Chapter 243 - Let's be selfish (2)

Jeff saw JoAnna staring at him and was amused with her reaction. He didn't know that his body has such an effect on opposite gender. Probably because he never cared about that before, so he didn't notice. But seeing her lost in a daze like that, elated him.

'I know that she likes me... today, I will get that kiss.' Jeff walked toward her with a confident smile that made JoAnna hold her breath.

"It seems you can't stay away from me, no matter how much you try." Jeff stopped few inches away from JoAnna. Their eyes locked onto each other.

JoAnna forgot why she came to his room. She was aware only of his presence, how tall he is, his muscles, that drop of water sliding down his chest...

He held her chin with his thumb and index finger and lifted her head slightly.

His lips were so inviting, she thought of kissing them and felt blood rushing to her lips, making them throb from craving to touch his.

He saw her lick her lips. 'Yes, I got her... just one more inch, and I will get that kiss.' He was confident. "Why did you come back? Did you change your mind?"

'What? Why did I come back? Oh, the phone...' She lifted her hand which held the phone and pushed it towards him until it reached his chest.

He looked down and saw the phone, called ID was Sarah, and it was an ongoing call, 'Why is Sarah calling me?'... Jeff took the phone from JoAnna's hand reluctantly. "Yes?"

Aiden's voice boomed from other side. "What do you think you are doing?!! Can't stay away from you?!! ..." As Aiden vented his frustration, Jeff stepped away from JoAnna, hoping that she will not hear his brother's rants. 'Shit! Such a bad timing, little brother...' Jeff sighed.

When Aiden made a small break to inhale, Jeff asked: "What do you want?"

"What do I want?!!" Aiden lowered his voice, as if he does not want to be overheard. "I want you to get yourself out of JoAnna's apartment and go back to work!"

"No."

"What do you mean, NO?" Aiden's frustration was obvious. "Do you know how many times I called you? Do you know how many times Steve called me? Do you even care about the company? Go back to work!"

"No."

'Since when was Jeff this childish, selfish?' Aiden took few deep breaths and calmed down his voice. "OK. OK... What are you doing there?"

"It's none of your business."

"Are you spending another day with JoAnna?", Aiden squeezed through his teeth.

"Yes."

"Can you at least call Steve and give him some instructions? He is really desperate. He even thought that you got kidnapped, or in a hospital unconscious again, or dead."

"OK."

"How long will you stay there?" Aiden had difficulty accepting that this is his always level-headed brother.

"I don't know." If it's up to him, he would never leave JoAnna's side. Even if that means staying in her apartment.

"You need to let her go... at least until you figure out stuff with parents." Now Aiden's voice was calm and sincere.

Jeff closed his eyes and exhaled. "I know."

"I said that I will not stop you from pursuing her and gave you a week. This is your second day. Five more days until I tell Sarah. Go home and fix things with parents, your time is running out.", Aiden warned him.

"Understood." Jeff hung up the phone and gave it to JoAnna who was facing away from him.

He stretched his arms toward her, but she nimbly stepped away, avoiding his embrace. "Cover up!" JoAnna turned to leave his room and heard him say, "I need to call in to work". She left his room and closed the door behind her.

An hour passed before he got out of the room. JoAnna was in the living room, watching TV and eating chips.

"Sorry it took so long." He looked more approachable in jeans and t-shirt than in his usual outfit.

"No problem." She offered him chips. "Is everything OK?"

He took the whole bag and kept it away. "They will survive... But I need to go to work tomorrow." He settled himself next to JoAnna and faced her. "Come with me to Los Angeles." 'I really don't want to be separated from you.'

JoAnna was surprised by his offer. "I have work." It was an excuse.

"Take some time off." He didn't see work as an obstacle.

She found that he is too close again and stood up. "What will I do there? You will be in office whole day."

"You can do whatever you want. I will be at piece knowing that man can't find you." Jeff was telling the truth. He wanted her close to him, and away from that man.

JoAnna thought how his words make sense. Sophia said it will take a week at most before they are ready to file charges. "I need to think about it."

"OK" He smiled. 'She didn't say no.'

His phone rang. Jeff looked at it with a frown and switched to vibration only. "I promised my assistant that I will not turn off my phone." He explained himself as he kept his phone away. 'How can I get her to stop trying to escape me?'

Jeff was aware that JoAnna is keeping her distance from him only because of the arrangements with Isabella.

As they walked out of her apartment building, neither of them noticed middle aged man following them with his piercing gaze from the black Mercedes, parked on the side of the street.

They spent the day walking on the streets and piers and having food in crowded places. JoAnna made sure that wherever they go, there is a lot people around them. Those strangers had a task to not allow them privacy, which threatens with an intimate atmosphere.

By end of the day, JoAnna admitted that her attempts were a huge failure. In crowded places Jeff would pull her towards him, protectively keeping her away from strangers. No matter how many people surrounded them, they all faded into the background. Her mind created a realistic illusion that only two of them are real, while everyone else is part of a passing mirage.