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James stood at Bennett’s shoulder, Rowan at her husband’s other side. The older man was clearly exhausted.
The trio disappeared beneath the window and Nina went to James’ door, cracking it open to peer into the hall. A minute later, the elevator dinged softly and James emerged carrying Bennett in his arms.
Rowan walked beside them. “You waited too long to rest. We should have come inside…”
Bennett chuckled. “It’s yourbirthday, darling. I refuse to ruin it by beingtired.”
Smiling at him, she replied, “Iloveyou, Bennett. You’re my favorite person so spending time with you isn’truininganything. Let’s get comfortable and watch a movie.”
Their voices faded as they entered the suite. Nina shut James’ door softly and pressed herself against the wall.
She whispered to herself, “You’re on the wrong side of the door, Nina...you were supposed toleave. Why can’t youleave?”
Rowan was going to lose the man she loved. Soon, judging by all the information she’d gathered throughout the day. Thinking back to the night Gage and Nina brutally broke Rowan’s heart, Nina knewthis losswas going to be far worse.
Staring at nothing, she didn’t know what to do.
More time than she realized must have passed because James opened his bedroom door, let his eyes roll down Nina’s body, and shut it behind him.
“How long? How long until she loses Bennett?”
“Just before he met Rowan, Bennett’s doctors gave him a year but they didn’t believe he’d have that long and he knew it, too. He started putting his final affairs in order and there she was.” James shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the chair behind the door. “She’s keeping him alive.”
“How old are you, James?” she asked softly.
He held her gaze as he unfastened his cufflinks and dropped them into a bowl. “Forty-one.” Pulling the dress shirt from his slacks, he unbuttoned it and tossed it over the jacket. “Bennett will be fifty-nine this year.”
“You-you’ve been with him since you were sixteen?” The big man nodded. “He’s like a father to you.”
Tilting his head, his voice was gentle. “Is there something you want to ask, Nina?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Nothing I want to ask. I just realized you’re going to grieve just as badly when he dies.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t...know what that’s like. I won’t be able to help anyone. Not you, not Rowan.”
“Nina…”
“I’m not a good risk, James. You’re the kind of man someone like me doesn’t even dream about because it’s more unrealistic than a fairy tale.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“It isn’t.” She stared at the floor. “The thing is, in the rubble of my life, there was another good man. He thought to save me, to help me, and Iwantedhim to try even though I pretended I didn’t.”
“Isaiah Zelder.”
Lifting her eyes, she frowned. Then her expression cleared and she gave him a self-deprecating smile. “You meant it when you said you knew everything about me.” She inhaled deeply. “To drive Isaiah away from me, to keep him from getting more attached than he already was, I seduced every man who worked for him except for his younger brother. Every single one, James. I coldly and methodically fucked my way out of his heart because I knew I’d break him if he loved me.”
“Impressive,” James said with a small incline of his head.
“What…? That’s notimpressive. That’s psychotic.”
“You planned, executed, and succeeded at accomplishing your desired outcome. Well done.” He stared at her without blinking and her world tilted.
“But…”
“Had he loved you, Zelder would have demolished your plan before it could have been put into play. He admired you, desired you, but he wasn’t in love. It’s the only reason he let you go. He knew you didn’t love him and that you needed to work through some shit.”
She struggled to counter his nonchalance.
“Before you mention Gage, I’ll point out that most twenty-two year old men would have fallen easily to you. Heart filled with love or not. He was young, dick dumb, and took what was offered. He’s a good mannow. Back then, he was a walking cock looking to bust his nut.”
