by Ali Parker
I froze. My eyes stayed on the covers, but my vision blurred. Looking at my sister, I tried to figure out whether she was kidding.
“You aren’t serious.”
“Of course, I am.” Leslie stepped closer. “Look, I don’t like him much right now either, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see the connection between you two.”
“There is no connection.”
“Just answer the question,” Leslie pressed. “If you met him totally by accident, if Mom had nothing to do with it, could you have loved him?”
I looked down at the covers again, shaking my head and trying to focus on my work. Ryan had occupied my mind enough over the past few weeks. He didn’t deserve it then, and he definitely didn’t deserve it now.
Running my finger over the first cover, I made mental notes of things I would change. Slipping back into my old, confident, workaholic self was easier than I imagined. While I worked, Ryan faded to the back of my mind. I put him in a tiny box and slammed the door, locking it shut.
“I’m thirty-one,” I finally said, looking back at my sister. “Love isn’t in the cards for me, sis. It never has been.”
“You can’t just ignore this.”
“This is my life.” I held up the magazine mock-ups. “Work. This is where I thrive.”
“And that means you can’t have love?” Leslie demanded.
Sighing, I leaned back in my chair, my eyes once again returning to the covers. Pressing a button on my phone, I called Kendra into my office. She hurried inside, and I handed over the second cover with a nod.
“It means,” I said to Leslie, “that I don’t want it.”
Chapter 31
Ryan
My footsteps echoed painfully through the lobby. The closer I got to Beatrice’s office, the sweatier my palms became. I stuffed them inside my pockets and stepped up to the closed door. My chin touched my chest, and my eyelids grew heavy.
“I can hear you!” B called from inside. “Get in here, Ryan.”
Three other Romeos were in the lobby, and all of them whipped around at the sound of her voice. I could feel their eyes burning into the back of my head as I pulled my right hand out of my pocket. With a sigh, I turned the knob and stepped through the door.
B’s head snapped up. Her bright red lips were pulled together into a thinner line than I’d ever seen. Deep caverns creased her forehead. Her eyebrows pulled together dangerously, and when her beady eyes met my face, I took an instinctive step back.
“No point in running now,” she said. “Sit down. Let’s talk.”
I stumbled forward. Sitting down in my usual chair, I forced myself to meet her angry glare. She clucked her tongue and shook her head. With thin, wrinkled fingers, she reached for the pack of cigarettes on her desk.
“So.” She shook one lose. “You know why you’re here. You’d be an idiot if you didn’t.”
“B—"
Her index finger shot up. My mouth snapped closed, and I watched nervously as she put the cigarette to her lips.
“Debbie called this morning.” B sucked in a breath. Exhaling slowly, she created a cloud of smoke between us. “It seems something went awry at that dinner of yours.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “And, I can explain. It wasn’t—”
“Stop,” B snapped.
“But, I didn’t—”
She flicked ash from the end of her cigarette with a glare. “I don’t want to hear any excuses. You fucked up, Ryan. You weren’t careful and now? Look where we are.”
“I didn’t do anything!” I slapped my hands on the desk. “Candice found an ad in her mother’s office. It had my face on it. It wasn’t my fault.”
B’s eyes narrowed. Even I didn’t know where that outburst came from. All I knew was that I couldn’t take it anymore. It wasn’t my fault Mrs. Smart left that damn paper out for anyone to find.
“I didn’t tell her anything,” I said calmly. “She just found out, but I didn’t tell her.”
“It doesn’t matter how she found out,” B said. “She knows. And Debbie is refusing to pay.”
“But, that’s—”
B held her hand up. “Fair or not, it’s done,” she said. “The only way I can salvage this is to get another Romeo in there to clean up your mess.”
My throat tightened. Another Romeo?
“That won’t work,” I said firmly. “There’s no way Candice is going to let another man into her life right now.”
“I think Kason will be more than up for a little challenge.”
The lump in my throat burned as a wave of nausea washed over me. The idea of Kason with Candice was too much.
“She won’t trust anyone right now,” I blurted out. “Not after what happened between us.”
With a snort, B shook her head and stamped out her cigarette. She looked at me with something akin to pity behind her eyes.
“What would you have me do?” she demanded. “Send you back in?”
She scoffed and looked away as if it were the most absurd thing she’d ever considered. She was wrong. Me going back in was the only thing that made sense.
“You don’t know Candice,” I said. “I do. B, I can fix this.”
Her head was already turning to the side before I finished speaking. Doubt replaced the pity in her eyes.
“No,” she said. “Absolutely not.”
“She knows me,” I argued. “And until the other night, she trusted me. If I can explain everything, talk to her, then maybe she’ll—”
“Forgive you?”
I blinked, jerking my head back. Silence enveloped us as Beatrice waited for me to argue, even though we both knew she was right. All I wanted was Candice. It didn’t matter how I got her back, missing her had become unbearable.
B’s eyes bore into my own. I couldn’t hold her gaze for another second. Glancing down at the floor, guilt twisted a knot in my stomach.
Guilt over how I treated Candice, all the lies and secrets. Guilt about failing at my job, the one thing I was supposed to be good at. And a guilt that went deeper than anything else because I’d let Paisley get close to a woman who was no longer in my life.
“She won’t.” B’s words cut through my thoughts. I blinked and looked up. “No woman can forgive something like this. Candice is done with you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” B’s confidence shook me. “It’s my job to know women, Ryan. Candice is out of your life. For good.”
Shaking my head, I glared at the wall.
With a sigh, B leaned forward in her chair. She put her elbows on her desk and shook her hair off her face.
“Listen,” she said softly. “I care about you, Ryan. Even when I’m pissed at you, I still care.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“But, I care about my business more.”
She fell silent just long enough to pull my attention. I turned my gaze on her. Crossing my arms, I waited for her to continue.
“This company is my baby,” she said simply. “I will do anything to protect it. And you? Ryan, you damn near ruined it.”
“I already told you,” I snapped. “I didn’t tell Candice anything!”
“You fell in love with her.”
The air seemed to freeze. I cleared my throat and scoffed, shaking my head as if she was being ridiculous. The knowing look in her eyes told me she didn’t buy it.
“Ryan.” She leaned further forward. “I warned you. Do not fall for a client. It’s the golden rule of being a Romeo, and you blew it to shit. That’s not something I can easily forgive.”
“So, I’m fired?”
Part of me hoped for a yes. At least then I could slip away into the darkness and never have to deal with another desperate client again.
“No.” B shook her head and leaned back. “You’re not fired, but I’ll be watching you for a while. To make sure you don’t get too close again.”
“There’s no chance of that.”
B smiled. “Good.�
��
For the first time in days, a sense of relief flooded my chest. I sat back heavily in my chair and inhaled slowly. My job wasn’t in danger, and as much as I wanted to put the Romeos behind me, I knew I couldn’t afford to support Paisley without Beatrice.
With the smile still on her face, B pulled a folder out of her desk drawer and dropped it down in front of me. I frowned.
“A new client?”
“I need Kason free for Candice,” she explained. “This woman, Kara, already scheduled a date with Kason for tonight. You’ll be taking her out instead.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked without thinking.
B’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Of course, I am.”
“Okay.”
I knew better than to keep fighting. Even though the idea of Kason wooing Candice made my skin crawl, I bit my tongue and picked up the folder.
Scanning it quickly, I saw that Kara was the typical client. Middle-aged, newly divorced, feeling down on herself, and in need of a boost from a younger man.
“What time is she expecting me?” I asked without emotion.
“Seven.”
I nodded and got to my feet. Before B could say another word, I was gone. I marched back across the lobby, ignoring the other Romeos’ curious eyes, and stepped into the bright sunlight.
The day was just beginning. Most people hadn’t even made it to their offices yet, but I felt like I’d run a marathon. My chest was heavy, my palms sweaty, my eyelids weak.
Max had already taken Paisley to school by the time I made it home. My house was empty, so quiet that I couldn’t stand to sit in my own living room. I disappeared behind my bedroom door and tried to prepare for my date.
I laid out my clothes. Took a shower. Scanned Kara’s file a few more times. And made mental notes of her favorite hobbies, horseback riding, shopping, and screwing her ex-husband out of thousands of dollars.
Rolling my eyes, I tossed the folder on my bed. It was no use. No amount of preparation could get me ready for tonight. It was my first date since Candice, and I already knew it was going to be a complete failure.
***
“You’re quiet,” Kara cooed. “Is that something they teach you at Romeo school? To let the women do all the talking?”
“Something like that.” I grimaced, but Kara mistook it for a grin.
She twirled a strand of bottle-blond hair around her finger and leaned forward seductively. Her boobs, clearly fake, spilled over her shirt. My eyes flicked to her cleavage, but I felt nothing. She wasn’t Candice.
“My ex-husband did all the talking.” Kara rolled her eyes. “I could never get a word in unless, of course, it was in the bedroom.”
“Your ex sounds like he didn’t appreciate what he had.”
It was a line, and we both knew it. Only Kara didn’t seem to mind. She sipped her wine, peering over the top of her glass as if she were afraid I might disappear the second she looked away.
“Malcolm never appreciated me.” Kara waved her hand. “But that’s all in the past. I’m here to move on, right? To remember my good qualities and rebuild my confidence and all that.”
“Exactly.” I flashed my signature smile and slid my hand across the table.
Kara placed her fingers in my palm with a dramatic sigh. Her eyes fluttered closed, and I could see the age lines cascading out from the corners.
It was the first time all night that I thought about the woman in front of me. My mind had been so occupied with Candice that I forgot the one thing I loved about my job: helping people. Squeezing Kara’s hand, I leaned forward and slipped into my most charming façade.
“So, tell me,” I whispered. “After all those years being married, how does it feel to finally have some freedom?”
Mischief flashed in Kara’s experienced eyes. She giggled playfully and swatted my hand away.
“Oh, you’re good.” She blushed. “For a second there, I forgot you were being paid to flirt with me.”
“Let’s forget about why I’m here,” I said. “We’re here for you, Kara. Tonight is all about you.”
Kara grinned and brushed her hair off her face. She sighed and reached for her wine glass, taking a long sip that I knew was meant to calm her nerves.
With my flirtatious side back in charge, Kara slipped into a comfortable oblivion for the rest of the night. She lapped up my compliments, hanging on every word that slipped from my lips. By the end of the night, she was carrying herself taller than before. Her shoulders were squared, her eyes wide with confidence.
I walked her to her door, taking her hand in mine. She watched with hungry eyes as I brushed my lips over her fingertips.
“Would you like to come inside?” she asked, her voice husky.
“That’s not part of my job, Kara.” I clucked my tongue, disapproving but playful.
“Well.” She moved closer. “Maybe it’s not part of the contract, but we can still have a little fun.”
I dropped her hand and smiled. “You don’t need me for that, Kara. You’re ready now.”
“For what?” she asked.
“To move on.”
A faint smile twitched at the corner of Kara’s mouth. I flashed my end-of-the-night grin and turned away. I was halfway down the sidewalk when I wondered how long it would take before I was ready to move on from Candice.
Chapter 32
Candice
Jim was waiting for me in the conference room early Friday morning. Most of the staff hadn’t yet arrived, but I wanted to get a jump-start on the day. Anything to keep my mind off Ryan.
“Good morning.” Jim stood up with a smile. “How’s your week going, boss?”
“I never get tired of that.” I laughed. “No matter how many times I hear it.”
“Good.” Jim nodded and lowered his Oompa Loompa like body back down onto his chair. “It suits you.”
Joining him at the table I said, “I’m glad someone thinks so.”
Jim frowned, his mouth opening as if he were about to ask something personal. I brushed away his unasked question with a wave of my hand and pressed forward.
“So.” I cleared my throat. “How do the numbers look this month?”
Jim launched into an explanation about our monthly budgets and profits. His fatherly smile never once slipped from his face as he praised my success. By the time he finished going over everything, I couldn’t keep my own smile from spreading across my face.
“Everything looks great then.” I clapped my hands together. “Thank you, Jim. This is exactly what I needed to start my day.”
“Going to be a long one?” Jim asked thoughtfully.
I shrugged and got to my feet. “My mother is coming by for a chat,” I said.
Jim’s eyes darkened. The smile slipped from his lips. I pretended not to notice as I led the way out of the conference room.
Having started the company alongside my father, Jim knew me well. And he knew my mother even better. If there was anyone I would talk to about the notorious Deborah Smart, it was him.
“Listen,” Jim said as we stepped into the hall. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and your mom, but I do know she only wants the best for you.”
“Yeah,” I scoffed. “So long as the ‘best’ is a date for the anniversary banquet.”
Jim blinked. “You aren’t bringing a date?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
His forehead furrowed, his eyes drifting from my face to the floor. When our eyes met again, I could feel myself slam shut. Whatever Jim had to say, I knew I wasn’t going to like it.
“I could accompany you,” he said simply. “It wouldn’t be at all unusual for someone of my caliber within the company to attend by your side.”
“What about Martha?” I asked. “She always comes with you.”
“Martha would understand,” Jim said pointedly.
Trying to maintain my professionalism, I stifled my irritation and forced a smile. Jim blinked patiently and waited
for my answer.
“No, thank you,” I said tightly. “While I appreciate the offer, it’s unnecessary. I’ll be attending the banquet alone, Jim. I hope you understand.”
“If you think that’s best,” Jim said, his disapproval obvious.
“It is.” I nodded and turned on my heel. I could feel his watchful eyes on me all the way back to the elevator.
***
“Candice?” Kendra’s head appeared in the doorway. “Your mother is here to see you.”
With a nod, I cleared my throat and sat up straight. I smoothed out the material of my dress and fixed my eyes on the door that Kendra had just pushed open.
This was what I’d been waiting for all day, the chance to finally confront my mother about everything she’d done. A tiny smile played at the corner of my lips as I waited for her to appear. My anger remained checked, but the verbal daggers I had ready were loaded on the tip of my tongue.
She stepped into the doorway. “Come in, Mother.”
Her light brown hair was tied back in an elegant bun with two decorative chopsticks stuck strategically through the strands. With a smile that didn’t reach her gray eyes, she stepped into my office and moved quickly to an empty chair.
“I was surprised when you called,” she said nervously. “Honestly, Candice, I wasn’t sure I would ever hear from you again.”
“Can you blame me?”
Mom’s eyes fell. She twisted her hands together in her lap, her head falling slowly from side to side.
“You can relax,” I said simply. “I didn’t call you here to fight. I’m not going to yell at you.”
“I would hope not.” Mom laughed shakily. “I am still your mother. That entitles me to some respect.”
My eyes flashed, but I held my tongue. Mom saw the anger hidden behind my careful mask. She knew that whatever promises I made for civility, she was far from winning my forgiveness.
“I thought we should talk.” I cleared my throat. “About why you did this.”
“Honey.”
“I just want an answer,” I said quickly. “Leslie already filled me in, but I want to hear it from you.”
She shifted her weight. When she finally settled in, she crossed her legs and placed her intertwined fingers delicately over her knees. Her gray eyes were full of emotion as they took in the blank expression on my face.