I scrub my leg, but the ink only smears. “What is this, permanent ink?”

“Try this.” Becca squirts hand sanitizer on my thigh.

I rub the clear gel into my skin and an intense heat creeps up my leg. “This fucking burns, Becca.”

“I’m sorry!”

Andrea dabs lotion onto my leg. “This might help the burning.”

I swat her hand away. “Okay, can we stop mixing random shit on my body, please?”

Our heads jerk up when we hear the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. Everyone is standing and heading towards the door. The meeting must be over.

I shoot up out of my seat. “I have to get out of here before he—”

“Raegan?”

His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. There’s no escape. It’s time to face the music.

I spin on my heels and force a smile. “Jaxon. I mean, Mr. Waters. Or is it Dr. Waters? Are you a doctor? You look too young to have your doctorate. Then again, I look too young to be divorced and here I am. But you knew that already. Unless you don’t remember. I don’t remember much from that night, to be honest. That’ll be the last time I drink like that. I haven’t had a drink since actually. Wow. I guess this was the job you were celebrating.” I laugh, trying to seem nonchalant but a strange, high-pitched sound escapes my throat—something like a cross between a bird and a hyena.

“Someone find her off switch,” Kerry whispers.

Jaxon grins. His hair is perfectly quaffed, lips smooth as butter. He oozes power and control. The man is gorgeous.

And here I am with blotches all over my skin and ink scribbled onto my leg like a damn toddler.

“It’s Mr. Waters. No doctorate yet. But you can call me Jax.” He turns to the girls. “Nice to see you again, ladies.”

“Hi, Jax.” Mary nudges Becca. “Let’s leave these two to talk. We have a lot of work to do in our rooms.”

My friends scurry out of the room despite my pleading eyes.

“Didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” Jaxon says.

“Trust me, neither did I.”

“Almost thought I’d dreamed it.” He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. “I woke up and you were gone.”

My cheeks flame. “I figured it would be easier if I left. Didn’t want things to be awkward.”

“Why would it be awkward?”

“I know this might sound cliché but I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“Like that?” he echoes.

“Sex with a stranger. I thought it’d be weird in the morning. I was pretty mortified when I woke up.”

His eyebrow arches. “You really don’t remember what happened?”

“Sorry. I know that must not feel great for your ego.”

“We didn’t have sex, Raegan.”