Page 24 of Highest Bid

It was bad enough to gnaw over her mom’s decision; she didn’t need to also focus on Galan’s sudden disappearance from her life.

It’d been four days since he’d driven her home and then walked her to the door before giving her a lingering, but somewhat chaste, kiss. So much for his promised erotic retribution. His eyes had searched hers, as though seeking, but not finding, answers, before he’d said a gruff goodbye, and then stalked back to his car.

And even with her earlier, stupid words repeating through her mind like tolling bells, she hadn’t comprehended the finality of it all.

I can’t do this anymore.

Galan had clearly taken her word for it and hadn’t come near her since. That she hadn’t denied not trusting him had undoubtedly strengthened his resolve to stay away. And now...now she was only just holding it together.

Taking the tray of dishes back inside the kitchen hut of the Garden Café, she was aware of Ned’s concerned stare. It was only when she’d stacked the industrial dishwasher and was swiping at a splotch of gravy on her white work shirt, that he approached and said quietly, “Are you okay?”

She dropped the cloth and nodded, her voice impressively neutral. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Ned ran a hand over his smooth head. “I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

Too late for that.

She turned and forced a smile. “Thanks, Ned. Neither did I.” She looked out onto the balcony where the gorgeous potted garden surrounded glass tables and rattan chairs. The diners loved its natural intimacy, as well as the festive feel of mellow lights strung high in the taller trees and slender pillars.

She sighed. It was definitely time for a change of subject, or she just might break down right then and there. “At least the dinner crowd has finally thinned out.”

Ned wiped his hands on a tea towel that he’d stuck in his back pants pocket. “Yes. Although I see a few familiar faces out there. One man in particular has been drinking his coffee very slowly and can’t seem to keep his eyes off you.”

Layla’s stomach sank even as she scraped a hand over her tight bun and adjusted the non-prescription glasses that were meant to keep men at bay. “You mean Billy.”

The man had been frequenting the restaurant and nightclub for months now, her disinterest seemingly sparking his interest. But, lately, he seemed more intense. Shit. Had he too seen her on stage? She’d only had eyes for one man, and he hadn’t been blond.

She didn’t know all that much about Billy, but she’d heard he was a bigwig, clearly wealthy enough to indulge in a bidding war for a woman. But though he seemed nice, and was handsome enough in a Norwegian-looking way, he wasn’t the man she wanted.

Ned shrugged. “Hey, you’re a free agent now. And from what I hear he’s quite the catch.”

She crossed her arms. “Let me guess, Colleen has been gossiping again?”

Ned shrugged. “She likes to talk, and I have eyes. It’s not hard to see what he thinks of you.” He grinned. “And since Galan’s been walking around like a bear with a sore head, it mightn’t hurt him to see you chatting up another man.”

She smiled, feeling better despite...everything. Just knowing that Galan might be hurting, too, even a little bit, was a small comfort. “The day I see him pining over a woman is the day I’ll do a cartwheel on your servery.”

Ned guffawed, even as he backtracked to his cooking station and threw over his shoulder, “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Her smile widened, despite her inner misery. “I just bet you will.”

In the meantime, she had more cleaning to do.

It wasn’t until she walked back toward the restaurant tables that her nape abruptly prickled. She paused, aware of Galan even before she caught him standing with his brothers and a handful of other suited men near a grouping of potted plants.

That he seemed less inclined to listen to whatever they were talking and gesturing about, and more inclined to watch her, didn’t make her feel any better. She stiffened. Just how many women had he taken to his bed since he’d been with her?

She lifted her chin and tore her stare away from his. She didn’t want to know. She’d stick with being comforted that he missed her a little bit, too.

Inhaling deeply, she headed toward the tables. She’d start with Billy’s table first. Rather ironic really, that she was boosting her self-confidence by seeking out the admiration of another man.

Or are you hoping to make Galan jealous?

*

Galan did his best to concentrate while the marketing team went over the logistics of investing in promotional ideas for the nightclub. It’d been Galan’s idea to bring the men up into the quiet area of the Garden Café and balcony bar, rather than one of the even more silent and serviceable function rooms.

Because being away from Layla for even a minute longer was not an option. He’d avoided her for long enough. And now his eyes drank her in like she was a river of cold water burbling around desert dunes.

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