“You’re giving her everything, Isaac. She could financially destroy you. Everything you have worked so hard for will be gone. Years of hard work wasted—”
“Years of hard work that could have been destroyed because of your inability to keep your mouth shut during pillow talk.”
The quick change in our conversation is shocking, but it has nothing on the betrayal in Isaac’s eyes. He’s peering at me in a way I hoped he never would. It’s the same gut-wrenching glare Luca gave me when I forced him to pick. He’s ashamed of me.
“How long did you know the FBI was investigating me before I worked it out for myself? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?”
I clutch my chest to ensure my heart remains in place before taking a step closer to him. “Isaac. . . I—”
“Answer the question, Regan.”
His eyes reveal he already knows my answer, but he wants me to spell it out for him. “I didn’t know he was here—”
“Answer the question.”
My chest rises and falls three times before I force out, “Five months.”
“Five months from the start or five months before me?”
I try to force the words from my mouth, to for once lead with honesty instead of deceit, but the pain in my chest is holding my words captive. In less than twenty-four hours both my worst nightmares are coming true.
My eyes return to Isaac when he growls, “Regan.”
It takes a mammoth effort, but I manage to strangle out, “Five months before you.”
Isaac nods as the disappointment in his eyes grows. “And when did you share confidential client/lawyer information with him?”
A tear rolls down my cheek when I shake my head. “I didn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me, Regan.”
I lock my eyes with his, both angered and sickened he doesn’t believe me. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked. I did lie to him—for months!
“I made a mistake I regret every day,” I suck in several nerve-calming breaths before adding on, “but I never deceived you.”
I nearly saynot in the way you’re thinking, until I recall Alex saying a similar thing hours before his true deceit was unveiled.
Spotting the truth in my eyes, the low hang of Isaac’s lids widen. “What type of mistake?”
The chance of holding back the tears in my eyes is nearly lost when he paces around his desk to hand me some tissues. I clutch them tightly in my hands, ensuring my eyes understand my stern, unspoken warning. I don’t care how bad things seem, I amnotto cry. I’m stronger than this.
I exhale a deep breath before issuing the excuse I rehearsed numerous times the past twelve months when I predicted how our exchange would go. “My mistake was trusting him.”
Isaac remains quiet, waiting for me to continue. I don’t keep him waiting for long. “I fought my attraction to him. You know me, Isaac; after everything I’ve been through, I never let anyone get close.” I lock my eyes with his. “Except you.”
If only I had kept my guard up, then I wouldn’t be suffering as I am now.God—when did I get so careless?
My heart beats at an unnatural rhythm as my mouth spills secrets I swore I’d never share. “I have to give it to him, he was very clever. Not only did he break down my walls, but he made me believe he truly cared for me.”
A smile tugs on my lips as memories of Alex’s concern the day he washed my wound in the emergency bay race back to the forefront of my mind. At the time, I thought we were strangers. Now I know why he seemed so familiar.
“As the weeks went on, I got careless.”
Careless? I got soft.I barely went an hour without thinking about Alex. I thought our connection would have us sprinting past the many barricades in front of us. I was an idiot. Attraction isn’t enough. Relationships need a lot more than just lusty sparks.
Isaac coerces my eyes to his before asking, “Because you trusted him?”
I nod. “Yes.”
