Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
I sat in the coffee shop, awaiting Yates’ arrival. Yates thought the world should wait for him. He ran late for every meeting and appointment, whereas I was always early. It was one of many ways we were incompatible.
Finally, his blond head appeared at the door. He waved before making his way to the table. Bending over me for a kiss, he deliberately missed my cheek and stole a kiss from my lips. His expensive cologne lingered in the air.
I eyed the door, cursing myself for not choosing a closer table.
He sat down and stared at me. “I missed that.”
I ignored his suggestive tone. “So, I hear you’re my father’s new campaign manager.”
He smiled. “I am, and because of that fact, he’s going to win.”
I didn’t come here to talk about Yates or the campaign. I pulled the offending beetle letter out of my purse, which I had sealed in a plastic bag, and slid it over the table to Yates.
“What’s this?” He looked down at it.
“Hate mail. Be careful when you open it.”
He gave me a questioning look, then opened the envelope. A look of disgust crossed his face as he peered at the beetles. He pulled the note from the envelope and read it. “Who’s this from?”
“I was going to ask you.”
Surprise, then incredulity, crossed his face. “You think I had something to do with this?”
I tilted my head, scrutinizing his expression. He seemed genuine. Then again, I had no clue he was cheating on me until I saw him balls deep in my boss. So, maybe I wasn’t the best judge of deception.
I shrugged. “Did you?”
He sealed the letter and handed it back to me. “Beth, why would you think I’d send you something like this?”
“So, you didn’t have anything to do with that?”
“Why would I send you hate mail? I want us to get back together.” He leaned forward. “I want to marry you.”
And I had wanted to marry Yates before I realized how selfish he was.
He leaned forward, his gaze lingered on my mouth. “I’ve talked to your parents.”
I used to feel so much anger towards Yates, but somehow, in the last little while, I no longer felt anything towards him, except maybe mild annoyance.
“About what?”
“I’ve asked your dad for your hand in marriage.” He gave me a tender smile.
I take that back . I worked to place my trembling cup back in its saucer as intense emotions flowed through me. I felt so much, it took me a few moments to even recognize what I was feeling.
Anger.
So much anger. I don’t know if it is was the audacity of his high-handed behavior, or if it was because he actually thought I was so pathetic, I’d come crawling back to him and accept his leftovers.
“Why would you do that?” My voice was cold. The rest of my body, on the other hand, was flushed so hot, I was surprised I hadn’t burst into flames .
“Beth.” His exasperation was obvious. “Why are you fighting this? You know we’re supposed to be together. When are you going to dump your military monkey? Your father thinks an engagement will boost his campaign numbers.”
Military monkey?
How dare he criticize Porter?
“He’s twice the man you’ll ever be,” I hissed. “And for your information, we happen to be engaged.”
“Excuse me?” Incredulity spread across his face in an instant.
Oh, crap.
Did I really just say that out loud?
I licked my lips, trying not to show the panic squeezing my chest. “We haven’t talked to my parents yet, so I’d appreciate it if you’d let me discuss this with them first.”
He shook his head. “You’re engaged. To that soldier? What the fuck is going on?”
“I love him,” I blurted out, piling lies. “He’s the love of my life.”
“You barely know him.”
My fake smile twisted to a grimace. “When you know, you know.”
Yates glared. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I’m not living my life according to the plan you and my parents made for me.” I gathered my things and stood to leave.
He reached across the table and grabbed my wrist. Hard. “Don’t do it.”
I yanked on my arm. “Goodbye, Yates. I’ll see you tonight at the gala.”
“How did it go?” a voice spoke from behind me in the apartment lobby.
I stifled a scream and turned to see Porter, who looked like he’d been running. Moisture slicked the edges of his hair, and he wiped his face with his sleeve. There was something about athletic men that was so attractive, I decided as I studied him. Athletic men were healthier, stronger, better.
“What?” He watched me watch him.
I averted my eyes. “Nothing.”
In the elevator, a saxophone rendition of Lady In Red played over the speakers.
“How did your coffee go with Yates?”
“Oh…” I stalled and shifted my body to hide my wrist, which still had faint hand marks from when Yates had grabbed it. “Yates showed up late.”
“Is he responsible for sending that letter?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you know that for sure?”
“He looked pretty horrified when I showed him the note.”
It could have been an act. Yates was good at hiding things, and I was bad at finding them. Maybe I should have invited Porter. He would have seen through the bullshit. Didn’t they train SEALs for that?
Porter met my eyes. “What did he say?”
“He asked me why he would sabotage my life when he wants to, uh, marry me.”
Porter raised an eyebrow at me. “He asked you to marry him?”
“Not exactly.” I blushed. “Yates insulted you, and in the same breath, he told me he asked my parents permission to marry me. Like it was up to them.”
Porter looked interested. “What was the insult?”
I shook my head.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “What did he call me?”
My entire face was on fire. “He called you a ‘military monkey.’”
Porter’s eyebrows went up. “That’s a new one.”
“I told him you’re twice the man he’ll ever be… then, the words sl ipped out.” I was pretty sure my face was an unhealthy shade of fire engine red.
He was smiling now. “What did you say back?”
I fidgeted with the collar of my dress, tugging at the neckline that suddenly felt so suffocating.
“Beth?”
“I told him I was already engaged… to you.”
His smile slipped.