Page 16 of Break Me Not

I put her card in my back pocket. There was no way I was going to be alone with her. And even though she was being nothing but professional, I might trust myself in a public place like this, but there was no saying what would happen if we were alone again.

It was also a little bit… awkward. Especially since the money she paid for me had already been deposited into my bank account.

“How about you check the perimeter? I have an appointment⁠—”

“I thought I recognized that voice,” my daughter said, coming out of my office with a large smile on her face. “You couldn't wait until tonight?”

I turned to look at Claire as she came to us. The reality of the situation came down on me with a crushing weight. I looked between her and the woman that had been between my… Well, Jax. The taller girl had a moment of panic before she quickly tried to fix her face.

Tonight?

My heart threatened to sink down to the floor.

“I’m actually here because of the break-in⁠—”

“Mom, there was a break-in?” Claire snapped her head to me, worry threading across her features.

I placed my hand on her arm.

“It's okay, nothing happened,” I said in a soothing voice.

Ever since she was young, she’d had anxiety issues. Therapy and meds helped, but there was always a lingering bit of it under the skin. It was exactly why I tried to keep her as far away from her father as possible.

If she knew why the break-in had likely happened, I didn’t know what she would do.

“Jax was recommended by a mutual business partner.” I decided to force a smile onto my face, looking at Jax. “But how do you know each other?”

Claire tugged at my arm.

“You don't remember her?” she asked. “We were roommates for a bit in college, and we've been friends ever since. She was at my graduation. I think you even stood by her for a bit, remember?”

I tried to search my memories for images of her, but the panic was catching up faster.

They know each other. They are friends.

Not just that, but she…

“So you already knew me?” I asked, looking at her. “Before you came here, I mean?”

Before we slept together, I meant.

Jax looked like she wanted to say so much more, but she pressed her lips together instead and gave me a tight nod.

“Jax’s company is great. It doesn’t matter that she dropped out. They make like billions of dollars a year⁠—”

Jax gave Claire a look and shook her head rapidly.

“What? I don't think my mom would reject my best friend just because she dropped out of college.”

Her best friend.

Memories of our night together burst through my head like a floodgate was opened. My heart started racing in my chest. My palms went clammy. My stomach twisted with acid.

No. No way.

I took a step back, giving Claire an awkward smile.

“I just realized that I forgot I had something to do,” I said quickly. “You and your… friend can finish lunch in my office. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you this weekend.”