bChapter /bb101 /b

Time bseemed /bto stand still. It bwasn’t /bbexactly /ba mess, but things bwere /bbdefinitely /bawkwardb, /bbespecially /bnow bthat /bbJared /bknew Nathan and I had been talking in privateb. /b

“Mr. Hob, Mrs. Hob, bhaven’t /byou started eating byet/bb?/b” Nathan’s eyes brushed bover /bmy face before he turned to Jared

with a smile.

“We’re just about to have dinner upstairs. Want to join usb?/b” Jared asked politely.

Nathan’s smile suddenly grew a little deeper, though I bwasn’t /bsure what set him off. “Not really a good time for me. Maybe next time, when bit’s /bmore convenient,” he replied.

Jared’s lips pressed into a thin line, and his bface /bno longer looked as pleasant as before.

I didn’t say a word, but without meaning to, my gaze kept drifting toward Nathan.

With his sses on, he had this refined and handsome look, like a leopard hiding in the shadowsb, /bexuding a mysterious and dangerous aura.

Then I nced at Jared again. He was dressed all prim and proper, but his vibe was more like a refined rogue than a true gentleman.

“Alright, we’ll head up then,” Jared said as he reached out and pulled me firmly into his arms, holding me close to his side.

That sudden show of gentleness made my heart skip a beat.

This was honestly kind of funny. ‘bIs /bJared actually getting possessive over me now?‘ I wondered. ‘Could he really be starting to care about me, just like Melissa said? Or am I just overthinking it?

‘If he really splits his heart and gives part of it to me, what about Tracy? She’s a rich girl. She wants all of Jared, heart and soul. But why should I even care? It’s Jared’s business if he loves her, not mine.‘

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nathan still standing by the staircase, as if his gaze was drifting in our direction.

Jared held me close as we climbed the first step, but as we turned toward the second, he suddenly pressed me up against the bwall/b.

Before bI /bcould react, one hand cradled my head while the other was nted firmly on the wall by my shoulder, and he lowered his head to im my lips.

I never expected Jared to be so wild. In my previous life, I’d never seen this side of him, but here he was, as if he were staking his im on me.

I didn’t pull away. Jared got what he wanted, and as I cracked my eyes open, under the warm glow of the lights, I caught a glimpse of Nathan’s shadow slipping past the staircase.

He had quietly followed us up a few steps, but when he saw what was happening, he quietly retreated.

bJared /bdidn’t kiss me for long, but the air between us was thick with intimacy. For the first time, I could almost hear his heart pounding like a drum. His breath was hot and a little ragged, and I even caught his ears turning red.

Jared bwas /bbnever /bthe kind of guy to lose control like that. If he did, it had to mean he was going against everything he usually bwas/b. He must have felt awkward and a little ashamed, too.

He didn’t bsay /ba word. He just gave my cheek a gentle bsqueeze /bbefore turning and heading upstairs.

Maybe I should learn to want it all, too.”

Upstairs at dinnerb, /bbI /bcould barely taste a thing. Jared acted totally normal in front of his friends, like nothing had happened. bIt /bbwas /bjust a regr meal. They just talked about work, not women, maybe because I was there.

After dinner, bJared /btook me straight home. He’d had a few drinks, so he leaned back in the passenger bseat /bwhile I took the wheel.

bAs /bbwe /bpulled out, the Maybach parked nearby suddenly roared to life. I snuck a nce at Jared, wondering if he’d noticed.

My heart skipped a beat as I checked the rearview mirror. The car sat quietly with its headlights on, and I could just barely make out the shadowy figure in the driver’s bseat/b.