Millionaire's Woman

That woman—that horrible woman was Garek’s sister? She obviously didn’t think too highly of her brother. Could what she’d said be true? Had Garek chosen Vogel’s and gone out with Ellie to humiliate his sister?

Ellie clasped her hands together tightly. She didn’t want to believe it. But it all rang true. All the little inconsistencies that had puzzled her, that she’d ignored, now made terrible, sickening sense. His seeking her out for his art foundation after insulting her in his office. His quick decision to choose Vogel’s without even speaking to any other galleries. His insistence on taking her to the symphony, to dinner, the art show and the basketball game…

Ellie felt cold inside. She’d thought he was a kind and generous man who loved his family. But now with that facade stripped away, she saw the same man who’d left her standing in the gutter—cold, selfish, heartless. Did he care about anyone or anything other than himself?

Money, according to his sister.

Ellie folded her arms on the desk and put her head down on them.

She should have questioned him more closely instead of allowing herself to believe the best. But that was what she’d wanted to believe. If Doreen hadn’t come in, Ellie would probably be on her way over to his apartment right now, planning to spend the night with him…

Air burned inside her lungs, stinging her throat and nose and eyes. She’d thought she might be falling in love with him. She’d thought he might learn to love her. How could she have been so stupid?

“Ellie?”

Startled, she lifted her head. “Robbie?” Blinking back her tears, she looked at her handsome cousin standing in the doorway of her office. “What are you doing here? I thought you were still in jail.”

He hunkered down next to her. “I got out early for good behavior. I only have to report to my parole officer once a week.”

“That…that’s great.” With an effort, Ellie tried to put aside her emotional turmoil and concentrate on Robbie. He looked thinner than she remembered, and his skin had a slightly sallow cast—but his hands twitched with the same restless energy, and when she sniffled, she caught the scent of Old Spice, the cologne he’d always favored. “Have you seen Aunt Alma and Uncle Rodrigo yet?”

“Not yet. I’m not so sure they’ll want to see me.”

“Of course they will,” she said automatically, although, secretly, she wasn’t so sure about Uncle Rodrigo—he’d been extremely angry when his son got arrested. “How are you doing, Robbie?”

“Good. I’ve been clean for the last six months.”

“That’s great. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, El. But never mind about me. Why were you crying?” His big brown eyes, so like Martina’s, were full of concern.

Ellie’s shaky composure threatened to crumple under his inquiring look. She tried to smile. “Nothing, really. I was just upset about…something to do with the gallery.”

“Are you crying over that Wisnewski guy?”

Ellie straightened abruptly. “Where’d you hear about him?”

“Martina said you’re in love with him.”

“Martina told you that!”

“Yeah. I called your apartment this morning and talked to her a while. She told me all about you and Wisnewski.”

Ellie wished they would have talked about something else. Didn’t Martina know by now not to say anything about Ellie’s love life to Robbie? “Well, it’s not true.”

He looked as though he didn’t believe her.

“Really,” she insisted, wiping the tears from her face. “Oh, maybe I thought I was for a minute or two, but now I know I was mistaken.”

He was still staring at her, a frown on his face. “I’ve never seen you cry over a man before—not even that jerk Rafe.”

“Robbie, this is ridiculous.” She stood up. “I don’t want to talk about Garek Wisnewski anymore.”

Cracking his knuckles, Robbie stood also. “He hurt you.”

“Yes…I mean, no, not really,” she said, alarmed. She remembered what had happened the last time Robbie got that look in his eyes. He’d always been way too protective. “Don’t worry. I can handle my love life. Hadn’t you better go see your parents?”

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