“I made you feel cheap? Thanks.”
“You’re so arrogant.” I sighed. “Radleigh, you didn't make me feel cheap. The situation made me feel that way. The fact that I cheated on Miguel made me feel that way. Granted, your smugness didn't help matters, but -”
“You thought I'd leave quietly, after you spent so long telling me you weren't interested in me?”
“I didn't think anything! That's how I ended up in bed with you.”
“Look on the bright side. At least the sex was good.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What?”
“Imagine how much worse it’d be if you cheated on Miguel and all you got was a lousy lay and a bad hangover.”
The corners of his mouth twitched but I refused to be amused by him when I was so angry with myself. Fantastic sex wouldn’t make up for everything I stood to lose if anyone ever found out.
****
I arrived back home a little after seven in the evening on Sunday to the unwelcome news that Richard wanted to see me first thing in the morning because he had something important to discuss. If I hadn’t extensively searched every newspaper and website, just in case someone had seen me and Radleigh together, I would have been paranoid. Instead of dwelling on whatever the problem might be, I said a quick goodnight to Freya, and curled up in bed for an early night.
When I arrived at work the next morning, I made my way straight to Richard’s office before even stopping off at my own. It was clear from the smile Richard gave me that I wasn't in any trouble, but his face grew serious again when he started to speak.
“I got a call from Taylor over the weekend. She called me, hysterical, at eight o’clock yesterday morning. She said she was staying at Jesse’s apartment while we were in Minnesota and that McCoy parked outside, watching her.”
I felt the colour drain from my face. Her claim was impossible.
“She didn’t know how long he’d been there,” Richard went on. “But she said he’d gone by nine-thirty. Obviously, I couldn’t check it out for myself, but I tried to call McCoy and his phone was turned off.”
Yes. Yes it was. It was also in Boston. Where he was with me. It had been almost nine when I woke up the morning before, and McCoy was underneath me, his hands resting on my back. My body betrayed me by giving a small shiver of pleasure at the memory.
“So … I guess you need to talk to McCoy.”
“Already did. He says he was at home alone. But I have it on good authority that his car wasn’t in his drive. I just need to verify that someone else noticed him outside Jesse’s apartment and we’ve got him.”
Every word Richard said hit me hard.
Taylor lied. She lied about Radleigh being outside Jesse’s apartment.
I was his alibi.
Radleigh hadn’t told the truth about his whereabouts.
Why?
Overwhelmed with confusion, I stood up. “Well, erm … thanks for keeping me updated. I need to get to work.”
“Leah, wait,” Richard said, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay? This must be difficult for you. I mean, it could have been you he was harassing.”
I shook my head and forced a smile. “I’m fine. I just have a lot to do this morning.”
I practically ran out of his office to my own, my brain working a million miles a minute.
Why hadn’t Radleigh dropped me in it?
I wasn't stupid enough to believe that just because he'd put so much effort into sleeping with me, he actually cared. Bedding me had been a challenge for him but once he'd got what he wanted, he could easily have put an end to my career, ready to make room for his next conquest.
“Leah?”
A deep voice uttered my name from somewhere behind me and I saw Bryce Warren peering out of the locker room, a rather serious look on his face.