Page 45 of Daring to Love You
“I was thinking about you and figured I’d give you a quick call. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Seriously? I haven’t heard from you in forever, and all of a sudden you’re thinking about me?”
He sighed loudly. “Just because I haven’t called doesn’t mean I don’t think about you. I guess I just… Well, it was good seeing you the other week, and I wanted to say you looked great and happy.”
Staring down at the granite countertop, Dorian reflected on his words. She hadn’t really thought about it, but she was happy. When she left her marketing job, she’d been devastated and concerned about next steps in her life. She had considered looking for work at a different agency, but before she could startjob hunting, her mother asked if she would help out at the bed and breakfast.
Dorian enjoyed being able to cook and bake whatever she wanted and whenever she wanted to. She also liked spending time with the guests who came from all over the world and had great stories to share. Then there was the flexibility and the freedom that came with the position. That type of peace was priceless.
“I am happy,” she finally said to Rodney.
“It showed. I guess dating a millionaire could do that for you,” he said, and Dorian didn’t miss the sarcasm in his tone. “The Mathews are well known in the business world. How’d you even meet one of them? Let alone date one of them.”
Anger stirred inside of Dorian and intensified as she absorbed his words. “Is that why you’re calling me? To find out about my love life?”
Rodney huffed. “Love life? Baby, I doubt you even have one. Unless you’ve made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn, you’re not giving Mathews any loving the same way you didn’t give me any.”
Dorian’s anger spiked, and if Rodney had been standing in front of her, she would’ve slapped him.
“Surely, you’re not comparing yourself to Lynix Mathews,” she snarled. “He’s more of a man than you’lleverbe. Actually, there’s no comparison. Did it ever occur to you that I didn’t have sex with you because I wasn’t that into you?”
“No, that never occurred to me. I figured you were too much of a Pollyanna to give it up to anyone. Hell, your legs are closed so tightly, air probably can’t even get between them. While we were together, I had even considered maybe you played for the other team and didn’t like men. Because it was clear you wouldn’t know what to do with a man even if one came with instructions.”
Dorian gasped.
Rodney cursed.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “That was way out of line. I didn’t mean it.”
Hurt bubbled inside of Dorian, and she bit down on her bottom lip as she blinked back tears. No way was she letting his hurtful words bring her down. At least that’s what she told herself, but a rogue tear slipped down her cheek before she quickly swiped it away.
“I’m sorry, Dorian. I’m an idiot and didn’t mean any of that.”
She wasn’t dumb enough to think he had said all that and didn’t mean it. Her mother often said what’s in your heart eventually comes out of your mouth. Good or bad, he spoke what he thought of her, and it pierced deep.
She placed her hand over her mouth, struggling to keep herself together. She couldn’t let this jerk ruin her evening. After breathing in and out a couple of times, she was able to say, “What do you want, Rodney? Because we both know you didn’t call to see how I was doing.”
After a long hesitation he said, “Damn, Dorian. I really am sorry, and I was calling to see how you’re doing.”
“Well, now you know. Goodbye,” she said and started to disconnect the call but heard, “Wait!”
“Dorian, don’t hang up yet. I also called for another reason. I wanted to ask a favor.”
Dorian released a humorless laugh. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. You insult me with your hurtful words, and then you want to ask for a favor? A year ago, you didn’t give a damn about my feelings and discarded me like I was nothing! And a few minutes ago, you basically did it again by saying all those hurtful things. So whatever favor you need, my answer ishell no!”
“Come on, Dorian. We both know you’re not the type to hold grudges, and you’re not mean-spirited. Technically, the favorisn’t for me, it’s for Concept Marketing. You love and admire this agency and what it’s done for its clients. Despite my stupidity and insensitivity, I’m just asking for you to put in a good word for our—”
“Like I said,no! Oh, and Rodney? Let this be the last time you call me. Otherwise, you’ll be hearing from Lynix.”
She disconnected the call as more tears slid down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them away. Resting her hands on the edge of the counter, she lowered her head and took a few cleansing breaths as she struggled to get her emotions under control.
What had she ever seen in Rodney? Had he always been a jerk? Were there signs she had ignored? Probably.
She shook her head.God, I’m so stupid. I should’ve…
“Dee?”
Dorian swung around, shocked to see Lynix in the kitchen. How long had he been standing there? How much had he heard?
