Dn seemed totally out of it tonight, like he was physically present but mentally somewhere else,pletely tuning Jackson out. Feeling frustrated, Jackson knocked back his drink. "Dn?"


    Finally snapping back to reality, Dn answered, sounding detached. "What?" "Seriously, dude, what''s going on with you tonight? You''re a million miles away." Dn rubbed his temples just as his phone buzzed. "I gotta go," he said abruptly. Jackson was taken aback. Dn had put this whole thing together to introduce him to ra and talk about some potential projects with the Bradford family. And now he was bailing before they even got started?


    Taking a deep breath, Jackson felt a heavy sense of unease settle over him. "You


    But before he could finish, Aiden showed up to whisk Dn away.


    Feeling even more frustrated, Jackson pulled out his phone and shot a text to his current fling.


    [What''s going on? Are you really that busy?]


    Hisst message had gone unanswered, too.


    He couldn''t wrap his head around it. Was she really busier than he was?


    After another ten minutes of radio silence, Jackson was on edge. He wasn''t used to being ignored like this.


    He got up and dialed her number as he walked out. "Kaitlyn, this is crazy. I always drop everything when you call, but now that I need you, you''re too busy?"


    Kaitlyn was in the middle of hashing out a script with some writers. Hearing hisint, she frowned. "Jackson, didn''t we set the rules from the beginning?"


    When they started this fling, Jackson had been the one toy down thew-no prying into each other''s lives outside the bedroom, no strings attached.


    He''d been pretty cocky, figuring if she didn''t go for it, he''d just move on to someone else.


    But she hadn''t even blinked, almost like she was relieved, as if this was exactly what she wanted too.


    That alone threw Jackson off. He was used to women being drawn to him because of his looks and status, not the other way around.


    What had started as a rebellious act against his grandfather had turned into something unexpected. They clicked, meeting up more times than he''d nned.


    Outside the bedroom, they were strangers. He didn''t even know what she did for a living.


    But her awkwardness in bed hinted at her inexperience.


    She was stunning and serious on the outside but surprisingly innocent deep down.


    Jackson lit a cigarette, feeling all out of sorts. "Yeah, we agreed, but I''m in a bad mood tonight. Can''t you just make some time for me?"


    Her voice was calm as she replied, "Then maybe we should just end this, Jackson. We can both find someone else."


    And she hung up.


    Staring at his phone, Jackson couldn''t believe it. Maybe out of sheer stubbornness, he called her again.


    No answer.


    He started texting.


    [What''s this about? You think you can just dump me like that?]


    She replied quickly this time.


    [Jackson, there''s no point in dragging this out.]


    Damn it!!!


    Jackson read her message over and over, making sure he wasn''t imagining it.


    Him, dragging it out?