“I’m glad I could be of service.” His voice was strained. Pained?
She met his eyes with determination, her hands clenched at her sides. “I’m not sorry about tonight. I enjoyed myself. A lot.” Her voice softened. “But I am sorry you regret it. I don’t want there to be any negativity between us. I want us to still be friends, to still be in each other’s lives.”
He shoved his hair from his face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said, and pain flooded through her replacing the aftereffects of her orgasm. “I’m done. I won’t help you again if things don’t work with Owen.”
“You’re acting like we’ve done something wrong.”
“We have. You’re Ethan’s sister. I’m supposed to be watching over you, not nearly fucking you.”
“Screw Ethan! He’s not here, and his opinion doesn’t matter. We get to decide what kind of relationship we have. We’re the only two people who matter.”
His expression softened, but his words were harsh, “You’re being naive.”
“So what? I don’t care.” She blinked to push back the tears that threatened. “I’ve had a crush on you since I was thirteen. And tonight? It was like a dream come true. I don’t regret what happened between us. I’m just sorry you do!” Grabbing her coat from the floor, she scanned the room for her purse, found it on the coffee table, and tucked it under her arm.
She was almost to the elevator when his voice stopped her. “I don’t regret it.” The words were soft, almost tender. But when she turned, his expression hardened.
Hurt blossomed in her chest, and she wrapped her arms around herself. “Oh? Because the way you’re looking at me doesn’t show you ‘had a great time.’”
“Chloe…” He reached out toward her for an instant before letting his hand fall. “I—”
She cut him off. “Stop! Just stop… Don’t say anything you don’t mean.”
He didn’t say a word.
“Okay…” She gathered the tattered remains of her confidence around her. “Thank you for a lovely and educational evening. I think I’ve got my sneezing problem under control.”
He nodded, his eyes solemn. “I’m pleased I could be of assistance.”
“And before you feel the need to remind me, I remember my promise, I won’t ask anything of you ever again. Goodbye, Theodore Campbell. If you change your mind about us, you know where to find me. But I won’t bother you again.” She blew out of the living room and into the elevator, her heart plummeting as fast as the lift.
Chapter Twenty-One
Afteranightspenttossing and turning, Theo entered the office in a mood as black as his coffee… and almost as bitter. It was early, most of the office wasn’t expected until closer to nine, but Theo couldn’t bear to be back in his penthouse, which still smelled faintly of Chloe’s perfume.
He flipped open the nearest file and nearly growled. It was the report he’d requested from Owen. Fucking Owen! Why the fuck had he set Chloe up with him? Just the thought of the accountant touching her was enough to make him see red. But he had no right to be jealous, none. They weren’t dating. In fact, he’d been the one to insist on that. It was his own damned fault that he’d hooked the two of them up. This was karma for him playing matchmaker; he was sure of it.
Worse, if he tried to forbid Chloe from seeing Owen, he’d be as bad as Ethan.
Ethan. Fucking Ethan. It all came back to him. If Ethan hadn’t been his best friend, Theo would have fucked Chloe on her birthday and gotten her out of his system. A small part of his brain tried to tell him it wouldn’t be that easy, but he shoved that part into a steel box and sat on it. He couldn’t do anything about Chloe and Owen, but at least he could rectify the problem with Ethan.
Picking up the phone, he dialed Ethan’s number. He didn’t care what time it might be wherever Ethan was, it was time to get his life back on track.
His friend picked up after a few rings, annoyingly bright and cheerful. “Theo! How’s it going? I was just thinking about you!” Translation: he was getting ready to call Theo to check up on Chloe, but Theo had beaten him to the punch.
“I’m done,” Theo said without any preamble.
All trace of cheerfulness faded. “What?”
Theo leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. “You heard me; I’m done. Chloe’s not some teenager on spring break, getting smashed and partying hard.” He tactfully chose not to mention the time she’d drunk a bottle of wine after being stood up for a date. What Ethan didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. And by him, Theo meant himself.
“Yeah, I know, but she’s my little sister. That doesn’t stop just because she moved half a world away. I need to know she’s okay and being looked after, and who else would I trust to look after my sister than my best friend?” It sounded oh so reasonable, and if Theo hadn’t known just how good of an actor Ethan was, he might have fallen for it. But being in the business world as long as he’d been, Theo knew when he was getting manipulated.
And he was done. He’d told Chloe he wouldn’t let her manipulate him into finding her a husband, and now he was telling his best friend he wouldn’t be his spy any longer. Apparently it was twenty-four hours filled with bad decisions and boundary-setting conversations.
“Your sister is fine,” he said, arranging the pens on his desk into neat lines. “She’s practically a native New Yorker.”
“So, youhavebeen watching out for her.” Relief and pleasure filled Ethan’s voice. “I knew I could rely on you. I couldn’t trust anyone else.”
