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Bronwyn was pretty, but it was marred by her bitchy expression. “I have to hand it to you. It was one savvy move to trap him with a kid.”
I laughed out loud. Who did this bitch think she was?
“Obviously, he hasn’t shared the whole story, or you’d know that I didn’t trap him. If that were my intention, I could have done so six years ago. I wouldn’t have had to, though. He loved me.” I was angry with her, but also at myself for allowing her to bait me.
“You sure about that?” She leaned forward, placing both elbows on the table, trying to intimidate me. “Didn’t take him long to bed me, though, did it?” She was almost sneering at me. “I thought you’d have gotten the message already.”
My eyes widened in recognition. She was the woman on the phone that day I called to let him know I was going to leave Clemson and go to England. “It was you, on the phone.”
“Love, it’s always been me ever since the moment he came to London.” For the first time since I’d actually seen Bronwyn in person, I saw her as a selfish bitch. “As soon as I saw him, I made up my mind he’d be mine someday and no stupid little twit across the pond was going to stand in my way. Then, idiot that you are, you went and broke his heart. Thanks for that, by the way,” she quipped. “What could possess you to let a man like Ace Forrester walk away from you?”
“My past with Chase is none of your business.”
“Whatever you think you mean to him; let me assure you, you don’t. He told me last night in bed that he feels sorry for you, so any soft feelings he’s exhibiting are due to the situation, only.”
I huffed again and threw my napkin on the table next to my still full plate. I’d witnessed Chase’s emotions first hand, and I wasn’t buying what this bitch was selling. “Look, I don’t know what I’ve done to you to make you so hateful, but I’m grateful that Chase is here for Remi. I’m not trying to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do.”
“Uh huh.” She sniffed and licked her lips. “Let’s not forget that I’m the one thing that you’re not; single. I’m sure your husband would love to hear about how you’re crying on Ace’s shoulder. Serve you right if he booted you out on your arse. Then where would you be?”
I sat there seething, unclear what to say to her but wanting to slap that egotistical look off of her face. I wasn’t sure if she was referring to the insurance situation or if she thought Jensen and I had a real marriage, but whatever it was, her audacity pissed me off. I took a deep breath and unclenched my fists, determined not to let her get the better of me.
Bronwyn’s pleasure with herself was obvious as she pulled out a compact from her purse and deftly reapplied dark pink lipstick, rubbed her lips together and preened in the mirror. “I’ve got to find the loo.” She replaced the lipstick and compact in her bag and rose to pause beside the table. “You just concentrate on keeping your man happy and keep your paws off mine. If you do that, we’ll get along splendidly.”
“You act like he’s your puppet. I know him better than you ever will,” I said calmly, pasting a sweet smile on my face.
“Hmm.” Bronwyn glanced coolly at her watch. “Are you certain? One thing I’m positive about is that he’ll never get over what you did.” With that, she turned and stalked away.
After she was gone, I let out the breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding. I felt a new and profound hatred for Bronwyn after discovering that she was the real reason I didn’t go to England. I’d tried to move past that part of it; to forgive him his indiscretion that was as much to blame for my decision to marry Jensen as my father’s blackmail. The whole thing was a big ball of pain and it resonated that maybe all of the bad stuff would always stand between Chase and me. The uneaten fruit on my plate blurred and I starred at it, struggling with my thoughts.
“Where’s Bronwyn?” Chase’s voice broke into my reflection.
I blinked and looked up at him as he pulled out a chair. “Oh, uh…” I sat up straighter in my chair and tried to keep my tone even. “I think she went to the bathroom.”
He watched me, trying to gauge what had just happened in his absence. “What’d she do?” he asked, accusingly.
My shoulder lifted in a half-shrug and I tried to smile. “Nothing.”
Chase’s brow dropped into a frown and I could almost see his mind working it out. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“What did Dr. Radar’s office say?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
“His receptionist said he usually makes rounds at 6 AM but he was going to stop by this evening before dinner to check on Remi.”
“He’s an awesome doctor. I’m just hoping switching out the port will work to rid her of the infection soon so we can move forward.”
Chase nodded. His hair was gelled, but obviously, he’d ran his hands through it several times already today and a lock fell forward over his brow. I wanted to push it back. The urge to touch him was strong, but I couldn’t forget what Bronwyn just said.
Chase reached over and picked up an untouched toast triangle from my plate and then took a bite. “You didn’t eat much. Are you sure you’re okay?” His expression was concerned.
“I’m fine,” I answered shortly. I was never one who was able to hide my feelings, especially from Chase.
He took another bite of the toast, and I pushed the plate toward him. “Do you want to order something?”
“This is good.” He chewed the toast and grabbed my fork, stabbing a strawberry with it and popping it in his mouth. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he insisted. He was in a good mood and why wouldn’t he be? The marrow matched and Remi came through her surgery with ease.
“Nothing, I’m good. I’m just…” I shrugged again, searching for something to say to hide the real reason I was upset. “Nervous, I guess.”
“About the radiation? I understand; me, too. It’s terrifying to kill her immune system.”
