Page 82 of Claimed By The Other Brother

"But Dax..." I set down my fork.

"Dealing with Dax is dangerous. There's no emotional stability there. It's just physical. Just sex. He probably does this with women all the time."

Jane scoffs, picking up her wine.

"Right…Because Miles leaving you standing in your wedding dress in front of the people you know and love is the epitome of emotional stability."

I can't help it—I laugh. A real laugh, the first one I've had since this conversation started.

"Look," Jane continues.

"I'm not saying Dax is perfect. I'm not saying this is going to work out or that it's not complicated as hell. But Scarlett..." She reaches across the table and takes my hand.

"You deserve a win. You deserve to feel good. To feel wanted. To feel like you're not playing small”.

"But what if it all blows up?" I ask quietly.

"What if I go to New York and it's a disaster?"

"What if you don't go and you spend the rest of your life wondering what might have happened?" Jane squeezes my hand.

"Take the job. Let the cards fall where they may. If Dax went out of his way like this to bring you back to NYC, you need to see what he's really about. See if there's something real there or if it's just... you know."

"Just sex."

"Just sex," she confirms.

"Either way, you'll know. And you'll be making great money and getting amazing experience in the process."

I look down at our joined hands.

"You really think I should take it?"

"I think you'd be crazy not to." Jane releases my hand and picks up her fork.

"Now eat your salad and tell me every single detail about that bathroom encounter. I want to live vicariously through you."

I laugh again, and for the first time since Linda called me into her office this morning, I feel like I can breathe. The walk back to my office feels different. Lighter somehow, despite the weight of the decision I'm about to make.

Jane's words echo in my head:You deserve a win. Let the cards fall where they may.

She's right. What's the alternative? Stay in Chicago, keep seeing Miles hovering around the edges of my life, wondering what might have happened if I'd been brave enough to take the risk?

I've spent too much of my life playing it safe. Playing small. Making myself smaller to fit into Miles's comfortable, routine world.

Maybe it's time to be bold.

By the time I reach the office, my decision is made. I don't even stop at my desk. I walk straight to Linda's office and knock on her door.

"Come in."

I open the door and step inside. Linda looks up from her computer, her expression hopeful and anxious at the same time.

"I'll take theclient," I say.

Relief floods Linda's face. She stands, coming around her desk.

"Thank God. You had me worried there for a minute."