Page 11 of Jesse

“Gross,” I mumble.

“OK, I gotta go. I’m being fed sushi by a geisha right now. Little corporate perk from the Osakisan Company.”

“Wait!” I say before he can hang up. “What do I do when I get her there?”

“What do you mean? You fuck her.”

“Are you sure? What if Old Bat Knottingham buys me? Or Mean Trish Sellers?”

“Old Bat?” He laughs. “She never buys anyone, don’t worry. But Trish? Sure, yeah. I’d do her. Don't sweat it, you’ll be fine. Talk soon.”

Then he hangs up.

I picture being stuck up in the lake house with Mean Trish and almost feel a panic attack coming on.

Why the fuck did I ever agree to do this?

CHAPTER FIVE - EMMA

“He just looked at me,” I say, feeling breathless and dizzy.

“Play it cool. Just play it cool,” Mila says.

I turn away from Jesse because my heart is thumping so hard in my chest, if I lock eyes with him again, I might faint.

Why does he have this effect on me? I should not be reacting this way. I am not that eighteen-year-old girl he fucked and forgot about back in Key West.

I am a confident, brilliant, beautiful woman. And I’m filthy rich now too. I am here to buy that asshole and make him pay.

I look over my shoulder again, hoping to get another peek at him. But he’s talking to his cousin, Zach, who I have no feelings about at all. He’s so much younger than the other Boston Boys, he can’t be held responsible for any of their actions.

“Stop it,” Hannah hisses in my ear. “You’re going to make him suspicious.”

“Maybe one of you should buy him?” I ask, still feeling dizzy.

“No way,” Natalie says. “There’s no way I will be alone with that asshat the whole ride up to their lake house.” She does a little shiver. “Gross. I’d rather date a serial killer.”

“You’re being a little dramatic,” I say. “He’s not that bad.”

All three of my friends scoff at the same time. Hannah is in the middle of sipping champagne and almost spits it out.

“What?” I say. “You’re comparing him to a serial killer. He’s just… a jerk, not a psychopath.”

“I beg to differ,” Mila says. “Should I tell my story again?”

“No,” the three of us say at the same time.

But I’m pretty sure we’re not all saying no for the same reason. Hannah and Natalie are truly grossed out at the thought of me being alone with Jesse Boston. That’s why they don’t want to take this little trip down memory lane or be the one to buy him tonight.

Me, on the other hand… I just… I don’t know. I get this weird feeling whenever I think about how they… and Jesse… and they… and then he… yeah. No. I can’t listen to it. It makes me feel all rage-y for some reason.

And I have too many emotions running through my head right now, I don’t need another one.

Besides, if I hear her story again I’ll start thinking about mine.

Not a good idea when you’re about to kidnap the jerk who broke your heart.

I need my head in the game. I need all my wits.