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“Oh, God,” Emily said. “You have no idea how much you saved me. I lost such a big contract, and if it weren’t for you, I might have gone under. Who knew if I would have gotten Collier, and—”
“You came back because you needed the contract?” I asked, frowning.
Emily looked at me, confused. “You wanted me to come back and keep working with you. That’s what you asked for, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t asked ... would you have come back?”
Emily looked unsure of herself. She lifted her legs from where they were over mine and tucked them under her instead.
“I don’t know,” she said. “But that’s not what happened, so—”
“You were going to just leave things between us, stop at a one-night thing, and that was it?”
“Parker, us being together wasn’tright. I was worried something would go wrong, like losing Ryan. And that’s happened.”
“But at least you still have your business, and you still have me to get money from whenever you get stuck, right?”
She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s not about the money—”
“But itwas.”
“You’re blowing things out of proportion.”
I shifted back, putting distance between us. “Not from where I’m standing. I thought you came back because you wanted to see where things were going with me. I thought I meant something to you.”
“You do!”
“Yeah, as a wallet that will keep you afloat, and the rest of the damn country!” I stood and paced away from the couch.
“What the hell is going on?” Emily asked. “Why are you so upset?”
“Because you lied to me!” I cried out. “You said you wanted me.”
“I do!”
“You want my money,” I corrected. “That’s all everyone sees when they look at me—fucking dollar signs.”
“Parker, don’t—”
“No,youdon’t,” I said fiercely. I was furious. How the hell had I fallen into the trap again? How could I be with a woman who wanted me for my money, and I hadn’t seen it, not even after what Brooke had done to me?
“Parker, you got it all wrong. It’s not about money for me. I can take care of myself. I started my own company, and I can make it happen—”
“Except when you can’t, and you need to sleep with me to get the contract—”
“That’s not what happened, and you know it!”
“Maybe you should leave.”
“What?” she cried out, shock in her eyes. She looked close to tears, and fuck, she was beautiful. I hated that I was the one making her cry. But how many times would I let someone use me before I learned my lesson?
“You heard me,” I said sharply. “Get out. We’re done.”
“Parker!”
I turned my back on her.
“Please, don’t do this,” she said, and she was crying now. I didn’t allow myself to turn back and look at her. If I did, I was going to buckle, and then I wouldn’t send her away. I wouldn’t be able to protect myself.
