Afterburn

colorful array of hardcover literary volumes and dog-eared popular fiction paperbacks. There was another picture of me on the shelf, this one upright. I was solo. No Jax.
    The photo was recent. No more than six months old.
    From across the room, I stared at it, feeling my palms go damp.
    He’d been keeping tabs on me.
    The questions kept piling up, but one very important answer was made glaringly clear by the existence of that picture. I couldn’t decide if I felt joy or pain about it. Maybe it was a mixture of both.
    Jax’s desk was covered in scattered pages and open folders, but I turned my back on them. I’d seen enough.
    I headed back out to the living room where I grabbed my purse and set off toward the door. The men outside seemed surprised when I pulled it open. They stopped talking, and I gave a brisk nod to both of them before striding to the elevator with my head held high.
    “Gia.” Jax took a step toward me. “Don’t go.”
    “I’ll ride down with you, Miss Rossi,” Parker offered, coming up to me with a smile that was far too friendly. “It’s good to see you again.”
    “Mr. Rutledge,” I replied.
    “Call me Parker, please.”
    “Dad,” Jax growled, coming closer. “You and I aren’t done talking.”
    Parker patted him on the shoulder. “We can pick up where we left off later, son.”
    Jax looked at me. “We’re supposed to be having dinner.”
    “I’ll need to take a rain check.”
    “Don’t do this, Gia.”
    I smiled grimly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
    The elevator car arrived, and Parker gestured me in before him.
    Jax caught me by the elbow. “Give me five minutes.”
    “How about I call you later?” I said, realizing I wasn’t even tempted to stay. I was too raw, too confused. I needed some breathing room.
    His jaw tightened.
    “It’s all right, Jackson,” Parker said quietly. “I’ll show her out.”
    Jax turned his head slowly toward his father, his features set like stone. “I meant what I said.”
    “You always do.” Parker grinned.
    I stepped into the elevator just as the doors started to close again. Parker joined me, but my attention was on Jax, our gazes locked together. His hands were fisted at his sides, his jaw tense and determined. But his eyes...those deep, dark eyes...they made the same promises they always had. I believed them now. I had the proof.
    Parker faced me as the car began its descent, smiling. “How are you, Gianna?”
    “I’ve been better. How about you?”
    “You make it awkward to say it’s been a good day so far.”
    My mouth curved. “And a good day for your friend Ian, too.”
    “Ah.” His eyes brightened with amusement. “Please don’t hold that against Jackson.”
    I shrugged. “It’s just business, right?”
    “You’re a very practical woman. Certainly one of the many reasons why he’s so taken with you. Speaking of which...” He rocked back on his heels. “I’d like to get to know you better, Gianna. Would you and Jax come to dinner with my wife and me? Something quiet at our house in the Hamptons, maybe?”
    “I’d like that.” I’d like anything that would let me get a better handle on Jax.
    “Good. I’ll let Regina know.” His smile faded a little. “Don’t let Jackson talk you out of it. He wants to keep you all to himself.”
    “Does he?”
    Parker sobered further. “He’s very protective.”
    “Is he? What would he have to protect me from?”
    “We’re men, Gianna,” he drawled. “We’re not always rational when it comes to women.”
    I nodded, gathering that Parker was as much of an enigma as his son. It seemed Rutledges were just naturally inclined to be hard to read and cryptic.
    The elevator doors opened into the lobby and we stepped out into a meticulously restored pre-war space that exuded luxury and privilege.
    “I have a car waiting,” he said. “Can I give you a ride?”
    “Thank you but no.” I didn’t even want to contemplate the look on Parker’s face if he saw where I lived. Compared to the marble-lined lobby of Jax’s building, complete with concierge and doorman, my place would look...not so hot. I wasn’t embarrassed by the loft or my family, but I thought it might be wise to not trigger suspicions of gold digging until the Rutledges got to know me better.
    “All right, then, if you’re sure.” Parker hesitated, as if waiting for me to change my mind. When I didn’t, he said, “I’ll let Jax know the day and time for dinner. I’m looking