Oh, she’s pissed.
“I texted him and asked if we could reschedule. He graciously agreed to meet up tomorrow instead.” She hesitates for a minute. “I think he thinks it’s a date.”
I can’t tell whether she’s saying it to provoke me or because she realizes now that I was right all along. Either way,fuck,I need to play this cool.
“I see. Well, I’m glad you two could reschedule. Sorry about your cancellation.”
She pours another glass and takes a tentative sip.
“You know, the reason I didn’t cancel on the couple who booked this session earlier was because I really need this money. My sister has a trip planned with her college design class to Tucson next month and we can’t afford to send her without me getting some extra hours. The bills…” She runs her fingers through her wavy, brown hair, “…They just never seem to end. It’s pretty fucked up that the Spinsters cancelled on me. Now I’m out of the money and the train fare.” She sighs dramatically as she sips, staring out one of my windows at the snow falling on the ground.
Okay, so I already feel like shit about this whole scheme, but now I feel one thousand times worse. Her website said that I’d be charged still, who did the money go to if not her?
“I thought you’d still get full payment if they cancel after the appointment time?”
“I fuckingknewit was you!” she screams, slamming her glass down on the counter and pointing a finger at me accusingly.
Oh, shit.
That was a set up and I walked right into it.
Chapter 26 – Cain
Rhiannon’s eyes are blazing with fury as she paces back and forth like a small storm contained within my apartment’s walls.
“Is it because of Rebel?” she demands, her voice sharp. “You really thought it was a date? Because I made that part up. It was a business meeting! He wanted me to model for his new clothing line! He rescheduled because he thinks I’ll be perfect for their mid-size line!”
I don’t respond.
“Is it because you don’t want me meeting with your clients? Are you afraid I’ll tell them something about you like… oh, I don’t know, you’re not the ruthless ass hole that you pretend to be in court and have a heart? Oh wait.” She laughs and stops walking, tilting her face up to the ceiling and blowing out a breath. “I’m not so sure anymore considering you juststolefrom me!”
“I didn’t steal. You got paid. Double.”
She glares. “You stole mytime,Cain.And my trust!”
Ouch.
Before I can respond, she closes the gap between us and jabs a finger into my chest.
“We had aone-night stand. Don’t you sleep with every model, social media star, and random celebrity who crosses your path? You’re an entertainment lawyer, I bet women are just throwing themselves at you.”
“It was a three-night stand,” I mutter, deflecting her comment because the old Cain had slept with many of the women that he represented because it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered back then but working and finding moments of pleasure throughout my packed week.
But the new Cain doesn’t do that.Hasn’tdone that in months. Because everything doesmatter now that Rhiannon’s in the picture.
Her arms fly into the air, her annoyance with me practically radiating off her. “Oh, well,thatchanges everything!”
“It does.” I step towards her until she’s moving backwards, her back bumping into my marble, kitchen island.
I need to regain control before this spirals into another argument. I know she’s upset. She has every right to be with me. I ruined her plans. I lied to her about who I was when I made the appointment. And then I stood her up. But I need to be sure she’s clear on why I did all of that and how I feel about her now.
“It changes everything because I told you how I feel about you. I’m not sleeping with anyone else and pretending like these last few months have been nothing but one-night-stands is a lie and you know it. We’re not strangers anymore, Rhiannon.”
Her gaze narrows.
“I’ve met your family and your friends. I’ve spent time with you outside of a bedroom naked. It’s more. Admit it.”
She glares at me. “What compelled you to book a therapy session with me on a Sunday night, have me drag myself all the way into the city by the trainduring a snowstorm,and then stand me up?”
