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A warm breeze swept up from the ocean and glided over my skin. The rain was gone, replaced instead with glorious sunshine, and I inhaled the crisp, clean air. I kissed the diamond on my engagement ring and screamed as I pegged the most expensive piece of jewelry I owned toward the ocean.
The sun glinted off the ring for one brief second before I lost sight of it. Someone with a metal detector was about to have a lucky find in the sand.
All I wanted was a hug. And to have someone tell me everything will be okay. And I wanted a man I could trust. A man who I could love and who would love me equally in return. I had no idea what type of man that was.
Where had I gone so wrong?
Growing up in a small-town in Australia hadn’t helped. My options there had been limited.
A sob caught in my throat, and I clutched the railing to force it down. I didn’t want to cry. I’d done enough crying. It was well and truly time for me to move on. I decided there and then that throwing that ring signified the end of my mourning. Maybe my inner Memphis was my subconscious showing me the way. My naughty alter-ego was introducing me to men who would never have crossed my path otherwise.
Was that such a bad thing?
I’d analyzed, scrutinized, replayed over and over, and dreamed about what I’d been doing during the last couple of weeks, and each time I’d come to the same conclusion—I was doing nothing wrong.
What did I want?
There was only one answer. I wanted to get my rocks off with the suave Henry Addison.
In the words of Lolly - Fuck yeah!
I peeled my fingers off the balcony railing and returned inside.
I fixed my panda eyes, wiping away the ruined eyeliner and reapplying it with a calm hand. I was back in control. The clock indicated we had approximately fifty minutes together before Henry was due in his first seminar session. That was long enough.
Once I was dressed, I did my customary inspection in the mirror to confirm I was complete. I adjusted my wig, tugged down my costume, and then buttoned up my trench coat. On impulse, I changed my black patent heels to a pair of strappy cherry red shoes.
Perfect.
Except for my smile.
I planted happiness onto my face, grabbed a large red handbag, and strode out my door to the elevator. I pressed the button for the ninth floor.
Henry Addison had a penthouse suite. Two floors all to himself, including a rooftop terrace with a lap pool and sun deck.
On his floor, I paused at his door and listened but heard nothing.
I knocked, and holding my breath, I waited for the door to open.
Chapter Eight
The door opened to his smoky eyes and debonair smile.
“Hello. I was wondering if you could help me?” I twisted my fingers into knots.
His eyes did a quick scan up my body, and I braced for a flicker of recognition that didn’t come. “That depends on what you need.”
I swallowed back relief. “May I come in?”
He cocked his head to the side, and his gaze pierced mine. “Sure.”
He stepped aside, and I brushed past him and strolled to the dining setting. As the door closed behind me, I undid the buttons on my trench coat, peeled it off, and draped it over a dining chair with my bag.
I thrust my chin out and turned to him, urging confident Memphis to break out her moves.
Henry wore caramel chinos with a plain ultramarine button-up shirt that was tucked into his pants with a belt. His style was sexy and sophisticated. He looked like a man riding on top of the world.
It was a pleasure to be up here with him.
