Page 76 of Sunshine
“It’s a man, but no.”
“A man?” My brow rises. “Did he do something to you?”
She blows out. “I was stupid to fall for it, but he basically put the moves on me so I would introduce him to my family, more specifically my uncle.”
“Uncle Stephen? The one that owns one of the top literary agencies in Canada?” I cock my head. “Why don’t you work for him again?”
“Because he hates romance books even though they’re the largest-grossing genre, and he refused to let me bring you with me to the firm.”
“Oh, right. Well, I hope he’s regretted that. You’re an amazing agent, Paige.”
“Oh, he must have. He’s since changed his mind on the romance genre. Offered me the job of running the department, but I turned him down. I want to come home. There are plenty of authors on the east coast. And I can work remotely with my current clientele. Most of my work is done over the phone or video chat these days anyway.”
Her last two sentences hit me and I lean forward in my chair to get closer to the computer screen. “Wait, what did you say?”
She shrugs. “I’m thinking of coming home. I miss you and my parents are getting older.” She chuckles a moment but it’s sad and nasally as if she’s been crying.
Her announcement brings me back to the point of the call. “Don’t jump the gun for me, Paige. I’m coming back to Toronto. As soon as possible. Now, tell me more about what this dickhead did.”
She nods, her eyes welling. “Right, well his tactics changed.”
“Oh?”
“You know how women kind of go gaga over the Greg House, MD types?”
“Brilliant assholes that are dismissive to most people but have a soft spot for a small few? And when they grace a womanwith that kind of sweet special attention it’s like a love potion and the woman falls head over heels in love?”
She slaps her hands on her desk or at least that’s what is sounds like. “Exactly!”
I groan. “Paige, you didn’t.”
“I did. Well, not love, but a lot of like and infatuation. And as soon as I introduced him to my family, my uncle particularly—” Her lip wobbles before she latches it tightly between her teeth and inhales deeply.
“That bastard!” Is that what Case had done? Did he sex me up so I’d stop messing with his build and be putty in his hand? No, because I never stopped messing with his build. So, what was it then? What were his motives? Was it just the challenge? Grr, I don’t care. He needs to go back where he came from. This island isn’t big enough for both of us and his family.
“He didn’t even tell me himself,” Paige says, her voice laced with bitterness, instantly tugging my brain back to her issue. I nod so she knows I’m listening.
“My uncle called and said he would honor his contract, buy me out of it, and add twenty-five percent for my trouble.” She frowns. “Because dark and broody clients are not my thing, and this one obviously used me.” She air quotes before deepening her voice and saying, “Happy ever afters, Paige, that’s your lane. And nice men who treat you like the precious gem you are. Not this asshat who’ll steal your spark.” Her head falls into her hands. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not, Paige. Your asshole uncle is right. You’ve got spark and when people have that, there’s always someone waiting to snuff it out. And your uncle is a master at separating his work and personal life.”
“I know. It’s just I hate being used.” She deadpans me. “And dammit, I’m attracted to bad boys who have a soft spot for good girls.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know!”
Paige laughs too and it wipes away the gloom that shadows her face.
“We’ll find you a good bad boy, I promise. But that guy wasn’t it.”
“Are you really moving back here? What about the hottie next door? What about all Gran’s chickens and things?”
“Yes, and I don’t know about the rest. The divorce is final and my finances have been released so my options are open.” I purposely ignore her question about Case because I do not want to admit he’s the one I’m running from. Leaving will be for self-preservation, because just like Paige, I fell for the wrong man. A shitty man who cheats on his pregnant wife. One I don’t plan on seeing with his happy little family across the field.
“Ooh, speaking of divorces. I heard something about Gary.” She smiles brightly now. “Seems he took out a loan on his divorce settlement, invested a large portion into Marie’s father’s company and it tanked. He lost it all.” She snaps her fingers. “And that, bestie, is karma.”
“Suddenly I understand why he flew all the way to Gran’s to get me to reconcile.”
“No way.”
