Page 49 of Lead Me On
“You’re twenty-nine.”
“Right. I’m twenty-nine. I’ll settle down soon. Get married, have kids. So before I turned thirty, I thought I’d find out what it was like to walk on the wild side.”
“Oh, really?” he huffed.
“Yes.”
He didn’t add anything more—he just watched her—and for some reason his silence made her squirm. Jane breathed a sigh of relief when the waitress approached and left the bill on the table. Change of subject. “Let me get this.”
“No, I got off pretty easy on our so-called date. I was having trouble living with myself.”
Yes, she’d been a cheap date. Burger, Coke, screw in the truck. That made her think of just how fun it had been to feel cheap. Maybe he’d make her feel cheap again tonight. Like old times. She attempted to slide him a seductive look, but it disintegrated into a yawn.
“Come on, Jane,” he said, reaching for her hand as he stood. “You look like you’re about to slide to the floor.”
“No, I’m fine,” she insisted, despite the way her knees swam when she rose. “I’m getting my second wind.”
“Mmm-hmm. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?”
She smiled flirtatiously. “You’re not telling me I look tired, are you?”
“You look exhausted. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes, you’re yawning and two mai tais nearly put you under the table.”
“Did not,” she scoffed. But when he helped her up into his truck, Jane melted into the seat. Okay, maybe she was exhausted. And tipsy. But she didn’t want to be dropped off and left to drag herself to bed. Being tipsy seemed like the perfect excuse to have sex with Chase again.
It still seemed like a good idea when she blinked awake a few minutes later and found Chase opening the passenger-side door. “Hey,” she breathed, stretching awake.
“Your keys?”
She dug around in her purse and handed them over, thoroughly enjoying the way he took control. He slid her off the seat and walked her up to her door as if he owned the place. Despite another yawn, she was already anticipating what they’d do once they got to her bed. Sure, she’d meant it to be a one-night stand, but the man transformed her body, as if she were Sleeping Beauty awakening from a long, dry slumber.
Chase guided her through the door. “I’ll call as soon as my dad gets in touch.”
“Hmm?” She spun back toward him, one hand reaching for the wall to steady herself.
“Get some sleep, Jane.”
“But it’s six-thirty.”
“Right. Sleep for twelve hours and get a fresh start tomorrow. It’ll be good for you.”
“But—”
“Good night, Jane.”
She was still staring openmouthed at the door when she heard him drive away. Trying to puzzle out what had happened turned out to be too much work, so Jane took Chase’s advice and just went to bed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JANEMORGAN WAS LOSING IT. She was losing it, and she was losing itat work.
This couldn’t be happening. She was a master at her job. An impervious wall of professionalism and knowledge and absolute control. Janewasher job. It was the best part of her, and that had been a comforting thought until now.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jennings,” she said again. “It’s got to be here somewhere.”
“It’s really no big deal. You probably already sent it to Edward.”
“No!” She realized she’d raised her voice—actually yelled at her boss—when he took a step back. “I mean, no sir, that’s not possible. I never, ever send out files or sketches or blueprints without making a copy first. Never.”
