by Aimie Grey
“You are Lisa!”
She backed away; part of the anger cleared from her eyes and was replaced by pain. “You really believe that, don’t you?” Her words were nearly a whimper.
The look on her face told me I’d just uttered the worst three words I could’ve possibly said. “No, of course not; not like that, anyway. But you act as if she’s a completely different person.”
“Fine. I’m Lisa.” Fuck, I’d somehow made it worse. “You know what, even when Thomas was paying to fuck me, he never made me feel like a whore. Not like you just did.” She hastily pulled a shirt over her head, threw the few things she’s brought into her bag, and headed for the door.
“Alissa, wait.” I had no idea what to say, but I couldn’t let her leave like this. “Can we talk about this?”
She froze in place with her back to me. “You don’t get it, do you? I could’ve had Thomas months ago. He asked me to be his when all he knew me as was Lisa. All I had to do was say yes. But do you know why I didn’t say yes? Because even though you and I were in a bad place at the time, I didn’t want him. I didn’t want him because he wasn’t you. So, be jealous all you want, but I’ve always chosen you.
“I may have had sex with a lot of men, but I only did it because it was my job. The women you’ve slept with—you were with them because you wanted them. You had sex with them for pleasure or love or whatever. You decided to be with each and every one of them. You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted. So, yes, lots of other men have had my body, but other women have had your heart, and I think that is much worse.”
Her words knocked the breath from my lungs, making my next words barely a whisper. “I can’t change what happened before I met you.” But God, how I wish I could.
“That’s my point! Neither can I!” She walked to the door and flipped the latch.
The thought of her walking out brought my fight back in full force. “We’re not finished here; you don’t just get to walk out in the middle of this.” I was nearly yelling as I tried to convince her to stay. “Where are you going to go?”
“Thomas and Finn own this hotel. I’m sure they can get me another room for tonight.” Her sigh was loaded with defeat. “My head hurts, I’m stressed, and this conversation is making me want to throw up. If you can’t get over my past, I mean really move past it, we’ll never be able to have a future.”
With that one slip of the tongue, I’d ruined everything. “Don’t leave. I love you.”
“Is love enough?” The door clicking softly behind her sounded more final than if it had slammed.
Unsure of what to do, I called the only other woman I could talk to about this.
“Max Young,” she answered, ever the professional, and never one to take a moment to look at the caller ID.
“Hey, it’s Carter. I need some help.” I explained the entire day, from what happened at the meeting, to how I nearly devoured Alissa whole afterward, to how I’d just inadvertently called her a whore.
Max patiently listened to the entire story, not speaking until I was finished. “You never behaved like that with me,” she said, a hint of playful accusation in her tone.
“Now’s not the time for jokes. What am I supposed to do? What would you want in this situation? Should I go after her?”
“Calm down, Carter. There is this nifty little thing called the telephone—in fact, you’re using one right now. She’ll either call or come back when she’s ready.”
“But what if it’s some sort of test to see whether or not I’ll fight for her?” Women had always confused the hell out of me. “I can’t screw this up.” I couldn’t risk this being an easy way out for her.
“Has she ever tested you before? Is she one to play games?”
The careful consideration I gave Max’s questions wasn’t necessary, as my answer didn’t waver. “No.”
“Then there’s your answer. Just give her some space. Deep down she knows you weren’t behaving like yourself; she just needs time to let that knowledge surface through the anger and hurt.”
“You really think so?” Please let her be right.
“I do. Oh, and presents never hurt.”
“Got any ideas for a gift that conveys ‘I’m sorry I was a possessive asshole?’”
“Well, you have some time, so let’s brainstorm. Does she like jewelry? Nothing says I’m sorry like diamonds.”
“She’d think it was wasteful. It can’t be anything expensive; she’d just sell it—probably for way less than it was worth—and donate the money.” One of the things I loved most about Alissa was her generous spirit. The fact that Max immediately thought of material things proved just how wrong we were for each other.
“Why don’t you just donate money in her name?” The longer we spoke, the colder Max grew.
“Too impersonal,” I rebutted. My mind sorted through all of the people and causes Alissa cared about most. Definitely not her parents. Brandy was extremely well paid due to her integral role and dedication to the firm and didn’t need any help. Alissa’s friend Madison was somehow related to Thomas, and since he was well off, she was probably living comfortably also. The resource center now had everything it needed to get started. Desiree most likely wasn’t wealthy, but I didn’t get the impression she was hurting for money. Saint Jerome’s had orphaned kids who Alissa really cared for. Yes, Saint Jerome’s could use financial donations, and I would see what I could do about that, but those girls needed something money couldn’t buy. They needed some happiness in their lives, and so did Alissa.
“Hey, Max, didn’t Lance use to live out here and do some work for Black Friday?” Lance was one of the accountants in Max’s firm. I didn’t know him very well, but I vaguely recalled Max complaining about his long-winded stories about hobnobbing with celebrities.
“Yeah, he was a consultant for several record labels. Why?”
“Do you have his number?”
“I think so. Hold on a sec.” Max put me on speakerphone and, a moment later, recited the number.
“Thanks, Max. I gotta go.”
“Wait,” she said hurriedly before I could hang up. “I just wanted to let you know that if things don’t work out with Alissa, I’ll always be here for you.”
Fuck. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so certain about Max’s intentions. It didn’t make sense that she would try to help me win Alissa back…unless she thought it was a lost cause and wanted to seem like the good guy.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure it works out.” I hung up before she could respond and then immediately dialed Lance’s number.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Alissa
“Why are men so stupid? Madison told me you used to be an asshole, but you’ve always been nice to me. Are all men just plain mean?” I asked Thomas and then took another sip of my second Cosmo. I wanted to chug it but didn’t want him think poorly of me, especially with the deal we had just made this afternoon.
Even though I knew how much it would hurt Carter for me to go out with Thomas tonight and had been ready to call Thomas and cancel, I was upset with Carter and decided to keep my plans. I could technically use business to justify being here with Thomas, but I knew the real reason I came was to pay Carter back for hurting me.
“I’m still an asshole; I just haven’t shown it to you.” He took a pull of his beer and then stood from the table. “I’m gonna hit the head. Will you order another for me when the waitress comes back around?” I nodded before he turned to make his way across the room toward the back hallway.
The moment his back was to me, I brought my drink to my mouth, tipped it back, and at the same time, flagged down the waitress with my free hand.
“Another round?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes. There’s an extra twenty in it for you if you can get it here before my companion gets back from the bathroom,” I said, hoping Thomas would think I was still on my second drink. I would just have to make sure I controlled myself so he co
uldn’t tell how much I’d really had to drink.
The waitress took our empties and headed straight to the bar. She returned a couple of minutes later with the new drinks, and I handed her the folded bill I had at the ready. Quickly, I drank enough so the level of the pink liquid was just slightly lower than where it had been in my last glass. My face grew warm as I sat waiting for Thomas to come back. At the same time, my anger shifted into sadness.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Thomas’s questions startled me. I hadn’t noticed his return.
“It’s nothing.” I wiped my eyes with my fingers and sniffed in an unladylike manner.
“Don’t give me that shit. I know I was gone a while because I ran into someone from the hotel on the way back, but I wasn’t gone long enough for you to miss me that much.” I heard the smile in his words, which made me smile a little, too.
“I was just thinking about Carter. I don’t know what’s happened between us, but I think we’re falling apart. He’s always been a bit possessive—in a hot, manly way, not a stalker way—but he’s never said something so mean to me before.” Thomas slid back into his seat across from me and took my hand. “And I was just as bad to him, if not worse.” I hadn’t meant to reveal so much, but my lips had been significantly loosened by the vodka in my drink.
“Actually, I think it’s my fault. Men can sense when someone wants to steal their woman, and I gave Carter every reason to believe I was trying to take you from him.”
“Y-you want to steal me from him?” My eyes widened, and I pulled my hand from his grasp. I’d been positive Thomas didn’t want me like that any longer.
“No, not anymore.” He was sheepish—an unusual expression on Thomas. “I wanted someone in that room to think I wanted you, but it wasn’t Carter. I didn’t think it through, and it backfired all over you. I feel terrible. If you want, I can call him and set the record straight.”
I imagined Carter’s reaction to a phone call from Thomas and quickly declined his offer. “No, I don’t want you to do that. Even if you were being a jerk, Carter and I both showed our true colors today, and we need to work it out on our own. If you hadn’t brought it out in us, it would’ve happened eventually. Guess it’s a good thing it happened now instead of in a year or two.”
“Trust me; it wouldn’t have taken a year or two,” he said with all certainty.
“What makes you say that?” He didn’t know Carter, and he didn’t really know me.
“The two of you obviously have a strong connection. I’ve only seen something like it two other times, one being my parents.”
“Are Marina and Tate the other couple?” I asked, not that I fell into the same category of anything with them. “They seem to be so perfect together.”
“I’m actually a little skeptical about their relationship. They’re very good actors, and what they show the world seems too good to be true.”
“Oh.” I didn’t want his assessment to be accurate. It was always nice to see examples of true love, especially for someone who never thought it would happen for themselves.
“Yeah, I definitely think what you two have is the rare exception to the rule.”
“But the last time I saw you, you said you were starting to believe and wanted to try.”
His face straightened. “You were right to turn me down. It was just a phase.”
Someone had hurt him; I hoped it wasn’t me. “But you just said you wanted someone in the meeting to think you wanted me. Why would you do that if you didn’t want them?”
“Making someone jealous can lead to a great fuck. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
“Probably because I didn’t look like much of a threat with Carter pissing all over me.” I replayed our encounter in the conference room and tried to remember who else was in the room. “It’s Juli, isn’t it?” He nodded his silent response. Focusing my thoughts on her, I got the feeling his play for me might have at least planted a seed. It wasn’t very feminist of me to help Thomas pull a fast one on another woman, but I knew from experience it wouldn’t be a hardship for Juli if she decided to fuck him. “Well, maybe I can help. Is there any way to get her to meet up with us? Maybe get your brothers and Madison to come, too?”
“Why? What do you have in mind?” He cocked a curious brow at me.
“We can finish the job you started earlier.”
“What about Carter?” The fact he was worried about Carter proved he wasn’t lying about being over me.
“I need more time to think about what I want to say to Carter. Make a few calls and have them meet us someplace where we can dance.” I really hoped I could still walk in these shoes, let alone dance, after drinking three Cosmos.
“Are you sure?” he asked cautiously.
“Yep. Let’s get you laid tonight.”
Thomas made the calls while I took a turn in the restroom. Since I’d silenced my phone when Thomas picked me up, I checked for missed calls and messages as I waited in the short line. Nothing. Was I just playing a stupid game with Carter? Did I want him to come chasing after me? Did the fact he hadn’t mean something?
“Ready?” Thomas asked when I returned to the table. I nodded, but turned down his offered hand and followed him to his car, which the valet had waiting at the curb.
We headed back in the direction from which we came and stopped in front of a club located a short distance from the hotel. The close proximity was a very good thing since I didn’t see myself finishing the night any shade of sober. Once inside, Thomas and I sat at a booth and sipped a couple of drinks while we waited for the others to arrive.
As soon as Juli passed through the door with Madison and Sawyer in tow, Thomas pulled me to my feet and led me to the dance floor, making sure to pass right in front of her. After three fairly dirty dances, I’d had about enough excitement and was feeling guilty about dancing in such a way with him, even though it didn’t mean anything.
All I wanted was to find Carter and try to work things out; however, I still wasn’t sure where to start. We’d had issues before, but I’d really fucked up this time. Yes, he’d said something very hurtful, but as I thought about it, I realized I’d overreacted. And there I was, still out with Thomas.
Luckily a pair of scantily clad party girls took a shining to Thomas and gladly took my place. Juli wasn’t anywhere in sight when I found Madison and Sawyer sitting at the table.
“Why aren’t you guys having fun?”
“We’re getting old; this is our version of fun,” Sawyer replied. “Come and sit with us for a while.” Sitting with my friends sounded nice, until Madison opened her mouth. “Why are you here with Thomas instead of Carter?”
As I flagged down the waitress, my eyes landed on Juli, who was grinding between a really hot guy and a barely dressed girl. During my sweep of the dance floor, I found Thomas with his tongue shoved down a buxom brunette’s throat. Maybe he really had given up on finding a relationship and didn’t care who he fucked.
“It’s a long story; I’ll tell you some other time,” I said and then reached over and stole the last gulp of Madison’s drink. Time for a subject change.
“Didn’t Thomas invite Finn?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t seen the youngest Ramsay brother tonight.
“Thomas knows not to invite him and his bitch of a wife anywhere he wants us to be.”
“Good point,” I said, remembering Finn was married to Madison’s tormentor.
“Who’s babysitting tonight?” I was determined to keep the subject away from Carter.
“Marina and Tate,” Sawyer said. “They’re in for a real treat. Peyton is going through a practical joke phase. Before we left she told me my shoes were untied and then yelled ‘bazinga’ when I looked. I think she picked that up from a TV show.”
The Mojito I’d swiped from Madison burned as it sprayed out of my nose. “What? Marina Alexander and Tate Parker are babysitting for you?”
“Well, yeah. She’s my sister,” Sawyer responded. A memory of Thomas
mentioning he was indirectly related to Marina at the meeting earlier floated to the forefront of my mind. It must not have completely sunk in before due to my excitement about them being a part of the center.
“How come you never told me that?” I asked Madison as I swatted her arm.
“I must have forgotten to mention it. It’s not a big deal; they’re just regular people.” My friend’s life could not get any stranger. “Nice distraction, by the way. Now tell me about what’s going on with Carter.”
“All I want to do right now is get really, really drunk.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Carter
“It’s about damn time. Where the fuck are you?” I growled into the phone. It was three in the fucking morning when Alissa’s name finally appeared on my caller ID. My regret from earlier was completely forgotten after hours of worrying about her safety and also imagining her with that asshole.
“Is that any way to talk to a lady?” The taunting masculine voice coming from my woman’s phone sent a murderous rage through my system.
“What the fuck are you doing with Alissa’s phone? Where is she? What did you do to her?” If Thomas so much as hurt her feelings, I would end him.
“Relax, she’s just a little drunk…okay, a lot drunk. Do you want me to bring her to your room or do you want to come get her?”
“Do not fucking lay a finger on her, asshole. I will kill you.”
“You’d better not touch her either; not until you get your shit under control.” Who the fuck was he to tell me whether or not I could touch Alissa? “We’re at the Ultra Luxe, five blocks west of the hotel. I’m getting ready to leave, but Sawyer and Madison said they’d keep an eye on her until you get here. I’ll have a bellman bring her bag back to your room.”
Having all of the information I needed, I disconnected the call and leapt into action. Still fully clothed, I grabbed my wallet, checked to make sure the room key was still inside, and raced to the elevator.