Chapter 13
Rosalie
He shook his head.
“I can’t accept that. I’ll never accept that.”
“Accept what you want,” I said, annoyed. “I think I’m going to skip this next leg on the tour.”
“Oh no,” he said, his brown eyes darkening as he gleamed at me. “You’ll be coming with me. I’m not doing one goddamn leg of a tour without you ever again.”
He suddenly pulled my chin close and kissed me, his lips hard and urgent, pulling teasingly on my tongue with his teeth.
“We have a few hours before the plane goes. Give me a chance to prove I’m committed to you.”
“What can you possibly do in two hours?” I said skeptically, but he only pinched my chin again.
“Don’t bother to leave. I’ll hunt you down.”
He was an infuriating man, and I didn’t believe a word out of his damn mouth, but I watched with satisfaction as Dolly raised her tear-stained eyes to Matt’s handsome face, watching as his muscular arms hauled our suitcases down and he guided us gently to the airport.
Kingsley still wasn’t back.
As we all got on the private plane for Cincinnati, Matt pulled gently on my arm.
His shoulders were slumped, big hands clasped together.
“Rosalie,” he choked out, taking my hand tenderly in his.
“Yes?”
“Rosalie, it’s killing him.”
“What’s killing him?” I asked.
“Us being together. It’s killing Kingsley.”
He looked beseechingly up at me and there were dark circles under his eyes, his handsome face looking drawn and haggard.
“He’ll be fine,” I said sourly, but I ran my hand through his tousled hair affectionately.
“But yeah, honey, I don’t think we would work long-term. I can absolutely verify to Dolly that you are banger in bed, though.”
“Yes, we would work,” he groaned, clutching at his face. “That’s the worst of it. I’ve wanted you for so long. You’re my ideal woman. If only it didn’t eat Kingsley up so much! I don’t understand why he won’t let us be happy!”
“I think in the long run, you will want a more. . . gentle woman. Someone who would look up to you and let you protect her.”
“I don’t think so,” Matt groaned.
“Just let it happen,” I said encouragingly. “Why don’t you distract yourself by trying to make Dolly feel better? Kingsley didn’t exactly let her down easily.”
“He was such a brute to Dolly!” Matt agreed, flushing in irritation. “I’ve been friends with the guy since college, but sometimes he can be downright inconsiderate.”
“He’s a real asshole,” I said. “Dolly is feeling pretty down about it. How Kingsley broke up with her. I think she might need some cheering up.”
The whole conversation had barely taken four minutes, but suddenly Kingsley Ames was in my face again.
“You’re sitting over here with me.”
I obeyed, but. . .
As for me. . .I was a girl who liked it a little bit toxic. . . a little bit unhinged. And I thought I always would.
Matt had been a very amusing diversion, but it was time to gently encourage him to find the real woman of his dreams.
And from the way Eunice was snapping photos surreptitiously of Matt cradling a weeping Dolly, it wasn’t going to be good headlines for Kingsley.