ve got to get out before I’m forced out,” I said.
    “Why would you be forced out?”  I felt like Jay was grilling me.
    “Realistically?  Calvin hates me because I threaten him.  He’s never had a good idea, is clearly in over his head and knows I could expose him any time.”
    “How?”
    “I have proof, a stack of emails I printed before he had the chance to delete them, of him asking me the most basic questions.”
    “So why don’t you?”
    I shrugged.  “I guess I’m not that kind of person.”
    Jay leaned forward, his head nearly reaching my side of the table.  “Give those emails to his boss on Monday.”
    “Maybe.”
    “No.  Do it.  I mean it.”  The sudden forcefulness of his voice and his aggressive body language unnerved me.
    “Why?  Is that what you did in your last job?  How did that work out for you?” I snapped.
    Jay shook his head, but didn’t lean back from my side of the table.  “Abbie, this isn’t about me.”
    “This isn’t about an unemployed man giving me job advice?  I have a mortgage to pay you know.  Not everyone can swan around unconcerned about having any income.”
    He leaned away, but sat and stared at me.  My skin itched wherever his eyes bore into me.
    “Do you even try to find a job?”
    “Abbie, it’s not like that.”
    “What’s it like then, Jay?”  I spat his name.  “What have you done?  Have you taken any classes?  Brushed up your skills?"
    He remained silent, and I carried on my little tirade.  “I mean, seriously, how hard is it to find a job in IT?  Do you at least consult?  Don’t you get any self satisfaction from working?”
    The breath being forced through Jay’s nose was the only sound in the room.  But he still didn’t say anything.  I don’t know why but I couldn’t stop.  I paused to let him respond, but he sat there, staring at me.  I wanted to shake a reaction out of him.  And I wanted to smack myself for caring, I brought him here to fuck me, not justify his existence to me.  But I couldn’t help myself.
    My tone got even harsher.  “How do you live?  Off a pile of your daddy’s money?  I mean really, who gallivants around all day, drinking overpriced coffees and having champagne in the park?”
    Before I could react, he stood and walked out the door.  I sat, frozen in place.  The hottest man who'd ever shown any interest in me was sitting in my condo, only moments away from ravishing me on my bed, and I drove him out.  Why didn’t I keep my big mouth shut? 

    * * *
    I finished the rest of the bottle of red.  I went to the fridge, pulled the spoon out of the neck of the champagne bottle, and finished it.  The whole time I was trying to keep my mind from whirring.  I am so stupid.  Repeat.
    Over and over, I’d pick up my phone and set my phone back down.  Jay hadn’t texted.  The drunker I got, the more antsy I became.  The antsier I became, the more I had to hike my dress back up.  I’d been trying not to throw anything, but I broke down, lifted a scatter cushion high over my head and chucked it across the room.  It