Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
I turned to Sage. She held my hand. “We’re winning, Jasper won’t sell her Golden Oaks, and she’s pissed. She’s trying to take us down. It’s what she does. She’s a bored bitch who gets her kicks being a dick to others.” I nodded again, but there was still a sinking feeling in my chest.
We arrived at our hotel and took the elevator to our rooms. When we got to my door, Sage followed me inside. She wasn’t leaving me alone. But when I got to the living area, and saw Jasper sat on my couch waiting, I froze.
Jasper’s welcoming smile faded as I just stood there. “What’s wrong?” he asked, instantly aware of my mood.
Sage spoke for me. “Alexis Hobbs, Jake McGowen, and fucking Camille Dubois.”
Jasper’s face clouded with thunder. “What did they do?”
Sage squeezed my upper arms. “I’ll let Hallie tell you.” My best friend came to stand in front of me. “You okay?” I nodded, but I could see she knew it was bullshit. “Nothing they said was true. You know this.” Sage kissed me on my cheek. “Call me if you need me.”
Sage left the room and shut the door behind her. Jasper was unmoving, watching me. When he made to come to me, I held out my hand to stop him. “Please,” I said, embarrassed by the tears I felt building behind my eyes.
“Angel,” Jasper said, panic in his tone. “What the hell did they say?”
I looked into his dark eyes. He was so fucking beautiful. “That we were fucking. That it was the talk of all the riders, and you only sponsored me because I was a pretty face—that one came from Camille.”
Jasper’s teeth gritted together, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “That’s bullshit—”
“And that I’m a shit rider, and the only thing that keeps me on this tour is Huxley.”
“I told you not to listen to them! They’re poisonous. Everyone in the industry knows it. You told me you could handle it if they said anything to you.”
He did tell me that, and I did say that too, but it didn’t mean that they hadn’t hit some kind of hidden nerve within me.
“They have no proof we’re together,” he said, inching closer. I could see he wanted to hold me, but I couldn’t, not right now. I needed space. Ever since I came to England I’d been consumed by this man. This was the first time I didn’t want to fall into his arms.
“They had a picture,” I said.
“Of what?”
“Us walking along the river in Shanghai.”
Jasper frowned. “What were we doing?” he asked.
“Talking. That’s all.”
“Then they don’t have shit!” he said, voice raised. Jasper came closer still, and I could smell his cologne. Usually it comforted me, but not right now. “I’ll protect you. I’ll get more guards for you. Is that what you’re worried about? Someone coming for you because of the rumors? I swear nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it.”
I shook my head. An attack from whoever was targeting Jasper hadn’t even crossed my mind. No, it was my pride that was hurt.
“Hallie—”
“They said everyone thinks I’ve fucked you to get my place. And that you do this often.” I met Jasper’s eyes. “Do you? Will you tire of me once you’ve fucked me enough times and throw me aside? Will you take Huxley from me and leave me to find another sponsor?”
Jasper reared back like I’d just hit him. “Did you honestly just say that to me?” His voice was cold, and his posture became shuttered.
“I did. Camille was only too open with how easily you brushed her aside.”
Jasper laughed without mirth. “I didn’t give a flying fuck about Camille! It was a stupid one-night stand that I immediately regretted. You . . .” He trailed off, then lost his anger to say, “You were the game changer.” Jasper shook his head, then said, “If you think all this between us has been some twisted game for me, me playing with some younger woman to get my kicks, then what the fuck, Hallie. You don’t know me at all.”
Jasper left my room, and I stayed standing in the same position for God knew how long. My chest squeezed, just replaying that devasted look on his face. The disappointment that I’d believed anything those two had said to me, when I’d been warned numerous times what and who they were.
Needing air, I left my room and climbed the staircase to the roof. There was a twenty-four-hour pool up there, which I was hoping at this time of night was deserted.
I opened the door and let the humid Spanish air stick to my skin. It felt like the Texas and Florida heat and made me feel like I had a little bit of home with me. Thankfully, the pool was empty, and I turned to the rail that overlooked the city of Madrid. I leaned over and closed my eyes.