Heartless (Enemies to Lovers 1)

Just one of the paintings on the wall alone must cost more than everything I own.

“Can I pour you something to drink?” he asks as he makes his way over to the bar.

I shake my head and again wipe my hands on my shorts. “I’m sorry about your Dad,” I say. “I saw on the news that he passed.”

He just smiles at me, and then asks casually, “How have you been?”

I watch him pour amber liquid into a heavy looking crystal glass.

We’re from opposite worlds. I should’ve seen it back then, but I was too in love.

Now it’s all I see. Every difference between us forms a solid wall we’ll never be able to break down.

The thought that hurts most is knowing he can take Daniele from me, and there will be nothing I can do to stop him.

I don’t understand why he’s come here after all this time. I sent him letters after Daniele was born but he didn’t care back then.

“Why did you come here?” I finally ask. I can’t hide from what’s to come so I might as well face it head on.

***

CARTER

My hand freezes on the whiskey glass and my eyes snap up to meet hers.

I didn’t expect hostility. I didn’t expect anything but two friends catching up on old times.

“I’m here for a short vacation. The guys want to go down the white water rapids.”

She frowns and I see confusion flash over her face. She’s still breathtakingly beautiful and her eyes still have the power to knock me on my ass.

“You’re only here for vacation?” Her confusion quickly makes way for hurt.

Is she actually hurt that I’m not here for her? Up until a few hours ago I didn’t know where she was or what happened to her. Fuck, it’s not like she gave me a choice back then. She decided we were over before we even had a chance to start.

“I didn’t know you lived in Saluda.”

When anger starts to spark in her eyes, I step out from behind the bar.

“What’s with the aggressive behavior? You’re the one that snuck out of my room without so much as a thanks for the fuck.”

Her lips part and she inhales sharply. “Snuck out of your room?” she seethes, clearly pissed off.

This is quickly going from awkward to insane.

“Charlotte,” she spits the word at me.

I give her a look of warning. I won’t have her drag my PA into this.

“I left because of Charlotte. I stayed away because of your precious Charlotte. She made it pretty clear that a gold digger like me wouldn’t be getting a dollar from you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I take a huge gulp of whiskey, needing to feel the burn down my throat.

“Don’t play dumb with me. Charlotte phoned and you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. You won the bet. You screwed me for four hundred dollars. After she was born I tried to contact you three times. Twice my letters came back return to sender. The third one Charlotte answered, warning me that she would destroy everything I held dear if I tried to contact you again. I backed off. I did as she asked. Now you’re here.” She gasps for breath between sentences before she goes on. “I don’t have much for her to destroy, so I’m begging you, please leave.”

I let her words sink in first, thinking them over. Nothing she’s saying is making any sense.

“You’ve been in contact with my PA?” I ask