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“What do you want, Toby? Is it Mom?”
Toby looked surprised. He shrugged. “Nah, you’ve got that nurse looking after her, haven’t you? I’m sure she’s fine.”
I chewed my lip. It had been stupid to think he might be bringing news fromBernieabout Mom. Bernie was unlikely to get in touch with Toby. I wished I’d gone upstairs to check my phone.
I shivered. It was cold out here, the October day brisk and breezy, and I was not wearing my jacket.
I sighed. “What is it Toby? We broke up. Why are you here? You know I don’t like you coming to my work.”
He pouted and stroked his fingers through his blond hair. “Babe, why are you being like that? You know I still care about you.”
The look in his eyes said he hated seeing me stressed out. Once, I would have totally fallen for it, but that was before I’d caught the awful sight of him butt naked and writhing on top of some other girl.
Even after I’d confided in him that I found it hard to trust people ever since dad had ruined our lives, he had still done that to me.
“Babe, I want you back,” he said. “I want to take care of you, Beth. You know that, right? Give me a chance.”
His words were pleading, so persuasive, but they left me cold. Toby was everything a girl should want. Charming,impeccable manners, always well-dressed, and a family pedigree to make minor royalty seethe with envy. Not to mention the money.
The money was why Dolly had introduced me to him, after I had confessed to her late one night that I was exhausted, tired of life, tired from years of being a carer, tired of working myself to the bone at Bordello, tired of dating men who turned out to be fickle. Sometimes I just wished I had someone in my life to look after me.
I hadn’t really meant it. It had been just a low moment, from which I was used to picking myself up.
But Dolly had giggled and told me she had just the thing.
“He’s cute,” she’d said. “Born with a silver spoon in his mouth. You’ll never have to worry about your mom again.”
“I don’t care about the money,” I’d said, offended. “I just want someone who’s there for me. Someone to love.”
“The money sure makes life easier, doesn’t it?” she’d retorted.
“And I don’t want some arrogant rich dick.”
She’d giggled. “He’s not. He’s a nice boy, mostly. But he’s got a taste for bad-girls, though he’d never settle with one. He needs a pampered princess on his arm to make him proud. You’re both.”
“I’m neither. My dad wasn’t rich. Not like those people.”
“Rich enough to send you to private school, honey. You’re perfect. He is going to drool over you so hard. Let me set you up?” She’d tickled me mercilessly into submission.
And I’d not regretted it.Toby Paget-Stanleyhad been a taste of fresh air. Surprisingly respectful. He’d not even moaned at me for working in a club like Bordello, like all my other dates had whenever I’d eventually told them.
Now Toby cupped my cheeks in his hands. “Don’t be mad, babe,” he cajoled. “She was a mistake. She came on to me and I was drunk. It’ll never happen again.”
I pushed his hands away. “I’m not angry with you, Toby. And that’s the problem. It’s over between us. Please, let’s just be friends.”
He groaned. “God, you’re hot.” He pushed me up against the wall and started kissing me.
“Stop that!” I turned my head away. Pushed on his chest. Shoved as hard as I could. But he wouldn’t move away.
“Babe, I need a favour,” he murmured against my neck.
“Toby, you’re drunk. I said no. Just leave it.”
Managing to escape under his arm, I hurried away, but he grabbed my wrist. The hard look on his face alarmed me.
“God, you’re such a bitch sometimes,” he said.
I wrenched my wrist, but he effortlessly shoved me up against the wall. Held me there.
