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xo,

Parker

Picking up the keychain, the shiny plastic mirrors the note in my other hand.

“Idiot,” I whisper to myself, keeping the keychain to put on my duffle bag with the others.

Pushing the unnecessary gifts aside, I regain focus on my task at hand.

I’m here for one reason and one reason only.

I will not let the calculated tactics of Jett Parker distract me.

No matter how perfectly tailored for me they are.

CHAPTER 19

JETT

I’ve tried to stop myself from watching Fia on the security camera I had installed since she got out of the car.

I just can’t help myself.

She should be dancing, but since eight o’clock, all she’s been doing is sitting in various positions. Now, at nearly two in the morning, I’m not sure if there’s much left in her.

I tap the outside of my car handle, prompting a quiet lock before inching toward the door. I don’t want to frighten her, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be in her orbit without her knowing quite yet.

Inside, the lights that I turned on a few hours prior brighten the space so much that it seems like daytime from in here. The once vacant smell of the studio is now covered by the warmth of cashmere and maple.

When I started looking for dance studios, I called on my real estate savvy brother, Ivan. It took some storytelling on my end as to why I needed multiple dance studios, but lucky for me, he handed me off to his assistant.

I won’t say how much I paid Maddy to stay silent.

Before I announce myself, I sit and admire her.

In a world of her own, she has no idea how big of a force she is in mine.

Finally on her feet, Fia’s movements are fast and fluid as she whisper-shouts numbers to herself.

“How’s it going?” I keep my voice low, but she doesn’t stop. Her passion and fire escape every limb of her body, until frustration finally catches up to her. With a loud grunt, she flops to the floor, and I can’t stop myself from watching a line of sweat trail down her chest.

Lightly, I tap my knuckle on the casing of the door as I lean my body against the frame.

“Is the grunt part of the dance?”

In between heavy huffs, she freezes, her gemstone eyes flickering to mine, paired with a frightened squint.

“Jesus, you can’t just walk in on me like that.” She inhales a quivered breath. I watch as she calms herself, the vein in her neck thickening with every deep breath she takes. Her pulse races more than it has all night—I know, because I’ve been watching.

I shrug. “I knocked.”

“Hardly.”

Moving to the front of the room, she pauses the music on her phone that’s barely heard throughout the space.

I step farther inside, studying her.

Is that why she hasn’t been able to focus tonight?