Page 27 of The Right Guy
“Suits me,” I muttered.
Ro lowered his eyes while hauling his sister from the bed, bothof us fully aware of Fia’s observation. She studied his every move, peering at him from the hallway. I decided they suited each other. Ro lived in my fantasy as a false longing—a potential husband that never justly belonged there.
As soon as they left, I flung the door shut. Emotions churned up from the undercurrent of astonishment. Tears spilled, and I sobbed his name.
Theo.
I grasped my phone from the desk and hit dial, waiting and hoping he’d pick up. After seven rings, thathoarsevoice of his answered. “Go to bed, Ada.” He sighed out my name.
“How do you expect me to sleep? You threw a fucking bomb and then strolled away. Please, Theo, don’t do this,” I pleaded.
His harsh exhale was cold even though it didn’t touch my skin. “There’s nothing for me in here anymore.”
“You have me.” I bit back a sob.
After a cruel silence, he finally spoke, “I’ve never had you. You’ve always been waiting for someone else. Good night.”
The connection ended.
Twelve
The aftermath
I couldn’t sleep.
The mattress felt like a mortuary slab, hard and uncomfortable. An awareness that everything good had ended settled over me like a shroud. My overactive brain fired on all cylinders, imagining a life without Theo. He was leaving. That thought alone was enough to crush my world with its intent. I’d become used to the pattern of unsettled sleep over theyears,until I spent the night in his bed and slept like a princess. Now, somehow, the restless nights seemed harsher and more uninviting.I was lonely in the silence of my room without Kim.
After tossing for the umpteenth time, I rolledontoa hard lump. It dug into myhipbonelike a stone—the same stone that couldbe peltedat my skull for being so stupid. The planets had aligned as I’d originally wished for. Ro Huxley chose me, or perhaps he was just lonely without Fia, or I was the better catch as the destined CEO at Rarity? Either way, it was irrelevant now.
I threw off the sheets and there it was. My precious green pendant, still hanging on the thread-like chain. A gift from the Prince of my heart, the master of my emotions, and the king of my life—Theo.
It didn’t matter he was a bar manager earning an ordinary wage. There was nothing ordinary about him, not at all. Ro was wealthy and good-looking, but he wasn’t in love with me. My mother seemed to admire Theo. Perhaps she’d known all along I was falling for him. She recognized what I couldn’t see. But why would she push me toward him?
I questioned my future in Rarity, wondering if a life away fromthe family businesswould be worth it just to have Theo. Truthfully, I’d give it all up for him. Unless there was a different way, or aloopholein the conditions to marry a loaded guy. I clamped the pendant in my fist and held it to my heart.
There had to be another way.
Hot water sluiced over my tense shoulders, washing away the traces of Ro’s touch from the night before. As soothing as the powerful jets were, they couldn’t rinse away the dread and outrage agitating the rhythm of my heartbeat. I knew what I needed to do. I had to force Theo to see sense andstay with me. Ihadto makehim understand that he was my obsession—not Ro Huxley.
I couldn’t eat breakfast. My insides were toorestless,and a stomach ache made me queasy. Instead, I heaved on jeans and wrenched a green tee over myhead. Wet curls wrapped in a band created my usual careless bun. I was a girl on a mission to rewrite the stars and make Theo mine.
Every determined fast stride co-ordinated with the words tumbling into my mind, each one preparing to roll off my tongue like the tide. I had so many things to say to him, but all I wanted was one more kiss to pacify my curiosity.Buried deep in my soul, I knew the kiss we shared was aswoonyfairytale kiss that shook the earth, but I deserved another; we both deserved one more chance.
When I reached his house, the front doorwas locked, and Poseidon napped on the porch. His ears pricked when he heard my footsteps, and his tail thumped the wood when I ducked down to pat his head.
Next stop, The Reef. With Theo being the manager, he always had paperwork, accounts, and orders to sort out. He worked like a Trojan, day and night. I respected him for it.
My heart hung in limbo, ready to vault onto his when the time was right. I rung out my hands, hurrying to the staff entrance.This was it. The big moment. Whether he stayed was a whole other story entirely, but at least he would know I’d fallen for him.
I unlocked the door. Faint light shoneapath from the back office, behind the bar. A stench of beer and stale alcohol tainted the air. A gentle murmur of the glass washer churned in the peacefulness. When I rounded the counter, a feminine mumble immobilized me. I paused, clutching the pendant.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving. We’ve only just met,” a woman purred.“You’re so big,’ she panted breathlessly. “So strong.”
The erotic moans hit me like a forty-foot truck sliding along the ice with no hope of braking before impact. Theo’s husky timbre hinted a thrill. “This has been fun, but—” The slapping of flesh nearly sent me to an early grave, and my heart stilled. “I’m done with this place. It’s the same old shit every fucking day.”
A loud appreciative groan brought quicker movements. I crept toward the light, blinking to adjust my eyes. Theo’s brawny inked torso was bare, and his jeans shoved down to his knees. Worst of all, he was wedged between the open legs of an unknown female.He faced a framed photograph of us together from a few months ago. When he took the selfie, and revealed our goofy grins, I’d told him I liked myself better with him. We looked good together. The next afternoon the photograph was nailed to the wall.
Theo’s new plaything rose up and buried her face in his shoulder. His mocha skin muffled her pleasure scream.
