He leaned in slightly closer. I could feel the heat of him and my entire body woke from its fatigue. “How do you know that you didn’t break my heart?”
What?
“And when you didn’t show up, I had no reason not to be with other women.”
I swallowed hard as his gaze drifted from my eyes to my lips and then back again.
“What about you, Serena? Have you been celibate all these years?”
Yes. The word came into my head, but I didn’t say it.
“Is that why you’re so prickly? Do you need to get laid?”
Thank God he decided to be a dick, because I was precariously close to stripping off my clothes and begging him to fuck me.
I stepped back. “You’re more of a jerk than you were before.”
He turned and leaned his back against the wall. “You are too.”
The elevator reached the ground floor and I was through the doors before they finished opening. I pulled out my phone, opening the app to order a car.
“Doug will take you home,” Devin said opening the door of a dark sedan. “Don’t worry, I won’t ride with you.” He leaned down and peered at the driver. “Doug, please take Ms. Moore wherever she wants.”
“Yes sir.”
“I don’t need—” My words stopped when I saw the intense glare in his eyes.
“I’m not trying to get into your pants,” he bit out. “Just accept the ride, Serena.”
I nodded because I didn’t want to be ungrateful. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I slid into the back seat.
“Should I come back for you, Mr. Roarke?” Doug the driver asked.
“No, that’s okay. You can go home when you drop off Ms. Moore.”
It was then I realized he was using my last name. Was that just for his driver, or was it a sign that he’d given up on me? If so, that was a good thing, I reminded myself. I needed him to understand that we couldn’t have another go at what we started five years ago.
My stomach clenched at that idea. I wasn’t sure if it was from guilt at my deception or sadness that I wouldn’t have another chance to have the excitement I’d had five years ago. It didn’t really matter which one it was. What mattered was that Andrew stayed safe from the Roarke family.
I got home late, and normally I’d just go to my apartment and leave Andrew at my parents. But if I was going to meet Devin out at his Hampton house tomorrow by nine, I’d be up in a few hours and on the train heading to the beach community. I need to ask my parents if they could watch Andrew.
As I put my key into my parents’ apartment, my phone beeped.
BTW…Doug will pick you up tomorrow to bring you to the appointment.
I had to work to tell myself that Devin was likely just being helpful. It’s not a problem for me to take the train.
It was a few seconds before he replied. I imagined he was trying to talk himself into not thinking I was being bitchy.
You’ll be able to rest on the way out, and work on the way home if Doug drives.
He had a point.
Thank you.