LISA

I was never weak on women.

But Jennie stole my eyes first and my heart was beginning to follow.

When I saw that asshole, Flynn, holding her that way, it made my veins explode with such fire that I only saw red. I wanted to tear his fucking head off and break every bone in his body.

Every muscle in my body was twitching, throbbing, shaking with such rage, it scared me. I had never felt such emotion streaming through my muscles, hitting my lungs like hot needles.

If I could feel that much anger from a man trying to touch Jennie, what did that mean for me?

Was I really getting wrapped up around her?

Was I so tempted by what she could give me that I was willing to destroy my career?

Sitting in my car outside her house, I brushed my jaw with my fingers. "Are you sure you're alright? I don't want to leave you if you're rattled about that jackass at the club."

"I'm alright. Like I said, he didn't really do anything except a couple tit taps." Smirking, Jennie's eyes fell back onto her lap. "Shit, he's probably going to need stitches from the blow you gave him. I think he got the shit end of the stick, not me."

Chuckling, I asked, "Tit taps?"

"Yeah, you know. . ." Using her hand, she mimicked her word choice on my chest. Slender fingers came up and flicked my nipple, gently tickling around the side.

"Oh, is that it? So he wasn't a tit whisperer then?"

Giggling, her tongue ran across her bottom lip, wetting the plump flesh. "Far from it. He did seem nice, Lisa, I don't want you to think there was something you missed with him. I didn't get that feeling at first either."

Bowing my head, I teased a single strand of thread on my jacket. "I should have seen it, that's my job. I promised I'd never put you in harms way, what if I wasn't there?"

Her hand fell to my shoulder, curling over tightly. "But you were there. There's no point in wondering what if, because that wasn't the case." Jennie's eyes filled with reassurance, lashes hovering so delicately over her gaze.

But her face turned rigid, silencing her tender features. Plucking her face off mine, she glared at me from the corner of her eye.

"What?" I asked. "What are you thinking?"

"I can't go on anymore dates, Lisa. I just can't." The backside of her hand cupped her forehead, rubbing the skin.

"I know tonight didn't go exactly as I was hoping, but you can't give up on me yet."

Tilting her head a hair, she swallowed hard. Her upper lip curled, jaw flexing as her muscles lost all form. She looked defeated.

Don't. . . Not yet.

"Look, I just can't keep doing this." Crinkling my brows, she held her eyes firmly on my face. "Go on, tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that this is how it usually works out for you, tell me that this is normal."

Resting my chin on my hand, my eyes softened. "Yes, you are wrong. And no, this isn't usually how things go, but you can't just give up because it hasn't gone your way. Give me one more chance. I have one other guy who I think would really mesh with you."

I didn't want her to give up so easily, but it wasn't fair to keep stringing her along on these horrible dates. If she really wanted out, I couldn't stop her.

But I wasn't ready to give up on her, and I didn't want her to lose faith either.

Failure was not something I was used to. Challenges were something I looked for, grasped by the balls, and stomped into the ground.

Maybe all my success had gotten the best of me?

Either way, I made a name for myself, climbed the ladder and hitting gold. That didn't happen because I gave up. When I first started this business, people laughed in my face. I was told it wouldn't last, that it wouldn't go anywhere.

Look who's laughing now.

Shaking her head, Jennie teased the trim of my jacket. "I feel like I already found someone who's great for me." Her eyes flashed in the light, heating my core.

She knows I can't.

So why is that so tempting?

Why does it sound so perfect?

Forcing the thought away, I said, "I can't mix business and pleasure, I just can't. Look, the night we had was incredible, but it was a mistake. I'm not looking for someone right now."

"Boy, that sounds familiar." Rolling her eyes, a cynical laugh hung in the air. "Seems to me like the pot is calling the kettle black."

Clenching my fist, I tapped the steering wheel. "Things are complicated for me. Now's just not the time in my life. Look, you might not understand—"

"No, I don't understand," she said, cutting me off. "How can you just dismiss this?" Her finger flicked between us, then dove into her hair. "I'm not crazy, am I? You feel something, right?"

Thumbing my lower lip, I thought about my choice of words carefully. I did feel something, but that didn't matter.

"Jennie," I said softly, taking her hand in mine. "There are rules that I have, and it's important for me to stay true to them."

"Fuck your rules," she snapped, yanking her hand away. "I have my own rules too, but sometimes you can't deny what you feel." Throwing open the door, she stood outside. "I wish you'd just open your eyes, Lisa. Whatever it is you think you know, sometimes that's the wrong answer."

"I'm sorry, Jen."

"No, I'm sorry, Lisa. I'm done, no more dates. I know what I want, and I'm not going to stand here and watch it disappear again." Closing the door, she placed her palm on the window. Bending down, her lips puckered, kissing the glass, and leaving a perfect heart.

Little did I know in that moment how much of an impression those lips, and her words would leave on me.

I wasn't giving up on her.