We stepped outside into the chilly air.
“What if it rains or snows? Isn’t it a little cold for an outdoor event?” Debbie asked as we all pulled our coats around us in the chilly February air.
“They’ve got outdoor heaters, but I’ll check on rain or snow,” I said. We spent the next twenty minutes going through the list of items. Nikita was the best at the job, so there weren’t any issues that needed us to troubleshoot or fix.
When we were done, I sent my team back to the office while I hunted down Nikita again to let her know all was well.
I stepped into the large room and immediately, the hairs on my arms stood up as I walked into Devin Roarke.
“Excuse me,” he said, his voice as deep and velvety as I remembered.
“I’m sorry,” I said looking down and stepping away from him. I made a b-line to Nikita, hoping he didn’t recognize me. When I reached her, I glanced at where he’d been. He stood in the doorway; his eyes narrowed toward me as if he was trying to place me.
Asshole, I thought as I turned my attention to Nikita. I remembered every moment of our time together, and he clearly didn’t remember me. Then again, I didn’t want him to remember me. I turned my attention to Nikita because I didn’t need him figuring out who I was. I worked to ignore him as he talked to his staff, but it was hard because I was dying to get a better look.
Finally, Nikita thanked me and sent me back to the office. I headed out of the event room, trying not to look like I was running away. I’d just made it to the elevator when Devin stepped in front of me.
He gave me that affable smile he’d used to seduce me five years ago. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
2
Devin
When I was first told by my father to go to Europe, I didn’t want to go. The only thing that had made the prospect better was when Serena said she’d come with me. Then she didn’t show up at the airport and she didn’t return my calls.
Five years later, when I was told to come back to New York City, I didn’t want to come. I’d made a life for myself in Europe. I’d not only had the freedom to bring the Roarke establishments into the modern age, but also, I’d built clubs next door to the London and Dublin restaurants that were designed to attract a younger crowd who wanted a high-quality experience but weren’t in the top one percent socioeconomic status. I was currently scouting a location for a Paris club. My father hated the idea of the clubs, but stopped balking when the profits started rolling in.
Even so, I had no illusions that he’d allow me to build a club in New York. Coming home would be returning to life under my parents’ thumb. I’d often thought I’d never have children, but on the flight back to take my father’s place at the helm of the Roarke empire, I’d vowed it wouldn’t happen. I didn’t want to have to put my kid in the same position of living a life established by Paddy Roarke nearly a century before. My grandfather, my father, and now I had lives predestined to run the Roarke business. From now on, my sister would have to bear the kids that would take over the company.
What I hadn’t counted on was seeing Serena. Did I ever think of her? Sure. A lot at first. Less often as the years went by, except perhaps when I was jerking off. At first, I’d been hurt and then pissed when she ghosted me. Then I was just baffled. What the hell had happened? Had her parents stopped her? Had mine? No, it couldn’t have been mine. I hadn’t told them about Serena or our plans. I hadn’t told anyone but my sister and Danny. Neither of them would have snitched on me.
Normally, I wouldn’t be the one meeting with the event planner for an event at the Roarke, but I’d only been back a week, and this event was for a well-known celebrity, at least by the older crowd. I wanted to see firsthand how the Roarke organized events and worked with event planning firms. Imagine my surprise to look up and see Serena as part of the event organizer team.
I had the same reaction I had the first time I saw her; like a zap of electricity. And like that first time, I worked to pinpoint what it was about her that affected me. Last time, I’d settled on her eyes and her no-bullshit personality. She was real and she wasn’t intimidated by my family’s status or wealth. There was no sucking up to try and finagle a marriage or business proposition from me, as most women I met did. What I’d seen was exactly who she was. Or maybe not because I hadn’t counted on her disappearing on me.
She stared at me for a second and then turned away, so I wasn’t sure she recognized me. On the one hand, my ego didn’t like that I was forgettable. On the other hand, I had to laugh at my own arrogance. Clearly, what had happened between five years ago affected me more than her.
Even so, I wasn’t going to let her get away without finding out why she ghosted on me. So, when her boss excused her, I followed her to the elevators.
I smiled so she wouldn’t think I was pissed about her disappearance, and asked, “You don’t remember me, do you?”
She looked at me with those amazing blue eyes. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen eyes quite that color of blue.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Roarke, I remember you.”
I quirked a brow. “Mr. Roarke? You didn’t call me that before. Are you sure you remember?” The old me would have added a comment about taking her to a hotel to remind her who I was, but I’d grown up a little since then. Now I might still think it, but I kept it to myself.
She glanced behind me to where her boss was talking to my staff. She turned her attention back to me. “I’m working right now.”
I nodded. “Okay. How about a drink? We can catch up.”
“Thank you but I can’t. Still working.” She looked up at the lighted numbers over the elevator. I got the feeling she was willing the car to show up faster. Didn’t she know I’d just get in it with her?
“After work. It doesn’t have to be here. And it can be coffee if you don’t want a drink drink.”
She kept looking at the numbers over the elevator. “I appreciate the offer, but I have plans.”
“Tomorrow?”