Chapter 14 #2
He shoved his hands in his pockets and leveled her with a stare. “Just asking. Think I have a right to know after what happened between us.”
Her eyes darted around as if checking to make sure no one had overheard. “Nothing happened between us,” she hissed.
Fury had his spine snapping straight. “Are you kidding me?”
Crystal-blue eyes glared up at him. “No. And what does it matter to you if I’m on a date, anyway?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he drawled, sarcasm saturating his tone. “Maybe the fact that I’ve told you a dozen times that I want to be with you.”
Something flashed across her face, then just as quickly faded away. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again and looked away, pinning her gaze to the wall instead of meeting his eyes.
He shook his head, the heat of anger melted away at her indifference, and an icy coldness took up residence in its place, seeping into his bones. “You know, I shouldn’t be surprised. You threw up every red flag, and I ignored them all.”
He felt like a fool for having reached out to her repeatedly over the past couple weeks.
He’d been waiting for her to come around, to finally see that he was the one for her.
He thought if he gave her the time and space she’d asked for, she’d see how much he respected her and cared for her.
Looked like he’d been wrong the whole way around.
“I should’ve known when you said you weren’t ready to date that it was a lie. What you really meant was you didn’t want to date me.”
Audrey’s head snapped toward him. “That’s—"
“Everything good here?”
He turned slightly, and every muscle in his body stiffened as Mason approached. He lifted his chin at him. “Kane. It’s been a while.”
Mason returned the favor, then continued past Carter—toward Audrey. He couldn’t rip his eyes away as Mason stepped up next to her and settled one hand low on her back. “You good?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Her gaze never wavered as she answered Mason’s question, those bright blue eyes fixed on Carter.
The heat of jealousy and rejection curled through him, and he forced his gaze away from her. Mason’s mouth twisted into an arrogant smirk, and Carter wanted to wipe it off his face. He acted like he’d one-upped Carter, like Audrey was some prize to be won. Well, he could have her.
“Just talking business,” Carter said to Mason. “Nothing important.”
Mason’s brows drew slightly together as Carter pasted on a fake smile and turned to Audrey. “Feel free to contact my office if you need anything else, Mrs. Gerber.”
Audrey stood stiff as a marble statue, and just as pale. Pushing off the wall, Carter directed his gaze to Mason. “Best of luck to you both.”
Screw you both, he amended in his head as he turned on a heel and stomped toward the bar. A red haze clouding his vision, he slid onto a stool, then motioned for the bartender.
“Dewar’s, neat,” he said when the young woman stopped in front of him.
With a concise nod, she turned around and grasped the bottle from the shelf behind the bar.
She slashed the liquid into a glass then slid it in front of him.
He tossed down his credit card, then curled his fingers toward him. “Leave the bottle, please.”
The bite of the fiery liquid would hopefully prevent him from getting too drunk too quickly, but he relished the burn as it slid down his throat.
It gave him something to focus on other than Audrey.
He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he glanced up as someone slid onto the stool next to him.
The scent of her perfume hit him first, and he followed his nose, swiveling to inspect the pretty brunette next to him.
He let his gaze trail over her, from the top of her perfectly coiffed hair, over her buxom curves, then down to the hem of her too-short skirt that barely covered her ass.
He dragged his eyes back to her face, and her lips curled into a sultry smile.
She was obviously looking for a good time and a man to give it to her.
“Hi.”
Her voice was silky and smooth, and he couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Hi, yourself.”
“Catalina.”
He took her proffered hand. “Carter. What brings you here?”
She eyed him as her fingers played with his. “Probably the same thing that brought you here.”
He seriously doubted that. He released her hand and picked up his drink. “What’s that?”
“Just looking for someone interesting. Fun.” The woman rested an elbow on the bar and leaned toward him. His eyes followed her movements as she placed one hand on his knee. Everything in him coiled and tensed as she slid her palm upward. “Would that be you?”
It was impossible to miss her intent. Before he could form a response, he felt the sensation of being watched, and he snapped his head up just in time to meet a pair of familiar blue eyes.
Audrey’s gaze dropped to the woman’s hand lingering near Carter's crotch, and her cheeks flushed bright pink.
Her eyes met his again, and he swore he saw a flash of hurt before she blinked it away.
Straightening her shoulders, she strode determinedly past the bar, gaze focused in front of her.
Carter's heart dropped to his toes. He felt simultaneously vindicated that he’d managed to get a rise out of her and guilty for hurting her. Son of a bitch.
He turned back to the woman and extricated her hand from his thigh. “I’m sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t.”
Her eyes clouded with confusion, and he smiled gently. “It’s… complicated.”
With a resigned nod, she turned back toward the bar, and he slipped off the stool and hustled toward the front door. He was already scanning the sidewalk when he stepped outside, but he was too late. Audrey was gone.