Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Dexter
For the first time since she barged into my house, I’m shaken. I’m not used to second guessing.
Would it have killed me to think before I charged into her store and roped granny into helping me toy with her granddaughter’s emotions?
Would I have died if I thought this through first, rather than flailing around to put out this fire I caused like the clumsiest asshole ever born?
A low, rough growl slips out of me as I lean my back into the wall next to her.
Then a tiny seed of hope blooms in my chest. Maybe the whole reason she came here wasn’t to curse me out after all and remind me what pond scum I
am
She can’t be considering joining me in this insanity… Can she?
“I’m not done looking through your closets for skeletons, mister,” she whispers, suddenly turning to face me. A lock of that brilliant red hair falls from her messy bun and she tucks it behind her ear.
Damn.
If I hadn’t already emotionally traumatized this woman, I might double down on stupid.
I might just grab her face with both hands, press her into the wall, and drink my fill of Juniper Winkley until I’ve stolen every last breath from her lungs
“…and if you give me any reason to walk away now–even one–I promise you I will.” She’s still talking and I’ve been tuned out.
And I still have that check in my hand, but the blood roaring in my ears feels like too much to think about that right now.
This is it.
-She’s ready to cave and take a baby leap of faith. And all it took was some hideous emotional blackmail and a payday promise with a lot of zeros.
Shit.
Somehow, I don’t think I’m buying her cooperation. I’m securing my own seat in the darkest part of hell that has no view–the next worse thing after blowing a multimillion–dollar deal for my entire family.
I stalk back to the kitchen and slap the check down on the kitchen island, half expecting her to follow me and snatch it again.
When I look up, she’s watching me as I rip it to shreds, then quickly scrawl out a new one.
“Rory? What are you doing?” She eyes it but doesn’t move. Her nose wrinkles and she glances at my clothes once again. “Rory!” she calls again.
I say nothing.
“Dude, you stink,” she says dispassionately. “If you want to talk business, go change. I can wait while you shower.”
That does it.
I flash her my dirtiest look.
Goddamn, this woman will be the death of me.
“I wasn’t expecting visitors who make me feel like shit,” I remind her, trying not to snap her head off. If there’s even the smallest chance she’ll go along with this, I can’t afford to alienate her. Not again.
She sniffs and heads into the lounge. “Change first. That’s my condition. Then I’ll consider talking to you about the rest.”
“Whatever. I’ll be right back. Don’t bother making yourself at home.”
She rolls her eyes at me and I head upstairs, leaving the new check on the counter for her to see when she’s ready. I try to remind myself not to get too
16:43
Love Betrayed: A Journey of Separate ataS
26.4%
Chapter 24
excited.
This shit is an anti–celebration. Somehow, I’m paying more money to torture myself with a fake engagement to a woman I can’t stand.
Regardless, I can’t afford to take any chances when we’re this close. I have one job tonight and it’s persuading the goddess of war invading my house that this is her best option.
Not hard, in theory, but she’s one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met.
She knows it’s money she can’t afford to lose, but if I even breathe wrong, she’ll walk away out of sheer spite.
I step into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me.
Frankly, I’ve never come across anyone like her, and it annoys me to no end.
She even brought the check back, though I can’t fathom why. Is she stupid? Trying to make herself look good?
Hell, part of me half expected her to cash it and run, but here she is.
And here I am, adding more to her sugar bowl, sweetening the deal with money and terrible puns I’ll pay dearly for later on.
Soon, I exit the shower with a hard–on I can’t stand, hating that I give a damn what she thinks about anything.
16:43
