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“You bet. The place is a far cry different since the new owner took over. But,” she said, an evil grin sliding across her face, “the name is perfect. The place is full of tall, dark, handsome, sexy cowboys just ready to fulfill your fantasy.”
When she laughed, I cocked my head. “No, thank you.”
“You are coming. Period. You can’t disappoint her.” She gave me a hard look. She was like a den mother determined to control a bunch of kids.
“Fine. I’ll go, but I’m not leaving with anyone.”
“O-kay. Whatever you say, sunshine.”
I laughed and headed to the therapy room. I’d made a mistake in becoming intimate. I needed to shove it aside and move on and that’s exactly what I planned on doing.
* * *
The next time I glanced at my watch, four hours had passed. I was exhausted, ready to go home. I tumbled into my office, grabbing my purse from the floor, cursing under my breath that I hadn’t gathered everything that had fallen out of it during my tirade.
“Hey. Look what just came for you.”
Shelly’s voice floated into my office. As I turned around, I was surprised to see what she held in her hand. There were four of the most beautiful red roses in a crystal vase.
“Those are for me?”
“Yep. Just arrived. I’m curious who sent them,” she cooed as she sat them on my desk.
“Nosy, aren’t you?”
“Well? I am your best friend.”
“One I could kick to the curb in a split second.” Smirking, I grabbed the card, laughing as the shocked look in her face.
“My feelings are hurt.”
“Right. Your feelings are never hurt.”
When I hesitated, she walked closer. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you have any idea who sent them?” I glanced at her, driven into my own set of horrible memories.
“No, but they were from a local florist. Oh, you think… No. I mean a very local florist that you couldn’t find on the internet.” Her eyes opened wide.
“You don’t know that.”He can’t hurt you. You’re fine. Breathe and don’t go down that dark road.
Shelly sighed. “You won’t know until you open the card.” When I stood frozen, she studied my eyes. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No. I’m just surprised.”
I hadn’t told her every detail of what I’d been through, the horrible two months when I’d been ready to beg for death. She was a sweet girl, completely incapable of handling a terrible story of that nature. However, she knew enough to be a concerned friend. A cold shiver trickled down my spine. Almost a year had passed. I was just jumping to conclusions. I reminded myself that there was no chance he’d found me.
Taking a deep breath, I yanked out the card, uncertain what to expect. Then I shook my head, relief flooding me. “The man is one of few words and this is exactly what he’d say.”
“You must share. Pretty please?”
As I turned it over, she burst into laughter. “You’re right.Sorry.How appropriate. Not too flowery, just exactly what needed to be said.”
At least he realized he’d treated me like shit, especially at the end when he’d jumped out of bed after he’d erupted inside me. It had been so fast I thought something had been wrong. Oh, no. He’d jerked his clothes into his hand, stopping long enough at the door to instruct me to get my clothes on.
It had been that moment something had snapped inside of me, allowing another round of anger to rush in. I’d almost kicked him in the groin, even if it was for the best. “At least he realized what an ass he’d been. I’ll accept it. For now.”
“Maybe that means he’ll actually show up to an appointment.”
