Today’s wedding was officially on the record as the worst wedding Hailey Miller had ever attended.

Too bad it happened to be her own.

Her long white train dragged behind her like baggage she couldn’t abandon. The wind whipped her veil into her face, and if the ominous dark clouds overhead were a sign for the future, she’d say that it was going to rain any minute.

“Great. Just great,” she muttered. Eight more blocks, and she’d finally be at her hotel. Then she could grab her belongings and hightail it out of endlessly sprawling Houston before her ex-fiancé Evan found her.

It would have been an easy trip if her cab driver hadn’t kicked her out for lack of money. It was far more challenging in stiletto heels that bit into the tops of her feet with each step. No doubt she had blisters the size of quarters on each foot.

The scent of rain swelled in the air, and the humidity weighed her curls down. People brushed past her, dodging around her as though she was one more obstacle as they hurried to their destinations. The lights from the cafes and shops appeared warm and inviting compared to the cool temperatures outside.

She pushed past the pain in her feet. She needed to get to the hotel before Evan. There was no way she could face her ex. Not after spotting him behind the alter making out with her wedding planner. She should have trusted her instincts on that one. Instead, every time that nagging thought pushed its way into her mind, she had chalked it up to cold feet.

Part of her feared he’d still try to save face and tie her down. That was what Evan was good at, talking her into things she didn’t want to do. It was how she ended up in Houston, how she found herself only planning events for his company, and how she almost walked down the aisle despite her intuition telling her otherwise.

A roar of thunder ripped through the late afternoon sky. Seconds later, heavy drops fell, soaking her dress and hair. Her veil clung to her damp skin, trapping her arms against her body.

Houston felt even more overwhelming in the rain. Cars rushed by and the only other person on the sidewalk pushed past with their umbrella without a single thought or backward glance to the drenched bride marching down the street.

The wind whipped the veil around her, covering her eyes and blocking her vision.

“Argh!” She yanked the veil out of her hair and bunched it into a ball before shoving the whole thing into the nearest trash can. Whirling around, she kicked at the train.

Missed. Hailey stumbled forward, her feet landing in a puddle.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it.” Righting herself, she glared at the back of her dress. She had to have a train. Fighting against the hard boning in her corset, Hailey bent to gather the dirty clammy satin fabric in her arms.

Whoosh!

A cold wave of water washed over her. Her breath stuck in her lungs at the sudden shock of cold. Goose bumps pricked her skin as tiny rivulets ran down her back and through her hair.

She was in the middle of Houston, soaked and dirty and a runaway bride.

Shit, shit, shit. The tears battered at the emotional barriers she struggled to keep up.

What had she been thinking, walking so close to the gutter? She should have known to stay on the other side of the sidewalk.

Peering through the tendrils of hair glued to her face, Hailey spotted a dark gray Porsche stopped a few feet ahead. The car that ran through the puddle.

She straightened, her muscles stiff and her dress limiting every movement. Her throat constricted as she worked her tight jaw.

The driver’s door opened, and a tall, dark-haired man stepped out of the sleek sports car.

Stunned, she could only stare. And for some unexplainable reason, her heart began to throb, the pulse full and hard.

Before she could open her mouth, she found herself trapped in the piercing gaze of Jace Hartman, Evan’s business partner, and only an hour ago, the best man at her wedding.

“Damn it, Hailey, there you are.” Jace moved with quick, efficient strides and stopped right in front of her. He gazed at her warily, as though expecting her to bolt any minute. His mouth formed a hard, flat line. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“Of all the people to find me,” she muttered. Sharp, cynical Jace was the last person she wanted to see. Now would be the perfect moment for a bolt of lightning to come out and strike her. Or him. She glanced around desperately. Anytime now would be acceptable.

Nope. No lightning bolt. She was stuck facing Jace.

Well, she wasn’t helpless, and she didn’t need saving.

“Why are you here?” she demanded. “Are you bringing me back to Evan, or are you trying to save our events contract?”

Jace gazed down at her with that smug, knowing expression of his. “And here I’d thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“Get out of here, Jace.” She shot him the darkest look she could manage. Unfortunately, it was difficult to feign toughness when she was shivering. “I’m not dealing with you. You just drowned me with a puddle.”

She moved to brush past him.

Jace blocked her path. “I don’t think the puddle is the worst thing to happen to you this afternoon.” His eyes held hers. “Dodged a bullet today, didn’t we?”

Hailey stiffened, and she dropped her gaze to his chest where his white shirt, growing damp from the rain, clung to the muscles of his pectorals. Rather impressive pectorals.

She pulled her gaze back up to his face. “You’re not taking me back to Evan.”

“You just dodged the bullet. I’m not shoving you back in front of it.”

That left one reason Jace was here. She should have known better. She’d been helping Jace’s company, Sun Tech, with the launch for their Houston office for the past six months, and their opening party was in three weeks. When it came to Jace, business always came first.

She shivered and her skin prickled, not from the cold air but at the idea of continuing to work for Sun Tech, and thus with her lying ex. “I’m quitting the contract.”

Jace didn’t even flinch. His eyes hooded as he looked her over. Oddly, something about his stance or expression didn’t feel accusing or superior. “So how did you find out about the cheating?”

Her head went light. For a split second, she stopped shivering as she tried to process what Jace had admitted.

“Excuse me?” Her voice sounded distant and far away.

Two vertical lines formed between Jace’s brows. “Evan didn’t tell you?”

“You knew??” Her stomach dropped with a sickening swoop. Jace had known all along. How many other people knew while she was the naïve fiancée?

She picked at a loose bead on the bodice of her wedding gown. Tightening her fingers around the decoration, she yanked. The thread gave with a snap, and she tossed the bead aside.

Of course, Jace would know. And after hours, days, and months working together, he had never mentioned a word.

“You’re an asshole.” To her horror, her voice cracked. As if this day couldn’t get any more mortifying. All she wanted was to go home, burn her wedding dress, and have an ugly cry in the shower. Instead, she had to hold it together in front of the man who hired her simply because she had been engaged to his friend and business partner.

Jace’s eyes were sharp and assessing, and his voice was in utter control when he spoke. “Hailey—”

“Save it. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. This has been humiliating enough. Now if you don’t mind…” She hiked her sodden train up in her arms and walked past him with as much dignity as a runaway bride could manage in the middle of a rainstorm.

“Hailey...” Jace grabbed her arm. The motion was so sudden, she whirled around and bumped into his warm, broad chest. The wedding dress squished between them with a wet squick.

For a second, she froze, her chest pressed against his. His scent surrounded her, warm and musky and familiar. Then, to her surprise, and horror, a warm current sizzled from where Jace’s large hand circled her wrist.

She pulled away from him. “Go away.”

“Listen—”

“I can’t believe you knew and said nothing.” She yanked her wrist out of his grasp.

His gray eyes darkened, their depths suddenly as stormy as the clouds surrounding them.

“I didn’t know,” he growled at her.

Her round of insults halted on her tongue.

“Right.” She didn’t bother to hide the skepticism from her voice.

She rubbed the spot where his fingers had touched her as she considered him. For once, Jace’s face was readable—he was dead serious. He ran his fingers over his hair, but not a single strand fell out of place.

“How long have I known you?” he asked.

“Too long.” Since she had planned his company launch in San Francisco six years ago. Back when she thought he may be interested. Only to find out he wasn’t.

“Too long to bullshit you. I didn’t know until this afternoon. Evan told me when he realized you ditched him at the altar.” He glanced in the direction of her hotel. “Everyone is searching for you. Your parents are worried.”

A trickle of dread ran down her spine as she followed the line of his gaze. She wasn’t ready to face anyone. Not now. Not when she was trying to process this revelation about a man she had been engaged to for over a year.

She squeezed the train to her chest.

Jace sighed. “I have an idea. Let’s get out of the rain. Do you want to talk in a coffee shop?”

She shook her head. “I need to figure out where to stay tonight.”

She had sold her apartment in San Francisco to move in with Evan in Houston, her parents were at the same hotel as her honeymoon suite, and honestly, she didn’t want to face everyone. She couldn’t bear the looks of sympathy. Not right now.

She’d rent a room; except she’d conveniently left her ID and credit cards in the hotel she was now avoiding.

If only those bridal magazines had mentioned the importance of carrying your wallet to the wedding, this whole situation could have been prevented.

“Stay at my apartment.”

The train fell from her slack arms and landed with a splat at her feet. “What?”

The side of his mouth quirked up. “Is that a no?”

“That’s a hell no.”

The smirk remained on his face, but she ignored it. That smoldering look may work on some woman—okay, pretty much on all woman—but it wasn’t going to work on her.

“Then get in the car, and I’ll drive you wherever you want,” Jace said.

Her feet cheered in response.

“It won’t make me change my mind about the contract.” She tried, and failed, to ignore the anxiety bubbling up into her lungs. Her contract with Sun Tech was by far her most important, and thanks to Evan’s suggestion that she only work on one contract while she planned their wedding, it was her only contract.

And she was walking away from it.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m offering dry clothes, a warm bed, and a place to hide for the evening. In return, we can talk a little business. We’re both adults here.”

Do it, her feet screamed at her, demanding relief from the too tall, too tight heels.

A warning bell clanged in the back of her mind but was quickly dulled by one image: a place to hide for the evening. A place to regroup and figure out her next steps.

“My own bed, no doubt.” Not that she was concerned Jace would try anything.

“I have a fold-out futon with your name on it.”

Jace did know how to sway people to his side. Then again, after the events of today, it wasn’t going to take much to talk her into his side of thinking.

She eyed him warily. “All you have to offer is a futon?”

“That or my bed.”

“The futon will do.” She could hide out there, at least for tonight. Tomorrow, after she had a plan laid out, and got her clothes and wallet back, she could make a final decision on the Sun Tech contract and buy a plane ticket home.

“Did I mention I have a warm shower?” Jace added.

That sealed the deal.

Hailey lifted her chin. “I’m going to ruin your car’s interior.”

He shrugged and opened the door for her. “I don’t care.”

Of course he didn’t.

“Thanks,” she muttered before she climbed into the vehicle. The interior smelled of new car and leather, and a digital touch-screen console glowed softly from the center of the dash.

Her feet celebrated the second she sat in the passenger seat and kicked her shoes off. However, her relief was short-lived as Jace got in the driver’s side.

She tried to ignore how much room Jace’s broad shoulders took up in the sports car’s small interior, or how good the mingled scent of Jace and leather smelled.

Jace twisted to buckle his seat belt, his arm brushing against hers. She jumped at the contact.

“Are you okay?” Jace asked.

“I found out Evan is cheating on me and ran out of my wedding. I’m grand. Thank you for asking.”

“Just don’t run out on me,” Jace said, his voice that sexy, low register that always caught her attention.

Hailey forced her gaze away from Jace and out the passenger window. Unsure of what to do with her hands, she twisted her fingers into her damp gown.

One night. What was one night with her cheating ex’s friend and business partner?

Of all things Jace thought he’d be doing tonight, taking the runaway bride home was not one of them.

Drink expensive scotch? Sure.

Flirt with the bridesmaid who kept glancing his way? Definitely.

Hit the dance floor? Without a doubt.

Take the bride home? Only under dire circumstances.

And this situation was dire. Hailey knew Sun Tech inside and out. She knew how to get inside the minds of potential customers. Her past launches for Sun Tech were so successful, he didn’t trust anyone else to pull it off.

Jace studied Hailey’s reflection in the chrome elevator doors as they rode toward the top floor. A woman in a wedding dress should not be this attractive. Especially soaking wet in a ruined wedding dress.

“I know you’re looking at me.” Hailey pulled her tangled red curls over her shoulder and twisted her hair into a rope with pale, slender fingers.

Her stiff body and nervous energy made him want to reach out and touch her. To offer some kind of comfort.

He swallowed hard and kept his hands firmly in his pockets.

Now was the time to focus. Noticing Hailey’s nervous tics and her curves in a white dress was not going to get him any closer to keeping her on board with Sun Tech.

Jace pulled his gaze away. “That’s because you’re the first specimen of runaway bride I’ve ever seen.”

“This isn’t a zoo.” Hailey turned her face so he could only see her profile.

He cursed silently to himself. This was one more mess Evan created that he was stuck cleaning up.

The chrome elevator doors slid open, revealing a small foyer with double doors to his penthouse. Hailey lifted her chin. A barely perceptible movement. A man less aware of her would not have noticed.

He wasn’t that man.

“This way,” he growled, taking the lead. A small black scan box was inset in the wall just to the side of the double doors. Jace pressed his thumb against the screen, and the dead bolt threw back with a click.

“What happens if the scanner breaks?” Her dark brown eyes were serious.

He shrugged. “I can unlock the place with my phone.”

She gave a soft snort. “Of course. The Great and Powerful Oz can’t live life like the common man.”

“Can’t sell high-tech residences if I don’t live in one.” He cleared his throat then pushed the door open. The lights blinked on inside, dimming to accommodate the fading light outside. Stepping aside, he let her in.

He could hear her soft gasp as she entered.

“Wow,” she murmured, turning to take in the sleek, modern, minimalist setting. It was the exact impression he wanted when people walked into his place, should he ever let someone in besides his aunt and Evan.

He followed her into the living room.

Even though he’d moved in a month ago, the scent of new building still hung in the air. The couch and TV were barely used, and the photos on the walls felt more decorative than personal. His place may as well be the staging area instead of a home.

Hailey’s flame-colored hair stood out against the dark hardwood floors and the clean white lines of his living room.

“I’ve never been to your place before. Not even in San Francisco. It’s so—” she tilted her head to the side and pulled out a pearl-encrusted comb “—monochrome.” She said the last word like she had ended up with oatmeal for breakfast when she was expecting cake.

Her eyes landed on the giant TV mounted on the wall, the stereo system he spent hours setting up, the black and white cityscape photos, then finally on the guitar he kept in one corner.

She set the comb on an end table and moved to the instrument, as though drawn to the one personal item in the entire room. Her fingers caressed the warm wood and brushed over the strings before she moved to the floor-to-ceiling windows. She leaned her head against the window frame, her long tendrils cascading down her back, tempting and innocent at the same time.

“Thanks for letting me stay.”

“It was a business decision.” A partial lie. Mostly a business decision. At least that’s what he kept telling himself. Because it was safer than telling her he couldn’t leave her abandoned in the rain.

She glanced over her shoulder. “It’s always business with you.”

“Because business makes sense.” It was something real he could sink his teeth into. It was never flighty and would never leave when you needed it most.

“Your place is exactly what I expected,” Hailey continued.

“How’s that?”

“Sparse. Impersonal.” She gestured toward the living room. “Expensive. It must impress the women.”

“I don’t bring women home.” The conversation was a little too personal for his tastes.

Her eyes widened, but before she could say anything, he spoke. “Let’s get you into dry clothes, then we can talk about the contract.”

He didn’t miss the contraction of muscles right below her jaw. Her shoulders tensed, and her nipples—Jace closed his eyes and tried not to notice how hard they were or how hard it was making him.

“There is no contract,” Hailey deadpanned, successfully refocusing his thoughts.

That wasn’t an option. He needed her on board.

“Let’s talk after your shower.” After she had time to relax.

Hailey shook her head. “You’re not going to convince me.”

“I know this is the only contract on your plate.” Thanks to Evan, who convinced her to focus solely on her wedding and Sun Tech. A mistake in his opinion. “Maybe we can come to an agreement.”

“That’s unlikely to happen. Evan is part owner of Sun Tech, and after today, I’m not helping Evan.”

Shit. He smoothed his hand over his hair.

There had to be some way to convince her. He had devoted too much money and made too many promises to their investors to have her back out now. “Just think about it.”

Before she could argue, he headed down the short hall that led to his master suite and the two spare rooms.

His bedroom was dark and cool. The shades were still drawn, blocking the last rays of sunlight for the day.

Jace flipped on the light and moved to his dresser. He pulled out a pair of sweats, some gym shorts, and a couple tees.

He turned to find Hailey standing in the doorway. Her fingers toyed with a bead on her dress, drawing his attention to the swell of her pale breasts where they dipped into the bodice of her gown.

The sooner he got her into his clothes, the better. His oversize shirt would easily drown her curves.

He held up her options. “Which ones?”

She stepped into the room and glanced around. Except for a photo of him and his aunt at his college graduation, and a wood box he had made in high school, his bedroom was as bland as the rest of the place—carefully thought-out and impersonal. Yet the way Hailey examined his few possessions, running her fingers over the frames, made his room feel personal.

It was unnerving.

He shook the bottoms at her. “Sweats or shorts?”

“Shorts.” Hailey pulled the shorts out of his hands. He held up two tees, and she grabbed the gray one, clutching it close to her chest. “Thank you.”

He jerked his head toward the bathroom. “Shower’s in there.”

She looked in the direction he indicated. “The shower is in your bedroom?”

“Unfortunately.” He scratched at the back of his neck. “You can use the shower at the end of the hall, but it isn’t stocked, and the showerhead still needs to be fixed.”

“There’s no door.”

He forced himself not to notice the throaty quality of her voice. He knew there was no door to his bathroom. It had never been an issue before. But Hailey’s pink blush that started at her chest and bloomed to her cheeks had his mind going to places that it didn’t need to go. Images of Hailey’s lush body covered in suds as the water caressed her skin began to form.

No, no, no. Hailey was a consultant he had hired. He couldn’t go there with her. Ever. Even if he wanted to.

Which he didn’t, he reminded himself for what felt like the hundredth time.

“I’ll wait in the living room.” With a glass of whiskey. Thinking unsexy thoughts about accounts and contracts. “Towels are under the sink.”

He’d take the time to figure out how to convince her to follow through with the launch. Sure, she’d had a shock with Evan at her wedding today. However, everyone had a giving point. He needed to find hers.

With that goal in mind, he moved to leave.

“Jace?”

His hand froze on the doorknob.

“Can you undo the zipper in the back?”

Her voice. Something about her voice froze him in place.

Slowly, warily, he turned to face her. Hailey’s arm bent around her back, her fingers coming short of the zipper.

“Please?” She glanced at him over her shoulder, her dark eyes tempting. “I want out of this awful, itchy thing.”

Jace didn’t blame her. Nothing about the garment appeared comfortable. It looked stiff, a snare meant to trap whoever stepped inside.

He moved closer, feeling edgier than necessary as he stopped inches away from her.

He could smell the sweet fruity scent in her hair. Bright, sexy citrus. Hailey pulled her long curls over one slim shoulder and waited.

He raised his hand to the zipper and hesitated, a mere half-inch away.

“Any time now.” She shifted from one foot to the other.

“Hold your horses.” His voice was harsh. He was far too aware of her, and the fact she’d be naked in his shower in a few minutes wasn’t helping.

Damn it. He was overthinking this zipper situation. This wasn’t rocket science. He just needed to keep this clinical. A simple pulling down of a zipper. A two-second procedure.

His fingers brushed the soft skin of her back as he grasped the ridiculously tiny pull. Tooth by tooth, he eased the pull down, revealing the gentle curve of her spine, followed by the twin dimples above her hip bones, and stopped at the curve of her rear.

Her skin was creamy, luscious. Begging for him to taste her.

As if sensing the direction of his thoughts, her breaths came faster. He could sense it more than hear it. And if he wanted to keep his wits about him, he would hightail it out of here.

But he stood, rooted in place, his fingers on the zipper, unable to step away from the soft temptation before him. Then, before he could stop himself, he traced the line of her back, savoring the feel of her soft skin along each ridge of her spine. Her ribs expanded and contracted under his touch, and her head dipped back a fraction.

“Jace?” Hailey clutched the dress to her body as she twisted to face him. He could see the confusion and question in her eyes.

She was so close, he could kiss her. Drop his lips to hers and take control, like he had done hundreds of other times with hundreds of other women.

But that was a risk that he just couldn’t take.

Hailey wasn’t just any woman. She was the now-ex of his business partner. The woman who had successfully launched Sun Tech both in San Francisco and LA. The woman they needed for their launch in Houston so he could meet the demands of their investors to whom he had made so many promises. He needed to sell every condo in this building, and she was the woman to help sell them.

She was the one woman he could never have.

He dropped his hands and stepped away, his feet heavier than lead.

“I’ll be in the living room.”

Before she could say a word, he crossed the room in three long strides.

With a soft click, he shut the door firmly behind him, trapping the siren tempting him closer to the rocks inside.

What just happened?

Hailey waited until the door clicked closed and for Jace’s footsteps to recede before she released her breath. She loosened her arms from around her waist, and the dress slid down her body to crumple in a pile around her feet.

The heat in Jace’s eyes had to have been a figment of her imagination. He was not one to fall for a woman like her. She could barely handle her life much less her relationships.

Besides, Jace was too cool, too distant for her. Even his condo felt cold and empty. A place on display, not a home to live in.

But she was grateful for the place to hide out.

Maybe that explained why she reacted the way she did as Jace undid her dress. She was…grateful.

She rolled the word around in her mind.

Yep. It was gratitude that made her body light up the second his fingers grazed her back. There wasn’t any other reason at all.

At least not any reason she was willing to analyze.

Hailey gathered the mountain of silk into her arms and dumped the dress on the tiled bathroom floor in a corner by the toilet. She would deal with that later.

Slapping her hands together, she glanced around the room.

Jace’s bathroom was as impersonal as his living room. A bottle of aftershave, a pair of glasses, and a bar of plain white soap sat on the counter. A single black towel hung on the bathroom door.

She caught her reflection in the large mirror situated over the double-sink counter. She wore only a pair of lacy white underwear Evan had bought for their wedding night. She peeled the underwear down her legs and dumped them unceremoniously into the trash.

If what Jace said was true, she was the first naked woman in his condo. Considering the number of women he went through, she found this hard to believe. However, she couldn’t spy a single trace of another woman. No lipstick, no spare toothbrush, not even a long strand of hair.

Just the pair of glasses she never knew Jace needed.

Turning away, she started the large steam shower. The spray turned from cool to warm within seconds, and she stepped inside, hoping to wash away the day’s events along with the grime from the city.

By the time she stepped out onto the cushy shower mat, clean and fresh, she was certain of one thing.

She was done with Sun Tech.

There was no way she could face Jace and Evan when they both knew what a fool she had been. Today was embarrassing enough; she wasn’t going to drag this out longer.

She tossed her wet hair up in a bun and pulled on Jace’s clothes. The scent of laundry detergent and Jace, a scent all male, surrounded her. The soft cotton fabric settled around her form, hiding her curves and lack of underwear underneath.

She moved to the bedroom door, pointedly ignoring the large king-size bed in the middle of the room. Straightening her shoulders, she took a breath.

It was time to face the music.

She spotted Jace on the gray suede couch in the living room, his arms spread over the back cushions, a glass of whiskey in one hand. His head was tipped back, exposing the column of his throat.

His eyes were closed.

She moved closer. Jace didn’t move.

She should say something. At least announce her presence. But something about the lack of tension in his face had her edging closer, her bare feet silent against the dark hardwood floor.

His dark lashes fanned against his golden-brown skin. The muscles along his cheeks were relaxed, and a hint of purplish circles ringed the corners of his eyes. He looked sleep-deprived and vulnerable.

“Sneaking around?”

Her nerves shot to the roof, and a gasp escaped her lips. The room suddenly felt twenty degrees warmer as she pressed her hand against her hammering heart.

“I’m not sneaking around,” she squeaked.

“Could have fooled me.” Jace straightened and took a sip of whiskey.

“I was checking to see if you were asleep.” The excuse sounded lame.

“Right.” He rose from the couch and crossed his arms as he took in her five-foot-five frame swimming in his clothing. Two vertical lines formed between his eyes. “Do you need anything else?”

“A garbage bag for my wedding dress?”

Jace laughed. “I can take care of that for you.” He ran his hand over his jaw. “Unless you’d rather bag it up and burn it yourself.”

She snorted softly. “No. I’d owe you so big if I never had to see that thing again.”

Jace nodded, his eyes sharp. “I’m sure we can work out a deal.”

Hailey crossed her arms over her chest. The deal being she stay on board with Sun Tech. She could read it in his expression. Something about his tone and the way he watched her—his gaze careful and assessing—made it clear he was navigating his approach to the contract.

If there was one thing she’d learned about Jace after all these years, he was dog-on-a-bone determined. If he wanted her on the job, he would keep her up all night until she agreed. And she had a feeling Jace was ready to fight the good fight.

“Can I borrow your phone?”

Jace raised an eyebrow. “My phone?”

She scrambled for an excuse. “To call my mom so she knows I’m safe.”

It took all her self-control to not cringe. She sounded like she was back in high school, but it was the best delay tactic she could come up with in the moment.

Jace picked up his cell and tossed it over to her. “Go to town.”

She caught the phone and headed into the sleek kitchen for a bit of privacy.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she dialed her mother’s number from memory. The phone rang once before her mom, Jane, answered with a tense “Hello?”

“Mom? It’s Hailey.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so glad to hear from you.”

She could almost see her mother’s shoulders sag on the other side, and her throat tightened in response. She should have called sooner.

“I’m sorry I ran and didn’t say anything. I just saw Evan—” She paused and closed her eyes. The image of Evan, his arms wrapped around her wedding planner, his thigh pressed between her legs, filled her mind. “Cheating. Evan was cheating.”

There was a stunned silence. “Cheating? Seriously? That bastard. No wonder you ran.”

Her stomach twisted, and a wave of nausea washed over her. Jace was right. She had dodged a bullet.

“He keeps calling to see if you’ve been in touch,” her mom added.

“Tell him that I’m not interested in talking.” She gripped the phone and leaned her head against the cabinet.

“Of course, honey. Come stay with me. We can hang out, have a glass of wine. Where are you? I’ll send a car to pick you up.”

“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it. I really do. But I need a moment to myself.” Just one night to hide away. Even if it meant dealing with the hot man in the other room.

“Just tell me where you are staying so I don’t worry.”

Hailey swallowed. She wanted to tell her, but she also knew her mom was a horrible liar. She didn’t want to risk Evan hopping in the first taxi over to Jace’s condo.

“With a friend,” Hailey replied firmly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.”

The phone sat heavy in her hand as she hung up, and the knot in her stomach felt like a rock.

This day was a path through her own personal hell.

“So, I’m a friend, am I?”

And apparently, she wasn’t out of the woods yet.

With a groan, she pushed away from the cabinet. “Eavesdrop much?”

Jace sauntered in, hands in his pockets. “It’s a small condo. You should have gone in the bedroom.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. As if she would willingly go back into a space as personal as Jace’s bedroom. “‘Friend’ was the easiest explanation.”

A muscle in Jace’s jaw twitched. Intrigued, she tilted her head.

“So I’m your dirty little secret for tonight?”

“Would you like me to explain to my mother I’m staying with Evan’s best friend?”

“I’m his business partner. Two different things.”

“Uh-huh.” She gripped the edge of the counter. “Because business partners have a poker night every week.”

Jace’s brows drew together. “I’m not sure what Evan was telling you, but there was never a poker night. We’re business partners, and that’s it.”

Her breath caught in her lungs as the pieces clicked together. “You’re telling me the poker nights never happened?”

Jace snorted. “Hell no.”

Evan had cheated right under her nose, and she blindly accepted it.

“Fine. Next time I talk with my parents, I’ll tell them I stayed with you. They can think whatever they want.”

Jace laughed, a rich, low laugh that sent a thread of warmth through her. “Right.”

She could feel the heat rising to her face.

Jace stepped in front of her, his movements smooth as he leaned forward to trap her against the counter with his body. This close to him, she could see the light sprinkling of hair on his chest, where the top two buttons of his shirt were undone.

Her breathing felt ragged as she stared at that patch of skin. The little bit of hair intrigued her. And the fact that she noticed, and liked it, rankled. Clearing her throat, she shifted her gaze to his shoulders. Broad shoulders that looked strong and capable.

Setting her jaw, she forced her gaze back to his eyes. She was all too aware of the fact she was in his clothes and only inches away from him, but she was determined to not show how he affected her.

Bracing himself with one arm against the counter, Jace reached up and over her head. The movement shifted his body closer to hers. So close that she could see the soft pulse at the base of his neck.

Entranced, she watched the solid beat under his skin. A wild urge to press her mouth against that spot and feel the pulse against the sensitive skin of her lips shot through her.

Holy cow, what was she thinking?

Horrified, she pressed back against the counter as Jace eased down to his heels, a bottle of whiskey in his large hand.

“Want some?” He shook the bottle at her, a wolfish smile on his face. The jerk knew the effect he had on her.

“No thanks.” She couldn’t dull any of her wits around this man.

He shrugged and popped the top off the bottle. “Suit yourself.” Jace poured himself some amber liquid and recorked the bottle. “Let’s talk.”

She crossed her arms over her braless chest, pressing her arms against her breasts. Here she was, negotiating contracts without a bra. Not exactly a high point in her career. “I don’t know what more there is to talk about. I’m done.”

The corner of his eyes tightened, and his lip pressed into a flat line. “That’s not acceptable. We need you.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Why? I’m an events and marketing coordinator. You could easily hire a replacement.”

Jace shook his head. “Nope. I can’t. I know what to expect from you. I trust your instincts. You’ve launched and marketed two of Sun Tech’s properties, and I know the company wouldn’t be as successful without your genius behind it.”

His eyes were on her, and she knew he was assessing her reaction and trying to figure out what angle to use to keep her on the job.

Part of her wanted to stay. Once she signed a contract, she prided herself on always seeing it through. She was proud of her success with Sun Tech’s last two launches. Leaving this launch before it was over felt wrong.

Then again, she wanted to be as far from Evan as possible.

“What will make you stay?” The words were soft but held a sharp edge. If she didn’t know any better, that edge sounded desperate.

She gestured at the bottle. “You know what? I will take a glass of that.”

“Atta girl.” He pulled a glass from a cupboard and gave her a healthy pour. He clinked his glass against hers. “To escaping the trap.”

Hailey took a drink, keeping her eyes on him. The whiskey burned as it flowed down her throat to pool warm in her belly. “Not all marriages are a trap.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Then why did you run?”

“Because we weren’t in love.” She wrapped her arms around her middle.

“Then why did you agree to marry him in the first place?”

“What is this? Twenty questions?” She took another fortifying swallow of whiskey.

“Just curious.”

“Because at the time, it felt like the next step in the relationship.” Like it was one more stop on the journey.

“Look, I get it. And I get if you don’t want to see Evan, but Sun Tech still needs you. There’s a job to see through.”

She stared down at her drink. “Jace, I’ve spent my entire relationship doing what was best for Evan. Even at my own expense. For once, I need to think of myself.”

“I’ll pay you double.”

She blinked. “Double? Are you serious?”

“Dead,” he replied.

“I…don’t know what to say.” The extra money would be amazing. She could take time away from work to reset, move back to San Francisco. Maybe invest in expanding her operation. She could save it and take a trip.

But she’d still be helping Evan. “Thank you, but I can’t…”

Jace was determined. “I know this is a bad deal with you and Evan, and I’m sorry this is the case, but you agreed to the contract.”

She straightened her shoulders. “Our contract has a cancellation clause that allows either party to cancel the contract after sixty days.”

Jace stilled. The only sign that he heard what she said was the white-knuckled grip on his glass. “Evan wouldn’t have agreed to that.”

She crossed her arms. “Evan didn’t even question it. He thought I would never use it.” She shrugged. “Evan also thought he could get away with cheating.”

Jace downed his whiskey in one long swallow. The glass clinked as he set it down on the pale granite countertop. “Fine. You had a rough day. I’ll let it go for now, but this discussion isn’t over.”

She braced herself, waiting for him to kick her out. She wouldn’t blame him if he did. After all, she wasn’t falling in line.

Jace moved across the kitchen and silently poured himself another glass.

She waited as he corked the bottle. Still he said nothing.

“Are you going to kick me out?” She hated the slight tremor in her voice.

He shook his head. “No. I’m going to figure out how to sway you into staying.” Jace took his time putting the bottle away before he turned.

He was still offering his place to stay.

Raising the glass to her lips, she took a sip to hide her surprise. If this had been a situation with Evan, he would have kicked her out. He liked everything his way.

“All of this could have been avoided if you and Evan never got engaged,” Jace muttered under his breath.

She completely agreed.

“What do you have against marriage?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“As I’ve pointed out, it’s a trap. A stupid demand that society imposes on us.”

Hailey swirled the remaining alcohol around in her glass.

What the hell? She downed the rest. “That’s not a real answer.”

“You still believe in marriage even after the hell you went through?” he asked.

“Of course, I do. I don’t want to be alone and cynical.”

Jace laughed. A deep, low sound that made her insides twist in anticipation. “Alone and cynical isn’t as bad as it sounds. You should consider joining the club.”

The whiskey was doing the trick. Her head felt light, and the knots in her stomach slowly loosened. “One day, a woman is going to come along and bring you to your knees.”

Jace’s expression was bitter as he finished his whiskey. “Trust me, I’ve already seen the damage from love gone wrong. I’m far too wary to ever let that happen to me.”

Hailey woke up alone, discombobulated, and twisted in her sheets.

Struggling with the tangle of bedding, she freed herself enough to sit up and glance around the room. The early rays of dawn peeked through the window, casting a cool light in the white-walled room.

She tugged at her large sleep shirt wrapped around her torso.

No, not her shirt. Jace’s shirt. She rolled the soft fabric between her fingers as yesterday’s events came crashing back like early morning waves.

Single and without a contract.

She pressed her hands against her eyes.

And she stayed at Jace’s.

In place of the cold feet that she had woken up with yesterday, acidic anxiety churned deep in her belly, and a band wrapped around her lungs.

Evan was a man who would follow through with the worst idea on this planet provided it upheld appearances. And she had run from him without even a note of explanation.

The band tightened around her lungs.

Something told her he wasn’t going to take her disappearance well.

Groaning, she pushed her bangs out of her face. She wished she could forget yesterday even happened. Her parents were probably worried, and she’d have to face Evan eventually to get her stuff back.

She didn’t even want to think of what—or whom—Evan did last night.

Hailey pushed herself off the futon and checked the small clock on Jace’s desk. Six.

Time to get out of here. Preferably without seeing Jace.

She spotted a pair of shoes in the corner. They were too large but would have to do. She’d rather walk back to the hotel barefoot than put those feet-eating heels back on.

Holding the large black leather shoes in one hand, Hailey tiptoed out of the office she’d used as a spare room. She paused at Jace’s closed bedroom door.

For a wild second, she considered knocking. To thank him, if nothing else.

No, she couldn’t risk it. Jace would understand.

She hoped.

She crept to the front door, grabbed the chrome handle, and twisted down.

“Heading out so soon?”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her hand flew to her chest, and she whirled around.

“Will you stop doing that? I was…”

The words died on her lips when she spotted Jace, a few feet behind her, leaning against the foyer wall, one long leg crossed over the other. His gray sweats hung low on his hips and a fitted white tee stretch across his broad chest.

And his hair…

Hailey swallowed.

His usually perfect hair was rumpled from sleep. She could almost imagine him crawling out from his warm bed to find her—and bring her back.

She gritted her teeth.

What was wrong with her? Just yesterday she was on the verge of marrying someone else. She was recovering from the shock of that man’s infidelity. There was no way she should be having these thoughts about Jace.

As though reading her mind, Jace lifted one corner of his mouth. He gestured at her with the mug in his hand. “Seems a mite early to head out. You haven’t even had a cup of coffee.”

“I’m not running.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If that’s what you’re implying.”

He lifted a dark brow. “You could have fooled me.”

She glared at him.

Who did this man think he was? She wasn’t running. She was avoiding him. Big difference.

“I’m heading out to meet my parents.”

Jace sipped his coffee. “At six o’clock in the morning?”

She shifted from one foot to another. “Fine. I’m running out of here.”

Jace calmly sipped his coffee again. “Not until we talk.”

“I thought we talked last night. I quit. I’ll find you a replacement when I get back to the Bay Area.”

“We aren’t done,” he growled.

Something about that growl made her body want to disobey every rational thought in her mind.

She started for the door. “I really do need to get going.”

Jace was right behind her. She pulled down on the chrome handle at the same time his hand reached over her shoulder and pressed the door closed.

She could feel the warm, masculine heat of Jace’s body along her back as she stared at the hand in front of her. Long ropes of muscle wrapped up Jace’s forearm. Whatever the man did to exercise, it was working.

“I have a proposal,” he said, his low voice caressing the shell of her ear. His breath traced over her neck, sending a shiver of need down her spine.

She forced herself to face him.

Jace’s eyes were as hard and emotionless as his dark granite countertops. The man was serious, and he wanted to talk business.

Her heart twisted. “Jace, I can’t—”

“I’ll pay you twice as much.”

“You already mentioned that.” She had run the numbers in her head last night. She wouldn’t need to find work for another two months if she agreed to that. She could even go on vacation.

It would be her first vacation since starting her company.

Except it wasn’t worth working for Evan.

An anger that had been simmering started to boil.

She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth and shook her head.

“Think of how much that double pay will help your company. Help you. All you have to do is give us a few more weeks,” he said.

That anger hit full boil. She jabbed Jace in the chest.

“Don’t you dare manipulate me. I’ve put up with enough of that from Evan. When I called him yesterday morning, right before the wedding, do you know what he told me?”

Jace’s eyes widened.

“He told me that I had better not embarrass him. He didn’t comfort me or ask me what was wrong. It was all about him. And you know what I realized? Our entire relationship was about him. It was never about me.”

Jace took a step back. “I’m sure he was nervous as well.”

She stepped forward, into his space. “Don’t excuse his behavior. I did the exact same thing, and you know what I realized? All those years of pretending he was reassuring me or doing what was best for me, it was all manipulation. I’m done with it.”

“There’s got to be a way you can put personal issues aside and focus on the business,” Jace insisted.

“I can’t accept your offer.” Her voice quivered. Double the pay was hard to refuse.

“There’s a contract, and we need you to see it through.” His words were quick and matter-of-fact. “I know it’s your only contract. If you cancel it, you won’t have any work.”

The Hailey from yesterday would have given in. There was a contract. She had spent months planning this event. She knew Sun Tech better than anyone else. It would be easy to save Jace and Evan from this mess.

But she didn’t owe Evan a thing. As of yesterday, she was done following every rule and being nice. Screw nice. All it got her was a cheating ex and a life she had to start over.

She straightened her shoulders. “It’s my only contract because Evan talked me into dropping all other work. I’m not willing to sacrifice myself to help Sun Tech out. I’ll send all my files over with some recommendations for a replacement as soon as I get home.”

Jace’s jaw jutted out and his eyes narrowed in a cold fury. “If you cancel the contract, I will make sure every business in San Francisco, Houston, and LA is aware you backed out last minute.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she snapped. “After all I’ve done for you? It says in my contract that I can break the agreement after sixty days. What I am doing is ethical and in accordance with the contract.” Even so, it wouldn’t take much to crush her small business and Jace knew it. “You aren’t fighting fair.”

Jace’s gray eyes pinned her in place. “Life isn’t fair. It’s time you learned that.”

“How dare you—”

“We both know business is business. If you need more incentive, I’ll triple our price. It’s only three more weeks. Then you can go home and forget about Sun Tech.”

Triple. She worked her jaw open and closed as she tried to process the ridiculous amount of money Jace was offering.

Jace’s eyes locked on hers.

“You don’t need me on this project,” she whispered.

“I would love to believe that, but too many months have been invested in this launch to start over. A few measly weeks, and it’ll be done.”

And a third successful launch would be amazing in her portfolio.

“I’m supposed to work with my ex?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “My cheating ex?”

“I’ll keep him out of your hair.” Jace didn’t look thrilled with the idea, but she knew he would do whatever it took for her to stay.

It was tempting. Oh, so deliciously, last-piece-of-chocolate-cake tempting. She wanted to say yes, more than anything. Triple pay was almost impossible to say no to.

Almost, being the key word. There was still one thing.

“I can’t agree to it, Jace. Honestly, all I’ve done in relationships is give and give. If I agree to this contract, it’s one more sacrifice on my end.”

The knuckles of Jace’s hand turned white as he clutched his mug of coffee.

“Hailey.”

“I stand firm.” She reached around her and grabbed the door handle. “And I really should be going.” Her mom would be worried.

“Fine,” Jace snarled. “At least think about it.” He left the room, his footsteps heavy as he disappeared down the hall without a backward glance.

Hailey bolted out of there before she could change her mind. Her breath was coming in hard bursts, and she felt…guilty. She had let Jace down.

And it bothered her.