Afterburn Read Online Free PDF Page B

answered. “I have to applaud you for your choice in men.”
    “Can I pick ’em or what?” I walked over to the far wall where a family portrait hung. I’d been around twelve years old in the picture with braces on my teeth and wild hair. Nico, Vincent and Angelo had been varying degrees of gangly. My dad was immortalized in his prime, as was my mother, who’d aged little since. “How’d it go?”
    “As expected. You guessed right, by the way. Jackson said he’s stepped in as a favor for someone.”
    “I haven’t had a chance to dig for more details, I’m sorry—I’ve been with Chad since I left—but it’s probably a Rutledge. When Jackson’s not gambling with millions, he’s cleaning up after family members à la Olivia Pope.” And dating beautiful women... “As for Chad, he’s on board, but I think we’d be wise to get a new contract drawn up ASAP before something happens to change his mind. Jax isn’t going home gracefully. He crashed the dinner hour at Rossi’s, bringing Stacy along for the show.”
    Lei laughed. “I’m sorry, but I like him.”
    My mouth quirked ruefully. “Happens.”
    “Ian called.”
    “Oh? How’d that go?”
    “He asked if I’d see him tonight.”
    “Ah. Maybe that’s why Jax has Stacy. Babysitting duty.” Irritatingly, that filled me with relief.
    “Could be. I said no in any case. I feel like our men are circling the wagons, which means we need to keep doing what we’re doing. Honestly, I haven’t had this much fun in years.”
    Our men. I snorted and turned in time to see the door opening...and Jax appearing. “I have to go, Lei, but I’m here if you need me.”
    “We’ll hit it again fresh in the morning. Good night, Gianna.”
    “You, too.” I set my phone aside.
    We sized each other up for a long minute. He was wearing the gray sweater and slacks from earlier in the day, the casualness more familiar—and beloved. A lock of his dark hair fell over his brow, softening the severity of his beauty. He had his back against the door, his hands in his pockets, his legs crossed at the ankles. But only an idiot would fail to sense the predatory alertness in him. His hooded gaze was watchful and knowing, seeing way too much.
    “I miss the curls in your hair,” he said finally.
    I backed up to my father’s desk, resting my butt against it. I crossed my arms. “That’s a seriously delayed response.” A couple years too late...
    “You were closing in on the kill when I got here. Are you thinking about fucking Chad Williams because you want to, or because you want him to sign on the dotted line?”
    Some other woman might have held her tongue because the question didn’t deserve an answer. I didn’t say anything because I was too hurt. I’d never seen Jax deliberately mean or cruel—he’d just disappeared from my life.
    “Gia...”
    “Don’t call me that.”
    “What would you prefer?”
    My foot tapped restlessly. “I’d rather not see or hear from you.”
    “Why not?”
    “I would think that’d be obvious.”
    His wonderfully sensitive mouth tightened. “Not to me. We know each other. We get along well. Very, very well.”
    “I’m not fucking you again!” I snapped, feeling the walls close in on us. He’d always had that effect on me. When he was with me, I didn’t register anything else.
    “Why not?”
    “Stop asking me that!”
    Jax straightened, and the office got even smaller. My breathing quickened, my gaze darting to the door at his back.
    “It’s a valid question.” He engaged the lock without taking his eyes off me. “Tell me why you’re so angry.”
    A surge of panic got the better of me. “You fell off the face of the earth!”
    “Did I?” He took a step toward me. “Are you saying you didn’t know how to find me?”
    I frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”
    “It had to end, and it did.” He came closer. “Quietly. No messy scenes. No ugly memories. We—”
    “Neat and tidy.” I sucked in a