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Or two.
"Yeah, why don’t you text me a time and place. We can meet up tonight. Wherever is good for you."
"Thanks, babe," she says, leaning over and kissing me quickly on the mouth. I ache for more, but she’s heading out the door and so I have to content myself with the knowledge that I get to see her tonight.
I can’t wait.
Brittney
I’m sitting in the Emporio Armani with Erica and Ashley, sipping demurely at my bitch beer. I don’t want to get drunk tonight – I want to remember it. Like all nights with Kaden.
He’s going to be late, but I forgive him. I know he has a lot on his plate right now, and just being able to see him is worth all the waiting in the world.
"You sure seem happy tonight," Ashley says with a wicked grin.
"If you’d been in Kaden’s bed last night, you would be happy today too," I say with a matching wicked grin. All day today, I couldn’t stop smiling. Floating on air is such a perfect description for me today. I don’t think my feet have touched the ground.
"Hey ladies!" A guy shows up at my elbow, leaning in over the table top towards me. His cologne is overwhelming and I instinctively lean away.
"Hi," Erica says drily. She’s not impressed either.
"Can I buy you another one?" he asks me, nodding towards my raspberry Smirnoff.
"Oh no, I’m fine," I say with a cheerful grin. Even Mr. Overbearing with Too Much Cologne On can’t ruin my happy mood. "I’m waiting for my boyfriend to show up. You might know him – Kaden Charles?"
I shouldn’t have said that to a complete stranger, I know that, but I also know that almost everyone around knows of the Boy Wonder, and I can’t help but imply that I’m way above this guy’s paygrade.
"Hold on, you actually fell for that?!" He throws his head back and laughs. "I thought you were too smart for that bullshit. That’s why I came over tonight – I figured you were still single."
"Fell for…fell for what?"
"He stalked you, sister. He called all of his research team in, and had them pull every bit of information out of your past so he could use it to get into your panties. Let me guess – did he ask you to go out onto his yacht?"
Mortified, I can only jerk my head yes.
"Hansen figured that one out. I’m the one who dug deep enough to know that you have 3 weeks and 5 days of vacation time piled up at Carter Jeffries, and if you don’t take at least a week’s vacation by the 30th, they’ll have to pay you for a week of it, which apparently they’re not happy about."
I’m just gaping, my mouth is gaping open, no words, because they’re all in my head.
Just you, me, and the ocean for a day. Or a week. Do you have any vacation time coming up?
He’d asked, already knowing the answer. He’d manipulated me, down to the very last detail. That goddamn motherfucking piece of shit.
"Your boyfriend? Damn, I should get a bonus. He really scored with you."
He won’t shut up. I don’t know why he won’t shut up. I put my hands up on either side of my head, trying to shut him out. Trying to stay sane. I can’t believe this. Oh god, I can’t believe it. I’m rocking back and forth, and vaguely, I hear Ashley getting rid of jackass but I can’t process the words right now.
I’d been so stupid. So goddamn stupid.
Kaden
I enter the Emporio Armani and search in the dimly lit bar for Brittney. I’m so damn happy, I think my heart might burst out of my chest. I’ve done nothing but think about Brittney all day long. One of my research guys discovered that she loves Jane Austen, and more specifically, original copies of her novels. I already have a rare items dealer on the hunt for an original copy of Pride & Prejudice or Emma. She is going to freak the fuck out when I give it to her. I can’t wait.
Except, I’ve finally found her in the dim lighting, and she doesn’t look happy to see me. Not one fucking bit. I see Tom from work being drug away from Brittney by some hot chick, while he’s arguing with her. "I was just talking to her," I can hear him say.
Talking to her. Talking to Brittney? Why the fuck was he talking to Brittney?
And is this why Brittney looks like death warmed over? I approach cautiously, not brave enough to stride over like I would have just five minutes early.
