Chapter 10 #3
Williams comes out of nowhere and grabs Gregory’s fist before he lands a blow. ‘I’ve got it, Greg; get out of here.’
‘You shouldn’t have left her with him,’ he snarls at Williams as he yanks his arm back, still glaring at the heap of man on the floor.
A million thoughts are crashing through my mind and I can’t get a handle on what just happened. His rage.
Two deep, brown pools move to consider me. I have nothing to say.
‘I’ve suspected for a while that he was in love with his best friend’s sister. Seems obvious now, don’t you think?’
I turn to find the smug face that owns that whisper. Stella.
‘Well, that he’s fucked her in any event.’ Her lips are curled into a snarl. She’s the final straw in this whole godawful day.
Gregory steps towards me as the other guests go back to their own business.
I hold up a palm. ‘Don’t. I’ve had just about all the humiliation I can take.’
I barge past him, walking quickly, almost running the corridor to our room. Jealousy burns through my entire body, worse than this morning, worse than when any other woman has looked at him because this is different. He was like an animal, so protective and… possessive.
I sit on the edge of the bed and make soothing circles with my fingers at my temples. I really might be going insane. I don’t know how much more I can take of this man: his hidden truths, his lies, our lies, our deception.
Does he love her? Is he fucking her? The rational side of my brain is screaming no but the other has been crying out for him to say those three words to me.
The bedroom door closes but I refuse to look at him.
‘Scarlett.’
‘Don’t talk to me, Gregory. I don’t want to hear it.’
He stalks towards me, his feet moving into my line of sight. ‘Hear what? That I’m not sorry I just stopped that arsehole taking Charlie to bed?’
‘No. I don’t want to hear the why.’
He bends now, putting his hands on my knees, and lifts my chin with his index finger in that goddamn tender Gregory way.
‘Those women, all of them, they want you. I’ve been fighting the pack all day. Then you ignore me to flirt with Adriana all night. And don’t tell me it’s just business; she was all over you. To top it off, you let the entire world know that, that… Do you love Charlotte?’
He laughs like I’m a silly little girl and I want to slap his stupid, arrogant, beautiful face.
‘Scarlett, angel, she’s a kid. She’s like a sister to me. I’ve known her since she was a toddler. I’m not in love with her but I look out for her. Like a brother should look out for a sister. And Williams…’ He stops and shakes his head. ‘Williams does a pretty shitty job of it sometimes.’
‘Stella said… Have you… have you slept with her?’
He pushes up from my knees and sets about undoing his bow tie.
‘And what about all these other women? Have they… have they had you?’
‘I’m not dignifying that question with an answer.’
‘That’s a yes.’
He throws his dinner jacket onto the bed and makes his way to the bathroom. ‘No. That means stop behaving like a fucking child.’
I know it’s irrational and I know how pathetic I must look but the weight of today, the weight of everything, is crippling my chest. I move to the wardrobe and retrieve my bag, throwing my clothes, shoes and anything else into it. I need to get out of here. I’m losing my mind.
‘Scarlett.’ His voice is soft and quiet as he leans in the doorway to the bathroom, watching me pack.
‘I’m going, Gregory. I don’t know why you brought me here.’
He stalks towards me topless, all moody and sexy as hell. Damn myself for looking!
‘Where do you think you’re going to go?’
Shit! I can’t drive, neither can he and I’m in the middle of nowhere. Throwing my deodorant into the bag, I thrust the whole thing against the bathroom wall, frustrated and defeated.
I flinch as he rests his hands on my shoulders and lowers his head so I’m forced to look into those devastating eyes. ‘I brought you here because I wanted to spend the night with you. I have a funny way of showing it, I know. I messed up. Again. And I’m sorry.’
I swipe my wet cheeks with the back of my hand and storm into the bathroom with less conviction than I had just moments ago.
Once I’ve showered and put on my nightdress, Gregory comes into the bathroom and showers quickly. We brush our teeth, each of us casting occasional glances at the other in the mirror above the his-and-hers sink but neither of us speaking.
I crawl under the bed covers with no intention of speaking to him or touching him, leaning as far on my side of the bed as I physically can without falling out. But his strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me into his chest. My body caves in.
‘I hate that I make you unhappy,’ he whispers into my neck.
‘You do.’ I squirm into his chest. ‘But you’ve also shown me a new kind of happy.’ And there’s my dilemma, Gregory Ryans: I’m a mess with you but I think I’d be a bigger mess without you. ‘And maybe, maybe, I overreacted.’
He nuzzles into my neck. ‘It’s not just about tonight. I get it.’
I roll over to face him, my head resting on his pillow. ‘This isn’t easy on either of us, especially you. And I know you want to tell me you won’t be charged but we can’t know that for sure. I don’t want you to take the blame for me, Gregory.’
His face contorts in contrast to the tender fingers he trails down my cheek. My chest flutters as he opens his mouth to speak. I wait.
‘I just wish the decision would come sooner rather than later.’
A piece of my heart breaks as I swallow my waning faith. ‘Me too.’
‘Can I kiss you?’
I nod and he lowers his lips to mine.
‘Gregory.’
‘Hmm.’
‘If you could try not to make every woman you meet want to sleep with you, it would really make my life a whole lot bloody easier.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ he says, his chest rising against mine as he smiles into my hair.