Jarred flitted through her mind and Kinsley pushed that thought of their fevered caresses aside. No way. Jarred wasn’t the man for her. They were from two different worlds really. Plus, this was just for the money, wasn’t it? He was a solution to her problem.
“What have I gotten myself into?” she muttered to herself, tapping her foot as the tube slowed to the station. No matter how much she tried to ignore it, this partnership of sorts was way more than just some money now. The problem was she didn’t know how to handle Jarred … or his kisses
13
Jarred pulled his cell out of his pocket, looking down at the screen with a frown. His father’s number flashed back at him, causing him some heartburn. Today he’d been working on the other half of his father’s demands for his trust fund, visiting the headquarters for the Formula One team. Racing had always been something he was interested in; the excitement and adrenaline were a plus. But there was such a purity to the cars. He loved chatting with the engineers about how they tried to make the cars faster.
He’d dabbled a little in the actual business aspect of the team, but nowhere near enough to actually be in charge of it. Before, he’d been more of a hobbyist, sneaking off incognito to races to watch. Susan had hated anything to do with the racing so she’d refused to go. Add to it that he’d deliberately wanted to avoid publicity, and she really wasn’t interested.
The more Jarred thought about it, the more he wondered how he’d been with her for so long. How he’d ever convinced himself that he loved her.
Now that his father was forcing his hand, he was finally getting to take an open interest in something he genuinely loved. Not that he was ever telling his father that. All morning he’d been meeting with various people within the headquarters, learning as much as he could. So far, he was actually enjoying himself. And the kicker was, he could actually be good at this.
His inner adrenaline junkie wished they’d stick him behind the wheel. He’d floated that idea, but of course the lawyers had all paled at the potential insurance cost. But maybe when he finally had his full trust fund, he’d be able to build a car just for himself.
Holding the phone to his ear, he pressed the button. “Hello, Father.”
“Jarred,” his father said. “I hear you are spending time with the racing team this morning. That’s good son, very good.”
“Just doing what you are requiring me to do,” Jarred said. He was actually having fun learning the racing side of the company, but he wasn’t going to tell his father that.
“I’m just trying to help you with your future Jarred,” his father said, disapproval in his tone. “Surely you can see that.”
“What do you want Dad?” Jarred sighed, not wanting to have this conversation again. He was going to play by his father’s rules for now, but not for the rest of his life.
“I was thinking,” his father started, “that maybe you and Kinsley should meet with a wedding planner. I have made some calls and have secured one of London’s foremost wedding planners to help you with your wedding. She’s willing to meet with you both today.”
“Dad,” Jarred warned, his mind scrambling at what he was going to say about this. This was when he needed Kinsley and her fast thinking to smooth this over. He hadn’t seen her since last night, but she wasn’t going to like this change of events. “Kinsley and I can handle our own wedding planning.”
“I understand,” his father said. “But I was thinking this weekend would be a perfect time to have the wedding. This planner, she’s a gem and can plan whatever Kinsley likes. Money is no object. I’ll be footing this bill, of course. Think of it as a wedding present. It’s not every day my only son finds a woman he wants to wed.”
Jarred rubbed a hand over his face. His father had lost it, truly. Didn’t he have better things to do than just sit around and try to plan a wedding? What had gotten into him? “Don’t you think that Kinsley should be able to plan this wedding? Isn’t that what brides like to do?”
His father was silent on the other end for a few moments. “You’re right of course,” he finally said. “I’ll talk with Kinsley. She will see the reasoning.”
“Wait,” Jarred said as his father rang off. Damn. Why did he have to be so pushy? His phone still in his hand, he walked outside where his car was parked, the dreary, overcast day matching his mood now. He needed to talk with Kinsley. Jarred dialed his father’s office, impatience settling in his body. She was probably upset about him leaving so abruptly last night but after dinner and that kiss, he’d needed to get the hell away from her. Because one more moment in her presence, he’d have started to forget that shit wasn’t real and he’d have made love to her repeatedly. Matter of fact, they’d both still be in bed. He’d have kept her in bed until she begged off from too many orgasms.
The problem was that last night, when he visited one of the clubs that he frequented on a regular basis, there was no joy in being there. He’d sat in the VIP section of the club, a drink in his hand and glowered. So angry at himself for needing to be exactly who his father thought he was. Angry with his father and everyone else under the sun for never believing in him.
But most of all, he missed Kinsley. Her touch, her voice, the way she had damn near charmed everyone at dinner, minus Susan. She had floored him, intrigued him, and made him want her worse than he already did.
“Mr. Maloney’s office, may I help you?”
“Kinsley,” he gritted out, his voice harsh in his own ears. “It’s Jarred.”
“Hi, um, Jarred,” she answered, surprise in her voice. “Your father just stepped out.”
“I don’t want to talk to him,” he said, attempting to control his anger. He wasn’t mad at her; he was mad at himself. “I want to talk with you.”
“Um okay,” she said. “About what?”
“Tonight,” he blurted out, a plan forming in his mind. “We need to get together tonight.”
“Why?” she asked, the wariness apparent in her voice.
Jarred climbed in his car and started the engine. Should he be honest with her and tell her that he really just wanted to see her? It was the truth, no matter how he wanted to spin it. He missed her and it was fucking killing him. “My father called me. He wants us to get married this weekend.”
She made a noise somewhere between a choked cough and laugh. “Oh, that’s not going to happen,” she said, nervousness in her voice. “I hope you told him so.”
“If he asks about a wedding planner, tell him whatever it takes to stall,” Jarred said, pulling out of the parking lot toward his flat. “And come over when you get off of work.”
“You haven’t been home have you?” she asked softly.
Jarred frowned. “Why?” He hadn’t been home. He had spent the night at Turner’s, who wasn’t happy to be woken up at 2 a.m. but Jarred hadn’t wanted to go home.
“I left you a note,” she answered with a sigh. “I’m back at my place now. I left you the address in case you, well, if you needed me.”