Annie stood there with her bag hanging off her fingertips, trying to put the pieces and words together in her mind. Dave didn’t know Jasper…he couldn’t. “What did you just say?”
“Jasper.”
It sounded obscene to hear his name coming out of Dave’s mouth. It made her want to yell and shake him. “How do you know that name?”
Dave visibly swallowed before answering. “I know him.”
She could have sworn something clunked in her brain. She remembered that photo Jasper kept on his phone, the old one she’d seen one time when she scrolled through. Jasper hadn’t tried to hide it, but he didn’t show it off, either. It was of the guy who once meant something. The one Jasper loved and lost years ago, before he could accept the fact he was bisexual.
They never talked about him except for that one time. The facts clicked together in her head now. But one piece didn’t fit. “Matthew. Jasper said his name was Matthew.”
“David Matthew Hunter. At first I went by my middle name to avoid nepotism. My father’s a pretty well-known federal judge. He’s been short-listed for the Supreme Court by more than one administration.”
The information made sense but it didn’t explain everything. He’d sought her out and used a fake name…or his real name. Either way, when he’d met her, he didn’t say who he was to Jasper and the huge role they played in each other’s past.
A sick possibility hit her then. That Jasper, her loyal and loving boyfriend, set all of this up as some sort of sick test. “Did he send you to me?”
Dave frowned. “What?”
“Is this some kind of fidelity test?” She shifted until her back hit the door.
“Are you kidding?”
“Answer me.”
“That doesn’t sound like Jasper.”
How the hell would he know that? “He asked me to marry him and I didn’t give him an answer. Maybe…”
All the blood rushed out of Dave’s face and his mouth dropped open. “He asked you to marry him?”
He looked stunned and a little sick, as if the news punched into him. She recognized the look—the reeling. She knew and could identify the sensation because she was experiencing the same thing right now. The buzz in her brain. The dizziness. The conflicting needs to both sit down and race away bombarding her.
“Tell me why you’re here. Why me?” Desperation clawed at her. She grabbed the door handle behind her back and tried to turn it but her fingers refused to work.
“I just—I knew Jasper before. We were roommates. It was years ago. We—”
Every buried bit of that conversation came rushing back to her. “You were way more than that to him.”
“He told you?”
Jasper had experimented over the years. He believed sexuality was much more fluid than many people liked to say despite the teachings of his very strict preacher father. When his feelings for Dave overwhelmed him, Jasper had panicked because loving Dave meant potentially losing everything.
“He doesn’t lie to me.” He told her how he’d been confused and messed up, and that Dave cut off all contact and moved on. But Dave was here now and he’d kissed her…and she had no idea what any of it meant. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“I came back to see him.”
That part made sense. She really couldn’t blame Dave for wanting to rebuild whatever he had with Jasper. “You mean you moved to DC again to get him back.”
Dave stepped closer. He had his hands out in front of him, talking with them, as if pleading with her. “I didn’t know about you, but then people—people we knew together back then—told me that he was with someone and it was serious. I did some research and—”
The word sliced through her. “Research?”
“Hell, Annie. I admit it. I wanted you to not matter to him.” Dave let out a sharp exhale. “But you do. Everyone was clear on that. So, I wanted to learn about you. I was curious and more than a little jealous.”
She needed to get out of there. “Is this some sort of cruel joke? Are you trying to hurt me?”
“God, no.” He shook his head. “It’s the opposite. The more I learned, the more impressed I was. You built this career from scratch after your marriage fell apart, your job in finance went to shambles, and you lost your house.”
“Oh, my God.” She took a step back. “None of that is your business.”
“I know that. I do. I know my behavior has been—”
“Shitty. Dishonest.” So many harsher words filled her mind.
“I’ve been a dick. I should have told you who I was the first time you asked if we’d met before. But I was selfish. I just…”
“You what?” She couldn’t possibly imagine what excuse he might use.
“I grew to like you. I enjoy spending time with you. You’re beautiful and smart and resourceful, but above all you’re a survivor. There is nothing sexier than that.”
Every sentence cut deeper into her. “What, so now you’re attracted to me?”
“I’m attracted to you, and I miss him.” Dave closed his eyes. “Yeah, I know. It’s a mess.”
The buzzing in her pocket made her gasp. For a second she didn’t even recognize it was her cell. When she grabbed it and stared at the screen she saw the name she loved so much. “This is work. I have to take it.”
“Annie, please.”
She cut Dave off by answering. She couldn’t press the button fast enough. “Hello?”
“Miss Sullivan.” Jasper’s deep voice vibrated against her ear. “I need your services. Right now. You better be wearing something I can tunnel my hands under.”
She didn’t want Dave to know who was on the other end. Not until she could figure out how to handle any of this.
“Our appointment is still on for today. I’m at the Jefferson.” She pretended to look at her watch but the face blurred on her. “I’ll meet you in ten minutes, as planned.”
“Block off the rest of the afternoon and evening. I intend to make you scream.” Excitement ran through Jasper’s voice.
“I look forward to it.” She disconnected the call and pocketed the phone. “I need to go.”
“We need to talk about this. Look, I know I messed up. I should have handled this better, been more open.” He blew out a harsh breath. “Jesus, Annie. This surprised me. You surprised me. How much I still want Jasper surprises me.”
“I can’t do this. Not now.”
Not ever.
She turned and got a good grip on the door handle.
“What are you going to say to Jasper?”
She wished she knew. “I have no idea.”