“I’m sure.” She didn’t meet his gaze. Her walls had gone up again. “Thanks.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Alex, don’t. You know as well as I do this is the end. Anise is right in one way. It’s time for me to go back to reality.”
He cupped the base of her skull and kissed her harder, sliding his tongue into her mouth until she whimpered. “I will talk to you tomorrow.”
Touching her lips, Dana closed the door.
When he heard the click of the lock falling into place, something snapped inside Alex.
She thought it was over. On some level, she thought he needed saving.
From her.
Even worse, she saw him as a bit of fun. A lark. A fantasy. Like her sister, Dana believed they were incompatible, and his wealth and position was only the tip of that iceberg.
Anise believed Dana needed stability.
He’d never been very good at providing that for others. Did he even know the first thing about stability? He’d certainly never given it to Shannon.
You care more about your friends than me. You spend more time at Champagne and Liberty than you do with me.
You know I love you. My work is just that. Work.
No, Alex. You get off on watching all those strangers flitting around you. And you know why? Because it’s safe. Because you don’t have to get involved. You might like to play the conductor but you’ve never composed a piece of your own. God forbid you engage that cold heart of yours.
Maybe it was time for him to face reality as well.
In many ways, he was cold. He’d cultivated that reputation in business, believing it served him well, never realizing the chill had settled over areas of his personal life.
In creating his fantasy clubs, he’d built a world where he could be king. The best part about being a king?
No one got too close.
He didn’t allow anyone to get too close.
But Dana had found a way to cross his moat, even with all its snapping crocodiles.
She brought him heat and pleasure and made him want.
And yet he was scared. What if his frost began to infest her too?
Shannon had been a good woman, despite her insecurities. He’d hurt her in the end.
Would he hurt Dana?
She thought she was bad for him.
In truth, he was probably bad for her.
***
The next morning, Dana headed to the lobby early, with Anise and the others in tow. Their flight left before noon and she wanted to go home to her own bed, her own walls and floors. She would definitely miss the luxury suite at Vice, but staying here had put too many wild ideas in her head. She’d been avoiding her problems, ever since that crazy night at Joe’s Tiki Bar, and it was time to meet them head on.
The dream was over. She needed to heal in her own surroundings.
In the lobby, Dana took turns saying goodbye to Bea and Jessica.
