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“Renata?” Jane swallowed. She recognised the name instantly. “You were at Hank’s party with him.”
“I knew I had seen you before. You were there, with Hank.” She laughed. “Oh, it’s so good, I almost think you could deserve him. First the father, then the real big fish: his son. Tell me, who’s better in bed?”
Jane’s cheeks flamed. “My sex life is absolutely none of your business. I appreciate that you and Carter have a history, but it’s nothing to do with me.”
She turned to walk out but the other woman blocked her path. “You’re wrong. The only reason Carter is with you is to annoy me. If you’re happy with that, then it’s up to you. But he’s only loved one woman in his life, and that’s me.”
Jane’s stare was loaded with icy contempt, but the minute she escaped the washroom, she began to tremble.
Her face was pale when she returned to their secluded table.
Immediately, he could see that something was wrong. “Jane?” He stood, his expression solicitous. “What is it?”
“I…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. Do you mind if we get out of here?”
He scanned her face, and the seriousness of her emotional state got through to him. He nodded, and simultaneously threw a few notes down onto the table. They emerged into the night air a moment later. Martins was only a few feet away, but Carter grabbed her hand and slowed her to a stop. “Jane? What’s going on? Don’t tell me the snail made you sick?”
“No.” She sniffed, and shook her head. “I think we’re better discussing this in private.”
He stared at her for a moment and then nodded.
They drove to his apartment in a stony silence. Jane stared out of the window the entire time, and kept her body carefully separated from his. One touch and she knew her ability to think clearly would evaporate.
“Right. What’s going on?” He demanded, as soon as he’d shut the door behind them.
“Who is Renata?”
He froze. “Renata?”
Jane pushed past him, and moved to the terrace. She needed fresh air, and a seat. “Yes, Renata!” She almost shouted.
“Why would you ask about her?”
“Because she cornered me in the bathrooms at Chaleur tonight.”
His expression didn’t flicker. “What did she say?” If she didn’t know him so well, she could almost have believed his act. That he was relaxed and mildly interested.
“That you’re using me to make her jealous.”
His laugh was laced with sardonic anger. “I see.” He nodded. “Anything else?”
She bit down on her lip. “That you love her.”
Again, he nodded. “Of course. And?”
Jane frowned. Why and how was he doing this? It was the first time she got a glimpse of what a truly formidable executive he would be. Unflappable and cool-headed, he almost had her feeling silly for being upset by the blonde.
“Did you know she was going to be there tonight?”
“Now that you mention it, yes. She had told me.”
Jane gripped the railing behind her, as her heart plummeted.
He came to stand before her, and put his hands on the railing, one on either side of Jane’s arms. “Renata and I have dated on and off for years.” He obviously saw the way Jane’s eyes clouded with pain, because he softened his voice to a whisper. “I met her through Karina, and, at first, I thought she was a bit of fun. It devolved, over the years, to meaningless sex.”
Jane felt bile in her throat. She blinked and focussed her eyes on the glass wall of his apartment. A gentle breeze whipped past them, fluffing her dark hair around her shoulders. Carter lifted his hands to cup her cheeks, to keep her attention focussed on him.
“I did not take you to Chaleur because I knew she’d be there. I forgot she was planning to go tonight because I have ceased to think of her at all.”
