Stir Me (Rouse Me 2)

"You'll get over Alyssa," Samantha says. Her eyes are wild. Like she's crazed. Like she's an animal about to lose her prey.

"I won't, and I don't want to."

Samantha straightens. She runs a hand through her hair, trying and failing to look composed. She's still wild. Still crazed.

She grabs my wrist. "Think about this. She's not the faithful type. And she's not interested in guys like you. She'll be hooking up with her co-stars by her next birthday."

I bite my tongue. Samantha doesn't mean this. She's angry and I'm not going to cause a scene. "I'm trying to give you a chance to walk away with dignity."

Samantha blinks back a tear. She looks like she's about to scream, but she keeps her voice even. "Are you really this blinded by some L.A. bimbo because she's got a nice rack?"

"Fuck off."

"You're just like your father. You think you want someone young and pretty, but--"

"Jesus, Sam. Get a grip. She's only four years younger than yo

u are. And it's got nothing to do with how she looks. Hell, you just called yourself pretty."

"I thought you were better than this."

I shake my head. "I love her. I love her in a way I never loved you. In a way I never will love you. You could be the most beautiful woman on the planet, and I still wouldn't love you, because you're ugly inside. You're selfish and manipulative."

"Luke, please... You're wrong. I'm trying to help you. She's probably after your money."

"Fuck you."

Her eyes turn to the floor. "It's possible."

"You're making a fool of yourself." I bite my tongue. I could walk out now. But I can't yet. Not until Samantha understands how wrong she is. "I know it hurts, but you have to accept that you're wrong. I love her and she loves me. It has nothing to do with her looks or my money, or my looks for that matter."

"I loved you. I know you. We went through so much together. She'll never understand you."

"No. You'll never understand me. Because you're selfish. You'll never know how it feels to really love someone. I feel sorry for you, because it's lonely when everyone else is just some pawn for you to manipulate. But you know what? Not me. Not anymore."

"Luke, please..." She clutches her purse, her eyes filling with tears.

"We're both so much better off this way," I say.

She wails, something about how I'm wrong, but I don't care anymore.

She's nothing to me now.

And she's never going to get between me and Alyssa again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The rest of the day dredges by. It takes all the willpower I have not to pull out my phone and call Alyssa. But I have to wait until I'm sure she's ready. She won't take another false start.

By the evening I'm lost in work. It's comfortable. Easy.

But Ryan has to interrupt my zen. He calls me into the office. No, he has Janine, our assistant, ask me to go to his office.

He's sitting at his desk, his hands folded, his expression calm. He nods for me to sit.

I don't.

His neutral expression fades. "You shouldn't discuss personal matters with clients."