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A dull throb began in her stomach, one she was familiar with. Celia yanked her hands free, shifting out from under him.
He rolled onto his back. “I was kidding.”
The air from the AC raised goose bumps on her bare arms. She found her discarded shirt, pulling it on again.
“We’ve talked about this.” Daniel drew his hand down his chest toward his boxers, and she looked away. “I have needs.”
Celia walked out of the room, heading over to her duffel and lifting it to her shoulder.
His hand closed on the strap. “What are you doing?”
She tilted her head toward the bathroom. “I told you that I need a shower. I’ve been traveling since five this morning.” The orange from the setting sun filtered through the white, gossamer curtains, staining the carpet with light.
Her fiancé stared at her. “You know, I never expected you to come.”
The pain in Celia’s stomach spread, a chill following it. “You asked me to marry you.”
It was as if she’d only said the words were only in her mind, how quickly he changed the subject. “I mean, you said this was the city where your mom went crazy, didn’t you?”
Any words dried up on her tongue. She’d told him a bit about her mother. It was unlike her, and the regret served her right. Celia swallowed. “That was a long time ago.”
His voice was already shoving hers aside. “You said you’d never move back here. But then you show up.”
Celia didn’t bother to remind him of the dozens of conversations they’d had to discuss their next steps. She tried to forget how he had urged her to be with him.
The metallic scrape of the lock sliding open had her turning to the front door as it was pushed open. A heaviness spread to her legs, rooting her to that damn white carpet as another woman walked in.
The blonde stalked forward, her eyes raking over Celia before shifting to Daniel. “Is this her?”
Daniel sighed. “I told you to give me tonight to talk to her.”
The other woman shoved her way between them.
Celia was more than happy to shuffle to the side. The two people in front of her looked good together. Both with light, styled hair and sharp eyes. Much better than she would look with her dark circles and washed-out brown hair.
The woman’s hand slapped against his chest. “Talking, huh? And you already in your boxers?”
Celia didn’t bother to point out that she was fully clothed. She doubted either of them would hear her.
“I told you, she’s not great in bed,” Daniel whined.
Celia wished she couldn’t hear them instead.
“She doesn’t have to be good. I know guys only think with their dicks.” The blonde darted forward, locking her lips with the man that had been Celia’s fiancé.
She glanced down at her empty ring finger. It had been a sign.
The smacking of wet lips followed, and a shiver ran through her. She edged toward the door.
With a last moan from Daniel, the woman lifted her head, her red lipstick smudged down one side of her lip. “Leaving so soon?”
The man Celia had tried to take a chance on looked dazed.
Celia didn’t bother to say anything as she walked to the door, opening it and shutting it with a soft click behind her.
Chapter 2
TrentonCaldwellcouldfindhis way to her side in the dark, so the dreary afternoon didn’t bother him. The rain was somewhere between a mist and a drizzle, so he didn’t open the umbrella he carried. He had brought it just in case. In the past, his wife would have laughed about what a planner he was, how her spontaneous ways were the perfect offset. He smiled at the memory as he crouched at her tombstone.
