Part 12 (1/2)

If that's supposed to be sultry talk then I just can't. I don't want this from Brent.

”Brent, can we just go back to the table?” I say. He doesn't move so I put my hand on his chest to nudge him back but he grabs my wrist and holds me in place.

”Come on,” he says. ”Don't be such a prude.” He tries to kiss me again but I turn my head, his mouth landing on my ear. ”G.o.dd.a.m.n it, stop it. Come on, relax.”

My fight or flight responses are hitting max level. I need to get away from this guy. What has happened? How did he turn so quickly?

”I'm serious, Brent. Let go of me.” Part of me wants to scream, but I don't want to cause a scene-I just want to get the h.e.l.l out of here and away from him.

”You've been in my office more than any other student and now you're going to tell me to let go? Emily, don't be that girl.” He tightens his grip and then pushes his body up against mine, pinning me to the wall.

”Stop it, Brent,” I say, the panic in my voice rising.

His face is a tight, angry ball of madness like I've never seen. Squirrely little Brent is scaring the h.e.l.l out of me.

I have the absurd thought that maybe I'm misreading him. And he's my T.A.-I could get in trouble or at the very least, he can make my life in cla.s.s h.e.l.l.

But his grip is not loosening and the more I struggle the tighter he holds and the more frightened I become. Tears are forming in my eyes because s.h.i.+t I can't believe this is happening.

I have to get away from him. Why won't he stop?

”Let go of her,” a deep, ferociously growling voice commands. I look over and see Jackson, looking as tightly wound as a s.h.i.+p's knot, his hands balled into fists at his side, his eyes blazing anger at Brent. ”Don't make me say it again.”

Brent steps back slowly, but the look on his face says that he's nervous. He was not expecting Jackson Croft to appear. ”Hey, man. We were having a moment here, if you don't mind.”

”I do mind,” Jackson says, keeping his eyes level on Brent. ”And I told you to step away from her. Now.”

Brent's eyes dart from me to Jackson. He straightens his back and says, ”Look. Everything's fine. Why don't you go back inside and enjoy the lunch?”

With long, stalking strides, Jackson moves toward Brent, who takes a couple of steps back, his palms up in front of him, bracing for impact. But Jackson doesn't actually lay a finger on him. He leans in close to Brent and says, ”If you ever touch or even bother Emily again, I will not think twice about breaking every single bone in that wormy little body of yours. Do we understand each other?”

Brent doesn't move. The guy is drained of color and totally paralyzed by fear.

Jackson shakes his head slightly, then speaks again. ”Tell me you understand or there's going to be a real problem.”

”I...I understand,” Brent stutters.

”Good. Now get the h.e.l.l out of my sight.”

Brent immediately starts walking, looking as if his b.u.t.tocks are clenched, half waddling, half speed-walking down the hall. He shoots one nervous glance back at Jackson and then starts running.

Soon he's gone.

I fall back against the wall and cover my face with my hands. Holy c.r.a.p, what just happened?

”Emily,” Jackson says, his voice now soft. ”Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head no.

”It's okay,” Jackson says. His hands lightly touch my shoulders.

”It's not okay,” I say.

He drops his hands. ”You're right,” he says. ”It's not.”

”G.o.dd.a.m.n it,” I say. My hands are shaking, my insides are boiling, and my brain is scrambled. ”What the h.e.l.l was that? I never even...why did he...”

”It's not your fault,” he says. ”And I'll gladly go hunt him down right now and really take care of him, if you'd like.”

I shake my head and give a muted laugh. ”I think you scared him enough,” I say. I try to gather myself by taking a deep breath. Finally I look up at him. ”What the h.e.l.l are you doing here?”

”I was invited,” he says.

”What are you doing to me?” I clarify.

Jackson runs his hands through his hair-a move I'm already seeing as a tick he does when he's thinking. He leans his shoulder against the wall next to me. My back is still against it and although he's so close to me, I'm not looking at him directly.

”I mean, it's fine,” I say. ”We had one dinner and that was it. You're not legally required to ever speak to me after that. But why did you have to show up here? Because I know you hate this stuff and if it really was important to your precious business then you would have sent someone more junior to do the whole photo op thing. So why?” I look over at him. ”Why are you doing this?”

”Emily.” He says my name so softly. He drops his head against the wall. ”I can't stop thinking about you.”

Finally I do turn my head to look at him. I'm shocked he said these words. I'm even more shocked at the tone of his voice-so unlike him. So vulnerable. So real.

His eyes meet mine, and I've never seen such sweetness from a man looking at me. And it's Jackson Croft, of all people. The serial business crusher. He moves his hand as if he's going to touch me, but stops short. ”I tried to forget, but it's impossible. I finally realized I couldn't stay away from you any longer. When I got the invitation, I used it as my chance to see you. I don't know what you've done to me,” he says with a smile, ”but it's deep, and it's bad.”

I can't believe he's saying these words. After all this time, leaving me hanging, he feels the same as I do.

I turn my body to face him. ”Why did you try to stay away? Why not just be with me?”

”Because,” he says. ”My life...the way I am...I'm not good for someone like you. And yet,” he smiles, ”I can't stop wanting to try.”

I can't believe he's saying these things to me. To know that this man in front of me feels that way about me is shocking...and a totally s.e.xy.

”Well,” I say, lowering my voice to quiet, soft levels that he's using. ”You're definitely in trouble for what you did.”

A grin creeps up on his lips. He takes a small step closer. ”What's my punishment?”

Now I'm grinning. What did I just start? If he expects me to do dirty talk I can't possibly. I drop my head, embarra.s.sed.

Jackson moves closer still, slipping his hands around my waist. He dips his head close and says, ”Tell me what you want and I'll do it.” When I don't say anything because oh my G.o.d I am blus.h.i.+ng so badly he says, ”Should I kiss you?” I nod yes as my heart pumps wildly in my chest.

His lips meet mine and it's like I'm home. We kiss slowly at first, tentative. When his tongue pushes softly into my mouth it's like nothing else matters expect the feel of Jackson. I rest my hands on his biceps, so firm beneath his elegant suit, and I give them a squeeze, delighting in how strong he is. I know that nothing bad can happen when I'm in Jackson's arms.

He tugs me closer, our hips pressed up to one another. His kiss deepens and I do the same, each of us trying to get more and more of the other. I move my hands up to his shoulders and neck, then up into his thick hair, digging into it while pressing his face closer into mine. His hands are roaming all up and down my back, our bodies mas.h.i.+ng up against one another but it's still not enough.

”Oh! Excuse me,” a voice says.