Enraptured: A Billionaire Romance (The ROGUES Series Book 2)

by Tracie Delaney

  She peered closer, her eyes scanning my face. “Babes, if this is what being in love looks like, you can keep it.” She grinned, but her smile didn’t hold as she realized I wasn’t joining in with her teasing. She reached for my hand.

  “Tell me everything.”

  Words swirled around my mind, all vying for first place, the sound too loud for me to organize my thoughts.

  “I don’t know where to begin.”

  She tilted her head to the right. “Anywhere you want, babes.”

  Katie knew Sara had returned to New York, but I’d kept the details scant. I didn’t like talking on the phone all that much, and conveying how I felt over text wouldn’t cut it. With Katie pulling double shifts at the hospital, tonight was the first time our calendars had aligned in weeks.

  “She wants him back,” I settled on, plunging right in with fear number one. “Sara, I mean.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because she flat-out told me right to my face.”

  Our server brought the wine and, after I’d assured her we could manage, she caught the atmosphere at the table and beat a hasty retreat. I unscrewed the top and poured healthy servings for me and Katie. Picking mine up, I swallowed a large mouthful.

  “Did you tell Oliver?”

  I nodded. “He assures me it doesn’t make a difference because his feelings for her are nonexistent, but I can’t help worrying. She’s everything I’m not. Smart, sophisticated, in a word, perfect.”

  “As well as hard-nosed, cold, and lacking in empathy.” Katie sipped at her wine. “The woman walked out on her young husband and baby daughter and didn’t get in touch for six years. Who does that? So, yeah, you’re right. She’s everything you’re not—thank fuck.”

  I loved Katie. She always had my back, and me hers.

  “So, what do I do?”

  “Sit it out. Sooner or later she’ll slip up. I mean, come on, there has to be a reason she’s returned now, and I don’t think it’s because she woke up one morning after more than half a decade away and realized she missed her husband and kid. Mark my words, there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

  Inclined to agree—I’d had very similar thoughts myself—I nodded.

  “Have you thought about calling his mom?” Katie asked. “I remember you telling me she didn’t seem all that keen on the ex.”

  An understatement if ever there was one. Liv’s remark came back to me when I’d asked where Oliver’s wife was. “In Hell, I hope,” she’d said.

  “I admit I briefly thought about it, but that is way overstepping the mark. It’s not up to me to tell Liv that her son’s ex has breezed in wanting to pick up where she left off. That’s Oliver’s decision.”

  Katie pursed her lips. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  “I’m glad we got to do this tonight,” I said. “I’ve missed you.”

  She picked up her wineglass and held it toward me. “Cheers, babes. Right back atcha. Now, let’s get shit-faced.”

  We finished the first bottle of wine over the appetizers, then ordered a second one to accompany the entrée. Well on my way to drunkenness, Katie announced she’d purchased tickets to a comedy show on Broadway.

  “It’s that guy who recently landed his own TV show on cable. Simon Caldwell.”

  I beamed. “Oh, I love him. He’s hilarious. But that show sold out months ago. How did you get tickets?”

  She grinned. “I fucked half the hospital.”

  I arched a brow.

  She held up her hands. “Joke. A guy at work was selling them half price because he got dumped by his girlfriend last night.” She shrugged. “I took advantage of his situation. Sue me.”

  I laughed. “You’re a wicked woman.”

  Riffling in her purse, she withdrew two tickets and waved them in my face. “A wicked woman who has front row seats to the hottest show in town.”

  “Front row? Jesus, he must have wanted to impress the heck out of his girlfriend.”

  “Yeah, or he used them to barter for sexual favors and she told him to fuck off.” Katie grinned. “He looks the type. A bit shifty.”

  I laughed again. Already I felt lighter. Spending time with my best friend and getting to watch one of the country’s up-and-coming comedic geniuses was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits.

  Neither of us could manage dessert and so, slightly inebriated, we weaved our way down Broadway, occasionally stumbling, laughing the whole way, eventually taking our seats in the theater.

  The show was awesome. Katie made the mistake of heckling, and Caldwell’s comebacks had me bent over double, my stomach in agony from laughing so hard. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed an evening this much, and by the time the show ended at just after eleven, all my worries had dissolved.

  “How about a nightcap?” Katie suggested. “There’s a great little Irish place not far from here.”

  “Sounds great,” I said, not wanting the night to end.

  I linked my arm through hers as we dodged the crowds on Broadway. It had begun to sleet, and I zipped up my coat to chin level, burying my mouth to avoid breathing in the freezing air. Passing by a cozy café, I glanced in the window.

  My heart stopped.

  “Oh God,” I whispered.

  At a table inside the café was Oliver, and sitting across from him was Sara. She was talking, her hands gesticulating as she made her point, Oliver leaning forward, listening intently. And then he reached out a hand, taking hers.

  I spun away. “He told me he was meeting Ryker and Elliot,” I said, a lump forming in my throat.

  “Is that her?” Katie asked.

  I nodded, tears pricking the backs of my eyes.

  “I’ll kill him.”

  I tugged on the sleeve of her coat, yanking her away. “Leave it. I’ll deal with this in my own way.”

  “You’re not thinking of leaving him in there with her.”

  “I’m sure there’s a plausible explanation,” I said, disbelieving each word even as they spilled from my lips.

  “He lied to you,” Katie bluntly stated.

  “I think I’ll pass on that drink.” I set off at a clipped pace.

  Katie jogged to catch up to me. “Do you want me to come back to his place with you?”

  “No.” I smiled weakly. “You go home. I’ll call you.”

  “I’m not happy leaving you like this.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said, unsure whether I’d ever be ‘fine’ again. Oliver had insisted Sara had killed his feelings for her when she walked out, yet if that were true, why would he even entertain her request to see him? I realized then that Oliver had unfinished business with his ex, and until he properly closed that door, we’d always have that lingering between us, ever-present, dripping poison onto our relationship.

  By the time I walked inside the empty apartment, I’d reached a decision. I’d ask Oliver to explain and hear him out, but whatever his excuses, real or imagined, I couldn’t stay here until he resolved the Sara situation. The time had come to give him the space he needed to work out whether his feelings for his ex-wife truly were dead.

  I didn’t have to wait long for Oliver to arrive home, maybe ten minutes or so. He greeted me with a warm smile.

  “You’re home.” He crossed the room, bent his head, and pecked my lips. “Did you have a good time?”

  He shrugged out of his coat while I sat in silence, his question remaining unanswered. He caught the mood, a frown pulling his eyebrows down and inward.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “How was your evening?” I countered. “Ryker and Elliot okay?”

  “Yeah, they’re good.” He flopped down beside me and kicked off his shoes.

  “And what about Sara?” I asked, my tone dripping ice. “How is she?”

  He paled as the reason for my coolness became apparent. “It’s not what it looks like.”

  I barked a laugh, shuffling out of his reach when he extended his hand toward me. �
�Wow, and I thought the nanny getting it on with the boss was a fucking cliché. I’m clearly an amateur.” I folded my arms over my chest. “Did you actually see Ryker and Elliot tonight, or was that a ruse so you could spend the night with your wife.”

  “Ex-wife. And yes, I did. Sara called when I was on my way home asking if I could meet for a quick drink. She wanted to talk to me about something.”

  “I’ll bet she did,” I said bitterly.

  “Harlow, please.”

  He tried to touch me again. I stood, moving out of his reach.

  “You have to believe me. There is nothing between me and Sara.”

  “That’s bullshit, Oliver, and you know it. She’s made no secret of the fact she wants you back.”

  “And I’ve made it very clear, to her and you, I’m not interested in any kind of a relationship, other than one as civil as we can create for Annie’s sake.”

  “Is that why you were so keen for Annie to spend the night at her friend’s house again? And why you were so encouraging when I mentioned meeting Katie? Because that left you free to see Sara?”

  He shook his head despondently. “That’s not it at all. You’re blowing this out of all proportion.”

  “Oh, am I?” I scoffed.

  “Sara received some bad news. A friend of hers has been diagnosed with stage four cancer, and she was upset. She needed someone to talk to, that’s all.”

  “And that had to be you?” I asked, internally cringing that my first thought wasn’t for the poor soul who’d received such terrible news.

  “She doesn’t have anyone else.”

  I lowered my head, shaking it. And there it was. There’d always be something. A sick friend, a bad day at work, a snag in her pantyhose. Sara would find ways to draw Oliver to her, and he was too nice to say no.

  “Harlow, you have to believe me. There’s nothing going on between us.”

  “I do believe you,” I said truthfully. “But don’t you see? She’ll always come between us. I’m sorry, Oliver. I can’t do this. I won’t be a third wheel.”

  Panic crossed his face, and he got to his feet. “What are you saying?”

  I sighed, sadness weighing on my chest. “We need some time away from each other. You have to work out how you can square this circle, and I need a break from it all.”

  He strode toward me, gripping my upper arms. “Please don’t do this. Don’t leave me.”

  “I-I’m not leaving,” I said, although I wasn’t sure whether that were true. “I’m taking some time away to think things through.”

  “Don’t. Stay. Please, I don’t want you to go.”

  His expression, so dejected and desperate, cut me deeply. I nearly gave in, but I steeled my spine and hardened my resolve. I had to buy myself a few days to figure out if I was strong enough to handle a relationship with a man whose ex refused to accept their affiliation was over.

  “I can’t. Give me a couple of days. And please, don’t try to call me. Allow me the head space to work this through.”

  I stepped backward. His arms fell to his sides.

  “What will I tell Annie?”

  Tears I’d tried so hard to hold back streamed down my cheeks. “Tell her I love her.”

  29

  Oliver

  “Earth to Oliver.”

  I raised my head and narrowed my eyes at Elliot. “What?”

  “Precisely.” He aimed a paperclip at my head. “You’re not in the game, man.”

  I batted it away, then swept a hand down my face and tried to focus on the thick wad of papers in front of me. The words blurred and swam. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

  “No word from Harlow, huh?”

  I shook my head. “It’s been the longest three days of my life. Annie’s devastated. I told her it’s only temporary, but she’s a smart kid. She knows I’m stretching the truth.”

  “And what about Sara?” Elliot asked.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaustion swamping me. “She said she feels partially responsible for coming between us.”

  Elliot snorted. “Try wholly responsible,” he said. “If she’d stayed the fuck away, none of this would have happened.”

  “Mom is due back next week,” I said. “Just as well, although when I tell her Sara’s back she’ll go ape shit.”

  Elliot’s eyes widened. “You haven’t told her?” He let out a low whistle. “I hope Sara is prepared. Your mom is fearsome.”

  He wasn’t wrong. Mom had felt equally betrayed by Sara absconding. She’d loved her like a daughter, and her leaving had hurt Mom deeply. I had no idea how she’d react when I broke the news, hence I’d put it off until now. One thing I couldn’t do was allow her to return unprepared.

  “Preach,” I said, the faintest grin touching my lips. “I guess I hoped to have all this in hand before she landed. I thought Garen might have discovered Sara’s angle by now.”

  “You still think there’s more to it than the weight of guilt pressuring her into returning?”

  I pulled my lips to one side. “No idea. I might be way off track, and Sara’s intentions are entirely honorable.”

  Elliot arched a brow. “You believe that?”

  I blew out a slow breath. “I honestly don’t know what to think anymore.”

  “You’re not falling for her again, are you?”

  I shook my head. “No. I love Harlow, and I will fight with everything I have to get her back. But I think that over the last six years, I’ve built Sara up to be a monster, a terrible human being who is self-serving and selfish, only thinking about themselves, their wants and needs. Since coming back into our lives, she’s tested my beliefs. Sure, she was bitchy to Harlow in the beginning, but she made no secret of the fact she hoped we’d get back together. Ever since I made it abundantly clear that wasn’t going to happen, she’s accepted it and moved on. And I can’t fault her commitment to Annie.”

  “I don’t envy you, man,” Elliot said. “It’s a toughie.”

  “Yeah.” I stared out the window, then returned my attention to him. “Let’s finish reviewing this contract. I have to pick Annie up from school in an hour.”

  I watched my daughter run out of the school building and lock her gaze on me, then immediately look around for Harlow. Her crestfallen face when she realized I was alone bore a fucking great hole in my chest. She’d had the same response yesterday, too.

  “Hey, munchkin,” I said, swinging her up in the air. “How was school?”

  “Okay.”

  She mumbled where she usually giggled. I set her on the ground. “How about dinner at Bubby’s?”

  “Can we ask Harlow to come?” she asked, a brief flicker of hope lighting her eyes.

  “I don’t think so, baby girl.” I clasped her hand. As a compromise, I found myself saying, “But we could ask Mommy if you like,” then immediately cursed the idea. Too late now, Annie’s face lit up, and she beamed.

  “Can we?”

  I didn’t want to play happy families with Sara, but I also knew I’d do anything for my little girl. So I nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll call her on the way and ask her to meet us there.”

  Annie clapped. “Excellent.”

  I strapped her into her car seat, jogged around to the driver’s side—I’d driven myself today—then put in a call to Sara. She answered so fast, it was almost as if she was waiting for my call.

  “Oliver, how lovely to hear from you.”

  “Ah, yeah. You’ve got Annie to thank for that,” I said, keen to distance myself from this conversation. “We’re going to Bubby’s for an early dinner. Annie would love it if you joined us.”

  “And what about you?” Sara asked. “Would you love it if I joined you?”

  I almost groaned aloud. Sara wasn’t going to give up on this crusade to stitch back together the family she tore apart.

  “Whatever makes Annie happy is good with me,” I said, sidestepping her question.

  She chuckled, knowing I was avoiding t
he question. “I’ll make my way over there right now. See you both soon.”

  I hung up, dread circling in my gut. I felt so torn between wanting to make Annie happy and desperate to win back Harlow. Spending any time with Sara in public made me nervous. What if Harlow happened to pass by and see the three of us acting like a happy family, even if the reality from my perspective was far from that? She’d jump to even more conclusions, the result being she’d edge farther away from me.

  Talk about a rock and a fucking hard place.

  I parked a block away from Bubby’s. Annie skipped the whole way to the restaurant, her earlier despondency a distant memory. I envied the simplicity of kids.

  I opened the door to the restaurant and couldn’t help glancing around, worried about bumping into Harlow. Sara must have been close when I called her because she’d already secured a table and waved madly when she saw us. Annie dashed across the room and threw herself into her mother’s arms.

  Sara urged Annie to sit beside her. “I got us a table. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Why would I mind?” I bit out, harsher than I intended.

  Sara raised her eyebrows. “Are you all right?”

  I blew out a slow breath and yanked the chair from underneath the table. “I’m fine. Busy day, that’s all.”

  “You work too hard, always did,” Sara said.

  I picked up the menu and pointlessly scanned it. We came here so often, I knew the food offering by heart, but focusing on the choices printed on the page was preferable to sitting here with Sara when I should be working on ways to win Harlow back.

  We ordered our food, and I played with a paper napkin, feeding it through my fingers while Annie, oblivious to my darkening mood, chattered away happily. Sara shot the odd glance my way, her brow furrowed.

  “What’s the matter, Oliver?” Sara asked when Annie’s attention was diverted by the arrival of her dinner.

  “Nothing,” I muttered, pushing my food around my plate.

  “Then at least try to engage, for Annie’s sake,” she hissed.

  I widened my eyes. “Excuse me?”

  Sara rapidly backtracked. “Sorry. That came out all wrong.”