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Chapter Two
Marigold was stillseething as she was led outside of the building. She knew there was a good chance she was going to encounter Trey, and she had hoped that he would keep away and leave her be. Apparently, the bastard thought it would be okay to approach her and call her hysterical for overreacting at what she saw.
He cheated on her. He was the one who thought it was okay to sleep with other women when Marigold thought they were exclusive. And he was calling what she did an overreaction.
Dropping the breakfast she had just bought him as a surprise onto the bed and ruining the sheets was the least of the reactions she could have done. But Marigold wasn’t that petty.
That was the last time she dated a sponsor, or had anything to do with them outside of business. They were far more trouble than they were worth. And if they were all egotistical, arrogant pieces of shit like Trey...
She didn’t want to think about him. But Marigold couldn’t stop herself. Trey had gotten under her skin again, and she hated it.
“Marigold?” Darren had stopped and was frowning at her. “You still with us?”
“What? Oh.” Marigold hadn’t realized she had also stopped, staring into space. She managed a smile. “I’m here.”
Darren didn’t look convinced. Then he took her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.
“Come on. Nathan’s got the car ready.”
Nathan. Of course. She was getting a lift back. Marigold had almost forgotten. She had been so dazed and angry with Trey thinking it was okay to come with Allison’s sister and taunt Marigold that she was just wandering around.
She allowed Darren to lead her across the parking lot to where Nathan’s car was idling. Jake was opening the back door, giving Marigold a gentle smile. Marigold managed a smile back, touching his arm as she got into the back of the car. For a moment, it felt like his arm flexed under her touch, but then the moment was gone, and Marigold was left wondering if that had happened. Her fingers were certainly tingling as she settled in the back, Darren climbing in beside her.
“Don’t you worry about anything, Marigold.” Nathan gave her a grin in the rearview mirror. “We’ll look after you. You won’t have to worry about that bastard again tonight.”
“That sounds like a promise.”
Darren cleared his throat.
“Ignore Nathan. He likes to play with words.”
Marigold frowned. What did that mean? To her, the words had sounded innocent. Was there an underlying meaning behind what Nathan had said?
Jake got in the passenger seat, and Nathan started to drive. It felt like a relief to be away from the museum, not having to deal with Trey. He would probably put his own spin on things if anyone asked, but Marigold doubted anyone would ask. Trey had asked for their dating to be discreet, which Marigold had agreed with, thinking it was because of their business relationship. She hadn’t realized it was so he could fuck other women.
Darren had found out about a week in. He had seen them together. And he had warned Marigold about what she was doing. Marigold hadn’t listened at the time, thinking she could handle it herself. Now she wished she had listened.
She cast a sidelong glance at Darren beside her. He was looking out of the window in silence, his jaw tight. Tall and dark with silver strands in his hair, he was one of those people who knew exactly what was needed in any situation. As the Vikings manager, he was just what they needed to keep things going. His business mind was sharp, just excellent.
It helped that he was very easy on the eye. Marigold certainly felt like the day was looking up whenever Darren walked into the room. How he was still single, she had no idea; any woman with eyes would want to be with him. Yet, he didn’t look at any woman who walked past him.
Except you. He always looks at you.
That doesn’t mean anything.
Doesn’t it?
Marigold then turned her attention to Jake. The defense coach had only been with the Vikings since the start of the season, but he was damn good. The team’s abilities had certainly improved. He had that commanding presence on the ice as well as off it. When you were a six-foot-five African American man with a voice like smooth chocolate, it was hard to miss him. Marigold certainly couldn’t miss him. He was really sweet as well, and that smile of his just enhanced his features. He was pretty much oozing sex.
Although it was disappointing that he was in a relationship. He and Nathan had been together for quite some time, and Jake showed no signs of changing that. Marigold had to admit the two of them looked rather an odd pairing. Nathan was a sports therapist, so he was often at the rink to help out with various ailments that the team had. Shorter than Jake by a good six inches, with his wavy brown hair and occasionally bristled jaw, it was a struggle to believe the two of them were a long-term couple. They were almost complete opposites in looks. But they did have a similar lighthearted attitude, a similar outlook on life. Somehow, the two of them clicked.
Marigold had hoped for something like that herself, but it seemed to be eluding her. Love just didn’t want to have anything to do with her, and it was frustrating. Marigold had hoped she would be with someone and possibly a mom by now. But she was thirty and had no love life at all.
She felt like an idiot, a fraud. Maybe that was why she started dating Trey; she was just desperate to get something she wanted and she was forcing it.
Maybe she needed a vacation. Time to herself. Darren would approve it for a couple of weeks after Christmas; he was pretty good like that. He always looked after her.
Why couldn’t she have someone like Darren around? Marigold would certainly be happy about it.
