Page 38 of Filthy Rich Temptation
‘I don’t live for?—’
He arches a lazy brow.
‘Fine. Whatever. But I don’t see you complaining about the money I made you.’
‘I wouldn’t dare. But if you’re throwing about death threats, I’d like to know who, so I can decide how?—’
‘It’s that bastard Danny. Sadie’s ex.’
That wipes the smirk from his face.
He leans back – coiled muscle and quiet tension – crowding the seat built for two. ‘Why the sudden fire? You already knew he was a piece of work.’
‘Yeah, well, there’s knowing it, and then there’s hearing it from her lips and—fuck.’
I throw back more whisky, chasing the burn. Trying to cauterise the guilt. Trying to scorch away the nightmare she laid out in the park: her past, her twisted reality. Then comes the image I can’t shake – her in Lottie’s doorway before I left. Soft smile. Big eyes. Lips brushing against my cheek. Thanking me.
Thanking me for taking them out.
Thanking me for helping her see a future.
Thanking me… when I sure as hell don’t deserve it.
I should’ve done more. When she all but disappeared from our lives, I should’ve known something was wrong. Should’ve gotten on a damn plane, found her, uncovered the truth, and brought her home.
But I didn’t.
I told myself distance was better – for her, for me.
The truth was, I was a coward.
Because even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. That one reckless, stolen kiss. And it terrified me. The passion it ignited when she was too young. Too innocent. My best friend’s little sister, too.
Iwantedher. And in wanting her, I ran the other way.
Me – the supposed grown-up – letting her walk away when I should have tried to fix things. Instead, I abandoned her to that bastard. And now she’sthanking me.
Worse than that, as her lips grazed my cheek, all I could think about was kissing her again. She was so close. So warm. So damn beautiful. Her eyes shining, her lips mere inches from mine, that delicate floral scent – hers alone – making my head spin.
And I hated myself for it.
For still wanting what I never should’ve wanted in the first place.
So I ran.
Again.
Before I did something completely unforgivable and totally irredeemable.
Before I betrayed Taylor’s trust, and shattered Sadie’s newfound faith in me.
‘It’s all I can do not to get on a plane to Ireland right now and?—’
‘And what?’
My teeth slam together, grinding away as a hundred violent images flash through my mind. None satisfying. None enough.
But each one feeds the fire under my skin.
