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More than once, Gray had assured her that he hadn’t slept with Nadia or anyone else while they were together.
She desperately wanted to believe what Gray had told her.
She considered her conversation with Jake. He’d insisted Gray wasn’t the type to cheat. Before that awful night in Anguilla, she’d believed the same thing herself. Now she again found herself thinking that.
Tired of sitting at her desk, Kiera pushed her chair back and walked to the window. Her rational side understood why he’d kept his secrets and made up the lies. The part of her brain concerned with self-preservation and emotional well-being, however, insisted she think long and hard before she let Gray back into her life.
Kiera blew out a deep breath and leaned her forehead against the window. It seemed like no matter how many hours went by, her decision remained just out of reach. In order to figure this out for good, she needed to see him.
***
Agony. No other word described the few days following his meeting at the White House. Unable to force Kiera to make a decision, Gray threw himself into work at Sherbrooke Enterprises. When he wasn’t reviewing proposals, he sat through videoconferences. If not busy with those, he set up meetings to check on projects currently in progress. Thanks to his hard work, by Friday night, he had solidified a new project in Paris and scheduled meetings to tour resorts being built in England and Germany the following month. He’d also started the preliminary work for a new resort in Switzerland
. At any other time, he’d consider it a successful week.
“Are you leaving for the night?” Shirley, Trent’s secretary, asked when he closed his office door behind him.
It was only five o’clock; he could stay longer. “It’s been a long week.”
Most nights since his return to Providence, he’d stayed past seven. Staying at work in the office beat wandering around his sparsely furnished apartment feeling sorry for himself. Which he did anyway when he got home.
“This week has dragged by. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
“Have a nice weekend, Mr. Sherbrooke. See you on Monday”
“You, too, Shirley.”
Gray took the elevator down. Outside, a soft drizzle fell, but the clouds promised much worse soon.
Soon came too soon. Seconds after he stepped outside, the sky opened and a deluge hit. By the time he made it to the parking garage, he looked as if he’d gone swimming in his clothes. Already in a sour mood, his suit being plastered against him only made it worse. Thank God he didn’t have a long drive home.
He’s apartment remained in darkness as it did every night he came home. Gray realized that hoping Kiera would use her key and be waiting inside for him was a stretch. Even still, he held his breath every time he walked in… Only to be disappointed each time.
Switching on the lights, he walked through the semi-furnished living room. He’d purchased the essentials. When Kiera moved in, he’d let her pick out what she liked. He refused to think that might never happen.
Grabbing some dry jeans and a t-shirt, he changed and left his soggy suit in the bathroom. On Monday, he’d drop it off at the dry cleaners and see if they could salvage the mess. If not, he’d replace it.
More out of habit than because he was hungry, he headed into the kitchen. He’d stocked his refrigerator with frozen meals, so he had plenty to eat. If he didn’t want one of those, he had the meal his sister-in-law had brought over. While Addie didn’t know the specifics, she knew he and Kiera had broken up. Gray guessed she felt sorry for him.
Out of all his options, the lasagna from Addie looked by far the best. Gray took out the container as well as a beer. Was Kiera home tonight? If he called, would she answer? She’d said she needed time. She hadn’t told him not to call.
Think positive. She loves me. It might take a long time, but she’ll come around. He repeated the same sentences numerous times since he returned from DC.
His microwave dinged. Gray pulled out the container of lasagna, the aroma making his mouth water even though, ten minutes ago, he hadn’t been hungry. Addie might not be a professionally trained chef, but she was a damn good cook. He’d thank her again the next time he saw her.
Gray skipped a plate. Instead, he put the container on the kitchen island. He hadn’t bothered buying a table. He ate alone, so the stools at the island worked fine. While he worked his way through dinner, he started checking his email. Gray didn’t get far before he gave up. Shoving the phone into his pocket, he left his dinner behind and he wandered over to the windows.
The heavy rain continued making it difficult to see outside. It didn’t look like the rain would stop anytime soon. He hoped Kiera was at home tonight. The driving rain made visibility difficult and the thought of her driving home tired after a long shift worried him.
Before he realized it, he had his phone to his ear. It rang several times before Kiera’s voice mail picked up.
Since the television held no appeal, he went back to staring out the window.
A loud knock echoing through the apartment pierced the fog in his head. His brother had roped him into sparring the night before, claiming he’d wanted to distract him. Was he looking to do some more distracting? Given his current mood, maybe he ought to be interested, but he just wasn’t up for a repeat performance tonight.
Gray opened the door in time to see his visitor walk back toward the elevator. It took a moment or two for his brain to reconcile what his eyes saw.
The elevator doors opened.
