Placing my hand on my stomach, I tried to keep down the sick feeling I had growing.
He’s on a date.
He’s moved on.
When he glanced over and looked at Dale, his eyes turned angry. Was he really going to be upset that I was out with someone when he had some bleach blonde on his arm?
Fuck that.
Looking away, I focused back on Dale. “So, how often to you come to Colorado Springs?”
Taking a drink of his wine, he placed it back on the table. My heart was racing as I felt Thano’s eyes on me. That’s why it felt like someone was watching me. Thano had seen us walk in.
“I try to come at least once a week to help my father. This family cabin is important to him. Family is actually important to him. He wants a place we can all get together and spend holidays and such with.”
Smiling, I tried like hell to ignore the burning feeling my body felt from Thano’s stare. I took a chance and glanced back over to them. They were still standing; it appeared Gus’s date had spilled her wine. I hope it got all over Thano’s stupid tan pants that looked so damn good on him.
When he smiled at me, I looked back to Dale.
“Well, I hope that we can make it a place your family will feel at home in.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it. I’ve seen your work. I’m really impressed, especially since you really haven’t been in business for all that long.”
Reaching for the wine, I tried like hell to keep my hand from shaking.
“Are you okay, Kilyn?” Dale asked with a concerned look on his face.
“Um, yes. I think I need to use the ladies room though for a minute, if you’ll excuse me.”
He stood when I stood and I couldn’t help think that was very sweet of him. I took the long way around to the restrooms so I wouldn’t have to walk near Thano and his date.
Once I made it into the restroom, I sucked in a few deep breaths. My phone buzzed in my purse.
Pulling it out, my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw Thano’s name.
Thano: Who is the guy you’re with?
My eyes widened and I was positive my jaw hit the ground.
“Are you fucking kidding me? How dare he!”
Tapping angrily on my phone, I replied back to his text.
Me: A client. Who’s the bleach blonde? Your latest ladybug?
After I hit send, I covered my mouth. “Oh, God,” I whispered. “Why did I say that?”
I waited for ten minutes and Thano never replied back. I couldn’t blame him. What I said was cruel and I knew it.
With a frustrated moan, I dropped my phone back into my purse and covered my face with my hands. Screaming into them, I dropped them back to my side and counted to twenty.
Opening my eyes, I decided it was time to cut this dinner short. Dale would be upset, but I’d tell him I was not feeling well all of a sudden. After all, I’d been locked away for ten minutes in the restroom.
I reached for the bathroom door and walked out, only to be grabbed by the arm and dragged down the hall by Thano. He slammed me up against the wall and looked into my eyes.
My chest was heaving as I tried like hell to pull in air. He was piercing my gaze with his dark angry eyes, and holy hell was it turning me on.
“What in the fuck did that mean?”
I knew what he was talking about, but for some reason, I egged him on. “What did what mean?”
“My latest ladybug? Do you really think I go around picking up women and having sex with them?”
Lifting my chin, I replied, “I don’t know. Do you? For all I know you’ve already whispered in her ear in Greek. Maybe telling her how beautiful she is.”
Thano hit the wall next to my head, causing me to let out a small scream. I’d never seen him so angry. The funny thing was, I wasn’t the least bit afraid because I knew he would never hurt me. If anything, I was the one who hurt him with my comment.
“Do you have any idea how torn apart I’ve been, Kilyn?”
Searching his face, I looked back into his eyes. “No. If you were so torn apart, why haven’t you . . .”
I looked away.
“Why haven’t I what?”
Peering back at him, my voice was angry. “Called me, Thano. Reached out in some way to let me know you were so torn apart. For all I know, you’ve been completely fine. I mean, you’re on a date, so you must not be that torn apart.”
“It’s Gus’ sister.”
Pinching my eyebrows together, I asked, “What?”
“The girl I’m with, it’s Gus’s sister. Both of them are his sisters. They just got into town and Gus asked if I wanted to come along. I’ve known them since they were little.”