“You want to end it?” His words came out slowly.
Her eyes started to sting with tears. No, she didn’t want it to end. She wanted their fling to go past the deadline and maybe even deepen into something more. And that was the problem. “The idea of making me into a brazen and wild woman was ridiculous,” she said hoarsely. “What was I thinking? And do it in a week?” She shook her head. “Impossible.”
“We can do it,” he insisted. “You are brazen and wild.”
She was for him. Only for him, and she was prepared to keep it that way. When she was alone with Jason, she felt safe and cherished. She could be daring or sweet, fun or intense, annoying or clinging. He had encouraged her to show how she felt and tell him what she wanted. Apparently she had gotten caught up in the fantasy.
“The fling has already done its job,” Claire said as she rolled her shoulders back and placed her hands on her hips. It was time to act as if the only thing she shared with him was business. “There is no use in delaying the inevitable.”
“That’s not why you slept with me.” His tone was sharp. “Don’t pretend that it was.”
She gave a tight, closed-mouth smile. “That’s true, but I need to focus more on my job now. We had a good run, don’t you think?”
He stared at her, his light blue eyes dull as his mouth flattened into a grim line. “Got me out of your system already?” he asked in a raspy voice.
She clenched her jaw before she blurted out how she really felt. She was never going to get Jason Strong out of her system. Claire would always fantasize about him. She was very close to falling in love with him. So it was better if they parted now. The longer they were together, the more she would want. The more she would dream.
Claire abruptly glanced down at her feet. She couldn’t meet his gaze as the emotions were swelling in her chest. “You have to agree that this is best for both of us.”
“No.”
She jerked her head up. “What do you mean, no?” Why was he being difficult? He was the one who only did temporary relationships. He should be thrilled that she was pulling the plug. Or did he have a problem with the fact that he hadn’t been the one to call it off? No, he wasn’t that petty. “We aren’t going to achieve any more in two days.”
“I’m saying no because you’re trying to hide again,” he accused. “This is why you’re so great at social media. You only want to show the edited version of yourself.”
“There is nothing wrong with showing your best self to the public. What good will come out of today? I want to go home right now because I’m embarrassed about what happened between me and Dr. Maibe.”
“This isn’t about today. I know what you’re going to do after this week is over. You’re going to lock yourself in your office and keep the world away. It won’t work again, Claire. I’ll drag you out every time you try. I won’t let you use your work as an excuse.”
“Excuse? Did you see what happened out there?” She marched over to the door. “That was a wake-up call.”
“No, it wasn’t, and don’t try to use it as one.” Jason crossed his arms and gave her a cold look. “You’ve been pulling away since Monday and we both know why.”
“You’ve got me all figured out, Jason?” Her voice was loud and she couldn’t seem to lower it. She had to get out of here.
“You hide because you think if you open up to people they will mistreat you.”
“Brilliant deduction.” Claire grabbed for the doorknob. She had to get out of there. The more she was losing control, the calmer he sounded. She felt exposed and vulnerable, the two things she always tried to avoid.
“But you don’t see that you treat yourself differently.”
Claire jerked back and whipped around to glare at Jason. “What are you talking about?”
“Maibe yelled at you and you let him—”
“He had every right—”
“No, he doesn’t!” Jason splayed his hands in the air. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. If he shouted at one of your friends, you would defend them. If he had been yelling at me, you would step in between the two of us and have at him. But you don’t defend yourself because you believe you deserve that kind of treatment.”
“No, that’s not true.” Was it? Claire blinked rapidly as the tears began to burn. She didn’t defend herself most of the time because there was a good chance she was in the wrong.