Free His to Possess #3: Perfect Storm by Opal Carew Page A

back, which I doubt, I don’t want him back.”
    “But if you still love him…”
    “I’ll get over it. Mom, please don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
    Mom sighed. “I know that, sweetie. And you know I’d do anything in the world to make things better for you. I’m really sorry about this.”
    Jessica smiled. “It’ll be okay Mom. I know Dad’s heart was in the right place.” She held the phone with both hands, wishing Mom was here right now so she could give her a big hug. “I love you. And I miss you.”
    “Me, too, sweetie.”
    A few minutes after she hung up the phone, Melanie walked into the living room.
    “Was that your Mom on the phone?”
    Jessica nodded.
    “Hey, is everything okay?” The concern in Melanie’s voice jarred Jessica from her thoughts.
    She shrugged. “Mom said that my ex is back in Bakersfield and he asked her for my number.”
    Melanie’s eyebrows arched. “And…?”
    Jessica had told her about Storm and how much she’d loved him. How he’d left her and how difficult it had been to get over him. How difficult it still was.
    “My father gave it to him.”
    Melanie’s eyebrows arched. “Did he give him your address, too?”
    “No, thankfully, but now I’ll be on pins and needles wondering if and when he’ll call.” She hugged her knees and gazed at Melanie. “I love my father but sometimes he just doesn’t get it.”
    Melanie nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. “Did he give you our home number or your cell?”
    “I’m not sure. Probably my cell.”
    Melanie smiled. “Okay, if it’s our home number, we can just screen the calls. For your cell, here’s what we’re going to do. First we’ll add a blocking app to your phone for any calls or texts he sends you that shoots unknown numbers straight to voicemail. Then we’re going to forget he even exists. You know I got my new nail polish, right? How about I do your nails with this great new color I think you’ll love, add a bit of glitz, then we’ll hit the town?”
    At her pursed lips, Melanie held up a bottle of rich burgundy nail polish in one hand and the real gold leaf flake topcoat she had been raving about for weeks in the other, and then tilted them back and forth.
    “Come on. You know you want to.”
    Jessica grinned. She did love the colored polish Melanie had picked out, and she would love to see what those delicate gold flakes looked like over the top of it.
    She laughed. “Okay. It’s a deal.”
    Ten minutes later, Melanie had finished applying the burgundy polish to Jessica’s nails, and she sat on the couch sipping a glass of wine while waiting for them to dry.
    “You know, I think what would help you right now would be to find a hot guy and get laid.”
    Jessica couldn’t help laughing. “I think you’re absolutely right.”
    She just wouldn’t tell her friend that she’d already found the hot guy, but she’d have to wait until Monday—at the office—to get laid. Again.
    *   *   *
    Midmorning on Monday, Jessica sat by Melanie’s desk with a notebook on her lap as she asked questions about the various subsidiaries under Ranier Industries’ control.
    The elevator doors opened and Dane stepped out. At once, awareness rippled through Jessica, but she continued to write down the most recent answer Melanie had provided.
    “Good morning, Melanie. Jessica. I hope you had a nice weekend.”
    “Very nice, thank you, Mr. Ranier,” Melanie answered as he walked by her desk, only a foot from Jessica.
    His gaze fell on Jessica and heat washed through her.
    “Yes, very nice,” she said.
    Usually he threw out this kind of small talk as he continued on to his office, so there was only time for a quick response before he was gone, but Melanie jumped in.
    “And you, Mr. Ranier?” Melanie asked.
    “Fine. A little socializing, a lot of work. The usual.”
    Jessica wondered if the socializing included a woman. Surprised at the rise in what seemed suspiciously like