Page 28 of A Powerful Attraction
“It’s the truth!”
“Even if it is, that doesn’t matter to me. You’remarried,and you kept that information from me. How am I supposed to trust you now?”
His chest moved up and down in a fast rhythm. When he spoke next, he used a calmer, lower voice. “I didn’t set out to lie to you. Everything happened so fast between us. We were just supposed to have dinner, and then…and then, in the parking lot, we kissed. I’m not proud of what I did, but I took my chance. Do you know how often I’d fantasized about making love to you? When the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t not take it.”
“That still makes you a disgusting liar.”
Alex winced. “You have become the most important person in my life. I know that I’m important to you, too. We can get through this.”
“You and me,we, are not going to do anything.Youare going to stick to your vows or whatever you promised Heather, and leave me out of it.”
He shook his head. “That’s not possible.”
“What I said is not up for debate.”
“I’m not letting you go.”
“You don’t have a choice!” Sherry marched toward the door, fully intending to bypass him, but he grabbed her wrist. She tried to jerk away. “Stop.”
He grasped both of her arms. Desperation flashed in his eyes. “Listen to me. I was wrong, yes. But Heather and I are not in love. We’re not a real married couple.”
“I. Don’t. Care. You kept your marriage from me and turned me into a woman who’s sleeping with a married man. You should have told me everything. Instead, you took the choice away from me as to whether or not I would be okay with this arrangement.”
“I can’t abandon her,” he said. “That’s not the kind of man I am.”
“I’m not asking you to abandon her. That’s not the kind of woman I am. I’m not giving you an ultimatum, Alex. I’m telling you that we’re done.”
“No,”he said in a deeper, harsher voice.“This can’t be the end. Not for you and me. Not for what I know is between us.” A fierce light entered his eyes. “I love you.”
Her stomach clenched in agony, and she had the sudden urge to burst into tears. “Don’t say that.”
His expression softened. “It’s true.”
“Don’t! You want to pretend your marriage doesn’t matter, and I can’t. Don’t you remember what I told you the night we had dinner at La Tavola? Trust, Alex. Trust is the most important part of a relationship for me. I can’t trust you now. I don’t care about your feelings for me, and I don’t care about your reasons for what you did.” Her voice thickened as she struggled to get the words out. This had to be the hardest thing she’d ever done. Even harder than accepting the pain of knowing her boyfriend of eighteen months had been cheating on her with someone else. “We’re done. Leave me alone. You’re married. Be with your wife. Your friend-wife. Whatever arrangement you have. Leave. Me. Alone.”
When she pulled away this time, he didn’t stop her. She rushed past him out the door, eyes filled with tears and heart demolished by the soul-crushing pain of betrayal.
13
He didn’t want to be here, pretending to care what these people thought so he could get their business. Alex ran a hand along the inside collar of his tux and then took another sip of beer.
The Johnson Foundation was one of the largest private charitable foundations in the world and made a difference in the lives of many around education, healthcare, and children-focused causes. But he should have bowed out of the invitation to the highbrow reception because he simply wasn’t in the mood. He only came because Rashad had insisted they attend, pointing out the event was a good opportunity to meet people with whom they could expand their clientele.
Except Alex had no desire to speak to the rich, famous, or, in some cases, both. All he could think about was the fact that Sherry wouldn’t speak to him. Even at work, she refused to give him a minute of her time. He’d managed to corner her in the break room yesterday afternoon and suggest they get together for drinks after work, to talk, but she’d declined.
“I have plans,” she said woodenly.
“What about tomorrow?”
“I have plans then, too.” She refused to look at him. She gripped the tiny bag of chips in her hand, waiting for him to move aside and let her pass.
“Plans with who?”
“No one you know.”
She couldn’t have hurt him more if she’d clawed his skin off and left him to bleed out. Had she gone back on Match.com? The thought sent him into a panic.
“Sherry.” He reached for her, but she sidestepped him. Jealous anger surged inside him. “It’s been one fucking week and you’re already seeing someone?”
