Tangled Up In You (Rogue #1)

Chapter 18

18

GAVIN

G avin stepped off the hotel elevator, feeling happily buzzed and on a mission to quickly retrieve his forgotten mobile from his room. Staying at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood had its perks, including the bar overlooking drinking age requirements. They’d quickly learned that the late 1920s hotel had a reputation for cultivating a celebrity clientele, carefully marketing the prospect of stargazing opportunities for other guests who craved proximity to fame. And now Rogue was staying there as both minor celebrities and tourists themselves. Management seemed to appreciate how much attention he and Conor could generate and the drinks were free-flowing.

But as soon as he rounded the corner toward his room he knew his evening plans had completely changed.

“Sophie,” he said, his smile wide and beyond his control.

It had taken him less than a second to recognize her.

She sat on the floor in front of his door, wearing a light summer dress with a cropped jean jacket. Startled, she looked up from her cell phone and scrambled to her feet at the same time.

“I’m sorry to bother you like this,” she said quickly. “I just didn’t want to meet again in the middle of a crowded room.”

“Come here,” he said. He reached out to hug her but she shook her head.

“I just wanted you to know I’m not coming tomorrow. In case it mattered.”

“In case it mattered? Of course, it matters. Darlin’, I meant it when I said I was desperate to see you.”

“You mean, just long enough to send me on my way? Like last year at the Palladium? I won’t do that again.”

“Jesus, Sophie.” He’d known he would have to atone for the shitty way he’d treated her, but he hadn’t realized how hurt she would still be. It sobered him up in the worst way, as he realized she was only here to tell him off. Dragging his hand through his unruly hair, he let out a sigh and decided his best hope was to remind her of their history. “So, that’s it then?”

“I—”

“You want nothing to do with me? After what we had? I mean, we had something real. I know I fucked up last time. But at least give me a chance. You can’t walk away like this.”

“Gavin, don’t?—”

“You can’t give up. You can’t?—”

“How can you not understand? You broke my heart! You broke it, Gavin.”

The raw pain in her voice froze him. When her eyes teared up and darkened, his threatened to do the same. It nearly did him in to see her this hurt. To see that he had caused this.

“Darlin’,” he said softly, “I didn’t mean it. Just?—”

A well-dressed couple in their thirties appeared at the end of the hall, hanging on to each other as they staggered and laughed drunkenly. They seemed to find it hilarious that they were having such a hard time getting their key to open the door to their room.

Gavin used the distraction to open his own door. “Come in. So we can talk for just a minute.” He searched her eyes but couldn’t read her. He guessed it was because she didn’t know her own mind at that second. “Please.”

Holding the door open wide, he gestured for her to enter with his other arm. She hesitated but stepped inside, and he knew he needed to be careful not to spook her.