Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Adalyn
We ended up at a diner called The Broken Yolk, where we both ordered the eggs benedict. Sitting at our table, I saw Athena and Pete walk in.
“Athena!” I waved.
She looked at me, and when she saw Harrison, a look of horror swept across her face. He turned around and then back at me.
“Isn’t that one of my contractors?” he asked.
“Umm. Yes.”
“Hey, Adalyn.” Pete smiled. “Fancy seeing you here. Hello, Mr. Grant.” He extended his hand.
“Hello.” Harrison reluctantly placed his hand in his as they lightly shook. “Athena. What’s going on here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Her brow raised.
“Adalyn and I are going shopping for fixtures for the house. Shouldn’t you be at the townhouse working?” he asked Pete.
“I’ve done everything I can until the cabinets come in.”
“I see.”
“Well, it was nice to see both of you.” Athena nervously smiled as she took hold of Pete’s arm and whisked him away.
“What is going on with her?” Harrison cocked his head at me.
“What do you mean? She’s having breakfast with Pete. Why is that such a big deal to you?”
“Because he’s a contractor, and she’s worth billions. See my problem with the situation now?”
“No. Actually, I don’t. Who cares who’s worth what? If two people are attracted to each other, that shouldn’t matter. The heart always leads the way.” I smirked.
“Bullshit.”
I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh.
“Have you ever been in love, Harrison?”
“Never. Never have and never will.”
“Well, that sounds dreadful.”
“Love is overrated. It does nothing but cause complications in one’s life.”
“Love is an essential part of humanity, Harrison. Yes, it can sometimes be complicated, but the good outweighs the bad.”
The waitress walked over, set our plates down, and filled our cups with coffee.
“Like your ex leaving you for another woman?” His brow raised. “Tell me any good that came from that. Because I suspect it caused you nothing but pain and agony for a long time, leaving you with the feeling of worthlessness and self-doubt.”
Ouch. I looked down as I cut into my eggs benedict.
“People come and go in our lives all the time. Sometimes they’re only meant to stay for a short period of time for one reason or another. That’s the way the Universe works. Not everyone you get into a relationship with is the one you’re supposed to be with. I believe you need to go through some real shit before you find the one you were born to love. Because each broken heart leads you to the one that would never even think about breaking it.”
“Wow. That’s deep. And you really believe in that shit?”
“I do, and I will not apologize for it. So you’ve never been hurt by a woman? Ever?”
“Nope. I’m the one who does all the hurting. If a woman gets too close, it’s time to cut ties.”
“Like the woman at the restaurant that night? All she wanted was some flowers.”
“Flowers are where it all starts, Adalyn.”
“You are a very selfish man, Mr. Grant.”
“I am, and I won’t apologize for it.”
I gave him a small smile to hide my disgust as I shoved the fork in my mouth. He had some major emotional issues, and I could guarantee it had something to do with his mother’s death.
We spent the day going to different lighting stores and picking out the light fixtures for the townhouse. He showed me exactly what he wanted, and I dismissed it by writing what I thought would be a better fit. But he didn’t know he wasn’t getting what he wanted. He trusted me, and I would run with that trust.
We climbed into the back of his limo, and he looked at his watch.
“I really need to get back. I’m going out tonight with some buddies of mine.”
“I didn’t know you had buddies?” I smirked.
“Hilarious. As enlightening as the day has been, it’s time for you to go home and for me to get ready for the evening. Thanks for earlier.” He ran the back of his hand down my cheek.
“You mean sex? No problem.” I patted his muscular chest.
The limo pulled up to the curb of my building, and Harrison climbed out first and held out his hand to help me.
“When are you getting that boot off?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I think next week, the doctor said. Have fun with your buddies tonight.” I smiled.
“I will. Have a good evening.”
I walked into my building and took the elevator up to my apartment. What was I going to do? I failed myself and had sex with him again. Ugh. I couldn’t tell Carly. She’d kill me first and then lecture me later. Why did that man have such a hold on me? I needed to keep myself in the right mindset. Casual sex, no strings, no feelings, and then go home to Seattle. He clearly wasn’t interested in anything else from me. All of this was new to me. I had never liked a guy who didn’t like me back. I mean, Harrison liked me. He liked me enough to have sex with when it was convenient for him. Or maybe that’s what it was? I was just a convenience because he knew I’d always be around as long as the townhouse was being renovated. And he also knew that this would be a short-term fling.
As my head spun round with all the thoughts, my phone rang, and Athena was calling.
“Hello?”
“Is he still with you?”
“No.” I laughed. “I’m home now.”
“What did he say? He didn’t look happy.”
“He didn’t say too much, Athena. He was concerned about why you would go out with a contractor.”
“Of course, he would be. He’s shallow. Listen. I’m calling because Pete, me, and some of the other guys are going to the bar tonight for a few drinks. We want you to come with us.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’ll be so much fun, Adalyn.”
“Okay. I’d love to go.”
“Excellent. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
I grabbed my throw from the bed, brought it to the couch, and took a nap before I had to get ready. I had a feeling it would be a late night.