Page 111 of Dirty Player

“Hey, sweetheart,” Patrick said, turning toward me and smiling.

I blinked rapidly, unable to move.

“She’s not your sweetheart,” Melissa clipped harshly, baring her teeth like she wanted to rip him to shreds. “Go away.”

Patrick glanced at Melissa, a quick sneer twisting his lips before he ignored her and turned back to me. “I was hoping we could talk.”

That one look in his eyes he gave Melissa before quickly being able to erase it told me everything I needed to know.

“No, Patrick. I don’t know why you’re here, but I don’t want to talk to you. We broke up. Hell, I moved almost twenty hours away to get away from you. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I think I made it clear I want nothing to do with you.”

“Yes,” he said, his voice dropping in a way I used to think was sexy, but now I realized was arrogance. “I remember the last time we spoke.”

“Then you know she doesn’t want you,” Melissa said, still glaring at him.

Man, I loved my bestie. Now wasn’t the time for her to defend me. She and Patrick had always hated each other. “Melissa, please…give us a moment.”

“But—”

“No buts,” I said. “Please. This will take two minutes.”

She huffed, and I waited until she’d gone to the back before I turned and faced Patrick. He spoke before I could.

“I miss you, sweetheart. I know, I know I messed up, and I’m so sorry. But I love you. I still love you. Please, let’s go somewhere, let’s just go somewhere and talk.”

I shook my head, crossing my arms around my waist.

They were the right words, coming from the wrong damn man and for the wrong damn reasons.

I knew it.

Patrick was handsome. He was attractive in the pretty-boy way, and he took care of himself. Dressed in a long-sleeved plaid shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and wearing gray linen shorts, he looked everything like the perfect, kind gentleman he’d always portrayed himself to be. I had been drawn in by his looks and his body and the security he’d offered me. His well-groomed ginger hair and light green eyes helped. He was justpretty.

I couldn’t summon up a single emotion for him. His eyes were hard as steel, his voice lacked sincerity.

“You’re here because you found out another man has me and you’re pissed I don’t want you. That’s all this is, Patrick.”

“Powell?” he asked, almost choking on the word. “He’s no good for you. Come on, he’s a rebound for you. Someone who wants to fuck you until he’s tired of you. You know football players, you’ve always said the same thing about them, and don’t think for a second I haven’t looked into his reputation. He’s a player. He fucks women, doesn’t go back for more, and leaves a trail of pussy who have spread their legs for him in every city he travels. You’re nothing but a meaningless fuck to him. But to me, you’re everything.”

My heart pounded in my ribs. My cheeks heated. There was no way for Patrick to know the full extent of the pain he’d just lanced straight through my already broken heart.

I shook my head back and forth rapidly, trying to shake away the pain he was dishing out. “Patrick,” I said and took a step back. My chin wobbled. Fuck. I couldn’t cry in front of him. I wouldn’t.

“Shannon,” he said and closed the space between us in three quick strides. His hand reached for my forearm and I gasped from the surprise. His other hand pressed to my cheek. “Let me show you how sorry I am. It’s killing me. I hurt you, and I’m sorry. But it won’t happen again.”

“You don’t want me,” I said as I flinched again at his sudden hold on me. “You’re mad you can’t have me. We both know it, Patrick. I’m never coming back to Des Moines. I’m staying here.”

“With Powell?” he asked, his green eyes beginning to glint with jealousy. Damn it. I knew it. “He’s no good for you.”

“That may be,” a masculine,veryfamiliar voice said.

I gasped and pulled back only to see him…Oliver…standing in my doorway. I’d been so focused on Patrick I hadn’t heard the bell chime at the door.

“But if you don’t want my fist in your face, you’re going to get your hands off my girlfriend.”

Chapter TWENTY-EIGHT

OLIVER

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