Lauren scoffed. “The police have better things to do with their time than find a pissed off woman with a spray can.” She picked up her bag from the seat and placed the strap on her shoulder. “I need to go.”
Jack reached for her hand again, and she jumped off the seat like she had springs on her ass. “Don’t go. We need to talk about this. Claire was a mistake. She never should have involved you. Her issues are with me.”
She threw her hands up in frustration. “That’s the problem, Jack, she did involve me.”
Rising, Jack tried to place calming hands on her shoulders, but she took a step back. He sighed, and his arms fell to his sides.
Her hand fidgeted with her locket, and he watched as she held onto it like a lifeline. He wanted to reach for her fingers and steady them but knew she wouldn’t let him.
“She’s reminded me that you were always going to be a bad idea.”
He suppressed a sigh of frustration. “Lauren, you’re upset… I’ll handle Claire, and this won’t ever happen again.”
She gave a mirthless laugh. “Of course it will happen again. Your history doesn’t show many long-lasting relationships, Jack. Have they ever lasted more than a night?” She began to pace in front of him and continued without waiting for an answer. “Surely there are other women out there that you’ve brushed aside without any concern for their feelings. Or maybe a jealous ex-lover will come out with a juicy story about you. Like maybe…” She looked around as if she was trying to find inspiration then clicked her fingers when an idea struck. “A baby you knew nothing about.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a second to keep calm. “How many times have I told you I’m not Graham?”
“I know you’re not Graham, but I can’t live like this, knowing that somewhere out there is a woman—and who knows how many more—who can invade my life like this. I have enough drama to deal with, I don’t need yours too.”
She turned to leave. This time he caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. “My history isn’t squeaky-clean. I’ve done a lot of dumb shit, I can’t change that. But I want more than a night or two with you. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, and it scares the hell out of me.”
She searched his face, and he hoped she saw the truth of his words and gave him a chance.
“But do you know what scares me more?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “What scares me more is that you’ll walk away from me without giving us a shot.” Lauren blinked back tears.
“Don’t walk away from us.”
“Jack, I need time to think.” Her voice quavered. “Please let me go.”
Dammit, he didn’t want to give her the time to think. She would only relive her past and
let it get in the way.
“Jack, please.”
The tears she’d been holding back spilled onto her checks. He wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss them away. But the pleading look in her eyes made him release her. Pivoting on her heel, she hurried away.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After arranging for a tow truck to take her car to the repair shop to get the graffiti removed and the tires replaced, Lauren spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning her unit. She scrubbed and washed until it shined like a diamond.
Usually she found cleaning helped clear her mind, but right now it wasn’t working. Her head was still telling her she didn’t need the added stress of Jack’s drama, but her heart was yelling at her for being so stupid and walking away.
Lauren sent out an emergency call out to Ava and Jade. She hoped the girls could help with her problems. Ava suggested they meet up at Body Re-Sculpture; she had her eyes set on a very attractive personal trainer, and they could also let off steam on the gym equipment. Two birds, one stone.
Lauren agreed she could use a bit of physical therapy to help relieve the built-up tension.
* * * *
Sweaty from a five-kilometer run on the treadmill, Lauren stretched out her tired limbs and filled Ava and Jade in on the events of the day, without giving away too many details of the time she’d spent with Jack. Their faces turned from happiness one moment to concern over the problem with Claire the next.
“Lauren, I’ve known you long enough to understand this thing with Jack is serious.”
Jade’s red, curly hair had broken free from her ponytail and bounced around her flushed face.
Lauren stretched her arm out to the side. “Jade, you told me Jack doesn’t do ‘serious’.”
“What would I know? I get my information from silly magazines. From what you’ve been telling us Jack isn’t treating you like a one-night stand. He told you hewants you.” Her stomached dropped. Would that be enough?