Page 36 of With a Broken Wing
“Erin didn’t come on this trip. She took vacation time.” He rolled his eyes at whatever his mom said through the phone.
I sipped the coffee in front of me as the waiter set plates with food on the table with a nod. His mom’s words sounded distant, but one thing stuck out. “I don’t know why you aren’t with her yet. She’s in love with you, you know.” My stomach soured, and I pushed the plate of toast and fruit away from me.
“Mom, not now. I need to let you go.” His shoulders were stiff at her response, but they softened. “I know. I love you too.”
He set his phone down and picked up his fork, stabbing a piece of sausage on his plate and bringing it to his mouth. I watched him eat. How could he eat right now? Did he love Erin like she loved him? Then where did that leave me?
“Why aren’t you eating?” He pointed to the plate I had slid to the side, still sitting there untouched.
I shrugged, looking down at the table. “I’m not hungry.”
Tilting his head, he glared at me. “Don’t lie to me, sunshine. Something is bothering you.”
“I guess I’m justalsowondering why you haven’t married Erin yet, since apparently you two love each other?”
A frustrated sigh was accompanied by the sound of him dropping his fork to his plate. “Why the hell would you say we are in love with each other?”
“You didn’t deny it.”
“Erin is a close friend. She has worked for me and my family for many years. She is irreplaceable, and she will always have a guaranteed spot with any Carlisle family business she wants. But you’re being ridiculous.” Demetri reached across the table and grabbed my chin in his hand, turning me to face him and holding me there. “Do you think I would’ve had my cock buried inside you last night if I was in love with her?”
I looked around me at the nearly empty café, anxious to make sure nobody heard his comment. “I guess,” I said, preparing to tell him it didn’t matter if he was inside me if everyone thought he should be with Erin. Then my phone buzzed, vibrating against the table next to me.
Demetri watched as I picked it up, likely tempted to make a comment about my being on the phone. If he was, he thought better of it and returned his attention to his breakfast. I hoped that meant he didn’t see the color undoubtedly drain from my face.
FISHER:Hello, princess.
ME:I’m still not home.
FISHER:Is that any way to greet a friend?
ME:We aren’t friends.
FISHER:You’re right. We’re so much more. And soon, you’re going to prove it.
I locked my phone and dropped it into my purse with a huff. Demetri sat across from me, no longer eating his breakfast. His hands were clasped together with his elbows resting on the table, but his angry stare was locked on me.
“You’re blushing.”
“Not because everyone thinks I’m in love with my assistant,” I snapped, and he scowled.
“That’s not fair. I already told you, I’m not in love with her. Who are you talking to?”
“Nothing in life is fair, Demetri. I’m full.” I stood up, not missing the way he flicked his gaze to the food on my plate—the toast was missing a single bite and only a couple of pieces of fruit were gone. “I’m going to go for a walk.”
He didn’t stop me as I walked away from the table, probably knowing he was running low on time himself. We may have had an eventful night, but he still had a meeting today. It was with a family friend, but he always made it clear his business was his first priority. He wouldn’t be late, and I’d get away without him cornering me and demanding to know who I was talking to.
He couldn’t know about Fisher Jordan.
I should’ve feltgreat leaving that meeting. Don had been a close family friend as long as I could remember. It was great to catch up with him over a couple of drinks, but I couldn’t get out of there and back to the hotel fast enough.
It was the way Andy had walked away from the table this morning that made me hesitant to knock on the door to her room.Nothing in life is fair.It felt like it carried more than the weight of her implications. She wasn’t just referring to her assumption that I loved Erin, and it was that realization that made me turn down a third round of drinks, making an excuse for a last-minute conference call.
My fist was firm on the door, and I thought for a moment she jumped on the other side. But then there was only silence.
I knocked again. “Open the door, sunshine.”
“No.” Her voice was small on the other side of the door, like a petulant child.
