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But all I could do was stare out the windshield as shock and horror seized my lungs. What the hell had Shay told her? What the hell hadLogantold her? Why did I feel like the entire fucking world was judging me all the time?
And if that wasn’t the worst thing to have happen, someone cleared their throat in the back.
“Could you keep your personal life at home? This isn’t something we need to be subjected to.” I expected it from Henna, who’d actually stayed quiet, staring at her phone. It was Ryan who’d uttered those harsh words to me.
Fuming, embarrassed, and enraged, I pulled the car into the reserved parking space the restaurant owner had promised would be ready for us.
Biting my tongue and hitting mute on the steering wheel, I smiled at the couple. “Enjoy your evening. So sorry about the personal call—it won’t happen again. I’ll arrange to have someone pick you up and take you back when you’re ready.”
“No. We expect you to be here,” Ryan demanded in that cold tone while waiting for Henna to get out on her own.Such a gentleman.
“My shift ends in twenty minutes, so I won’t be available.”
“If it’s not you who picks us up, I’ll be sure to pass along to your manager and the owner of the resort how disappointed we were with their customer service,” Ryan said, fixing the button on the wrist of his suit jacket.
I would not cry in front of him. I wouldnotcry in front of him.
“I’d need extended childcare for my kids, and I’m not sure that can be arranged,” I muttered as evenly as I possibly could.
“See that it can,” he replied, slamming the door on his way out.
I couldn’t hold them back any longer; tears broke out, streaming down my face along with a hiccup as a sob worked free. I had never hated Ryan for anything in our past, even when he’d responded the way he had to the news I’d delivered to him.
Even when he’d broken my heart into a billion pieces with that firm set of his jaw and that angry look in his eye…I had never, ever hated the man. But now…now I was starting to hate the fucker.
* * *
I parkedthe SUV and waited for the couple to come out of the restaurant. I knew the cafe closed at eleven, but they’d gotten a late start to their evening. Using my phone, I started working on a few emails and answering a few questions on upcoming design projects.
Before I knew it, an hour had passed. So, I started watching a television show on HitFlix, hating that the very man I was waiting on was the star of three trending titles.
Finally, near midnight, I walked into the restaurant, confused as to why on earth they’d stay open so late even if the two they were staying open for were celebrities. The lounge was dark as I walked in, the booths and tables empty…finally, after wandering through the entire dining room, I found someone in the back.
“Where are Ryan Prince and his date?”
The cook looked confused, but a few seconds later it seemed like a light bulb went off.
“They called the resort for a ride back to their villa…I think it was around ten?” the cook guessed, turning to wash a few more dishes.
My gut sank. My entire world seemed to shrivel up into a tiny wad of paper. Why would he be so cruel?
Choking out a thank you, I turned to leave, but not before grabbing a carafe of cold coffee and filling a to-go cup to the brim.
I probably shouldn’t have been driving toward Ryan’s villa. I knew it was a bad plan even before I started heading that way, but the rage simmering in my veins wouldn’t let me turn around.
When I pulled the company SUV into the extra space for his villa, I was thankful it was late so there wouldn’t be any witnesses.
I had already texted Judy to clock me out since the sports center automatic locks engaged after eleven, so I wasn’t even on company time while I diverged to the dark side.
A sick, twisted thought entered my head while I stomped toward their door: they could be having sex. They could be loud and moaning and it could ruin me to hear Ryan having sex with someone else…but the closer I got, the more I realized I just didn’t care anymore.
I rang the doorbell.
I silently prayed and hoped I was waking them up, or maybe Ryan was about to come and I’d just interrupted his impending orgasm. That would actually be better. I rang the doorbell again and again and again until finally Ryan swung the door open.
He wasn’t naked, but he did look sleepy, standing there in his low-slung sweats and white t-shirt.
I hated how handsome he was, and how badly I wanted to push him backward and start kissing him. What a shame such good looks were wasted on such a trashy human.
“Bex, what the—” Ryan questioned right before I flipped the lip up on the to-go cup and tossed the cold coffee in his face.
“There you go. You mentioned wanting to get coffee with me—figured I’d just cut to the chase and get it over with so you could enjoy the rest of your vacation.” I dusted my hands off. “And as for your conversation, you were right—you were owed one, but the last few days have shown me that you don’t deserve it.” I took a step back as his eyes did that simmering thing and that muscle in his jaw jumped.
Turning toward my car, I stomped away, only to turn back with my hand on the door. “I’m off for the next four days. It’s a shame I won’t be here to be your resort bitch anymore, but I’m sure you’ll find an easy replacement to tag along while you dry-hump your girlfriend in the pool. Goodbye, Ryan. I’m relieved to know I dodged one hell of a bullet with you.”
He stepped out of his doorway, onto the porch, wiping at his face and leaving behind a murderous expression. His lips parted, forming a few words, but I didn’t wait around to listen.
