Back in His Bed: Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks! / Unfinished Business with the Duke / How to Win the Dating War

A high-pitched laugh caught her attention over the music, and she looked over to see Libby Winston’s head thrown back in over-dramatic style as she found whatever Jack was saying to be hilarious. Libby swatted Jack’s arm playfully, then pulled him close to whisper something in his ear. Jack wore a look of mild amusement as Libby practically shoved her breasts in his face.

It was sickening to watch.

She knew she shouldn’t care, but she couldn’t help the feeling coiling in her stomach. Even more, she didn’t like what that might mean for her.

She shouldn’t have come tonight. She’d been right in her first decision not to come, but for all the wrong reasons. She could be the face of Amante Verano, shake hands and network just fine. It was everything else that was horribly wrong.

But the trip wasn’t in vain. She’d made some good business connections. Hell, she’d even met the Mayor. But this event had also brought home the truth she’d been fighting against all along.

At least she’d been reminded before she got in too deep this time. She and Jack were from different worlds—Libby Winston had just driven that point home for her—and getting involved with him again wouldn’t end any better this time.

Something was bothering Brenna. On the surface she seemed fine, smiling and chatting with some of the biggest names in the community. He’d had many compliments on the wine, and he hoped Brenna was taking advantage of the opportunity to network.

Even though she smiled and nodded and charmed who she could, he could tell something wasn’t right. Tension hummed under everything she said to him, and he could see the uncomfortable set to her shoulders. Even her smile had lost its sparkle.

She slid into the limo with an audible sigh of relief. “Thank God that’s over.”

Why was she sitting on the opposite seat? “You did great.”

“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t horrible.”

“Well, it’s over now, and the night can only get better from here, right?”

“I wouldn’t count on that.” Brenna reached for one of the decanters, sniffed the contents, then poured herself a glass. The tension he’d sensed earlier must have been repressed hostility, because it now filled the air around them.

“Are you still mad because I was late?”

Crossing her arms across her chest, she shot him a dirty look. “It’s certainly a place to start.”

“I told you, it was unavoidable.”

She rolled her eyes. “It always is with you. You wanted me to come to this party, and then you couldn’t be bothered to even show up on time.”

He sighed. “How many times do I have to apologize for that?”

“Don’t bother. We’ve had that fight before. I know how it ends.”

Exasperation set in. Brenna wasn’t making sense. “Then what?”

That lit her fire, and the look she leveled on him nearly scorched him. “I don’t even know where to begin. The wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am in the rehearsal room?”

Wham-bam…? What the hell…?

“Or the fact that right after that I got to watch you flirt with half the female population of San Francisco?”

That was what had her upset? “I was simply being nice.”

She snorted, and turned to stare pointedly out the window.

“Are you jealous, Bren?” He couldn’t keep the amazed amusement out of his voice.

That snapped Brenna’s eyes back to his. “No. Not in the least. I just think it’s rude to expect me to stand there and watch you eat up all that simpering.”

“So you’d rather I be rude to them?”

“Polite party conversation doesn’t require your head in Libby’s cleavage. And it certainly—” She choked on her ire and turned back to the window. “You could’ve put a stop to it, but you didn’t. It’s like I wasn’t even there.”

The twelve blocks back to Garrett Towers took only a few minutes at this time of night, and they were already pulling to a stop under the awning. The night doorman had the door open seconds later, and Brenna was out of the limo before Jack could even respond to her last comment.

But her game face was back in place as she smiled at the doorman and they walked calmly to the elevator. Brenna’s jealousy was a new experience for him, and, while he didn’t look forward to trying to talk her out of her anger, the fact she was jealous at all did bring him a small bit of satisfaction.

Once the elevator doors closed, he tried to talk her down. “I would think that trip to the rehearsal room proved you have no reason at all to be jealous. In fact, I’m willing to spend all night proving it to you.”

“Not a chance,” she scoffed. “I’m just going up long enough to get my suitcase. I’m going home.”

“Home?” he repeated dumbly. “Now?”

“Yes, now.” She shot him a level look as the elevator doors opened. “You don’t even have to order a car for me this time. I can do it myself.”

The chauffeur had left Brenna’s bag sitting right inside the door, and she grabbed the handle, obviously intending to get right back on the elevator. He stopped her by closing the door and standing in front of it. With all he knew now, he wasn’t going to let Brenna retreat again. “Are you really going to storm out of here just because you’re jealous of Libby and her posse?”

“I’m going home because I realized tonight that I was crazy to think anything would be different this time. Libby Winston’s swooning is only part of it. I won’t just be your accessory again.”

Ah, finally they were at the heart of the matter. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite sure what that was. He approached her carefully. “Again?”

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