Sealing the Deal (Business and Pleasures) Read Online Free Page A

over the Jensen situation. He had a lot of redeeming qualities, but trust is a big issue. She had never allowed herself to trust him, even though she hadn’t realised that probably, she unconsciously had... until today. Wishful thinking, that’s all that was. She was annoyed at herself for feeling like this. She had kept him at a distance for this very reason, but somehow it had still affected her. She was confused and hurt; she felt betrayed, and it made her angry.
    Her doorbell rang and she silently cursed them away. It rang again. She waited, trying to remember if any of the lights were on downstairs. She had just begun to relax when the blasted thing rang again.
    Cursing repeatedly she reached for a towel and clamb ered ungracefully from the claw footed bath. Wrapping herself and quickly squeezing the excess water from her hair. She glanced in the mirror briefly before sullenly trudging to the door.
    Upon opening it, she was surprised to find Jensen stood on the bottom step; half twisting away as if he was about to leave. He didn’t have the usual carefree attitude that she associated with him, instead he had an air of caution. Good. She thought, and sighed. Really though, what is he doing here? I’m so not in the mood to see him or anyone else right now.
    “Hey Red. Er, can I come in?” He asked sensing her mood. She exhaled defeated and stepped aside.
    “I was in the bath Jensen.” She said huffily. Closing the door behind him, she adopted her default hostess setting and asked;
    “Do you want a cup of tea?” Tea heals all.
    “Coffee please, if you have it.” He asked taking a seat at the island in her kitchen. He didn’t say another word until she begrudgingly sat down with him cradling her mug. He sipped his coffee and watched her. She knew she looked moody, but she didn’t care.
    “So… I’m sensing you’re not happy to see me?” He questioned, arching an inquisitive eyebrow.
    Rin took a moment to swallow a mouthful of tea, then turned to face him. He looked so innocent she nearly laughed.
    “Jensen, I might a s well come right out with it.”
    He remained quiet and gorgeous, which was helpful. She didn’t want him to gum up her annoyance with his sweet talk.
    “I generally have trust issues with men. You played a big part in that, but that’s neither here nor there.”
    She stopped to sip.
    “I have let myself get too attached to you, and I think it’s going to end badly for me,” she said, still plotting out what she was actually trying to tell him, she didn’t really want to mention her feelings about this afternoon.
    The calm drained away and he suddenly looked crestfallen. He opened his mouth to interject, but Rin continued.
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other anymore.” Her heart screamed at her as she said the words.
    “Rin, before you continue can I at least tell you how I feel?” he asked, cool again, but sadness coloured his words. She sat back and looked at him properly. He had obviously not expected this as an outcome when he had turned up. She observed him objectively, his nearly shoulder-length hair, the designer stubble and square jaw, his full lips and chiseled features. She looked to his chocolate eyes last, and instantly they put their spell on her, and she forgot why she had wanted to push him away.
    “I don’t usually make much effort with women. I'm not the kind of guy to settle, so it’s always been easier to keep it simple and quick, and just move on.”
    He frowned then tried again.
    “Not that anything in the past matters now, I don’t feel like that with you. I… I’m always thinking about you. I had wanted to ask you before, last night actually, how you felt about…us.”
    He paused looking away.
    “You don’t want to see me anymore?” he asked quietly, and Rin felt like crying, but she held it together.
    “That’s not what I mean,” she said getting confused, she didn’t want him to think she wasn’t interested, but