A tall, familiar figure was striding toward the furthest reaches of the parking lot. It appeared as though he’d decided to come early to their meeting as well.
Of course he parked far away from the entrance, lest the boss take up a customer’s spot. Her heart leapt, then sank when she noticed the leggy blonde walking next to him, dressed sharply in a tailored business suit.
Livvy tugged on her crop top, wishing she’d opted for something with a bit more coverage. It was fine. So her former love was walking next to a woman who looked perfect for him, like the living embodiment of the fake girlfriend he’d pretended he had. Big deal.
What even was her life.
As she tortured herself by watching, the couple stopped next to a car and Nicholas bent his head.
No, no, no.
He kissed her.
Her breath strangled in her throat. Those lips that had captured her mouth last night were on someone else’s skin.
None of your business. It’s none of your business.
As if he felt her eyes on him, his gaze lifted over the woman’s head. Surprise flashed, and then something else, something determined and needy. His lips moved.
Livvy spun, breaking whatever ridiculous holdhe always exerted over her. She knew they were supposed to meet shortly, but she needed a second. She could either get in her car and drive away or head into the café.
She chose the café, because damn it, it was closer, and it made slightly more sense.
Besides, Nicholas wouldn’t come in here, surely. It was Kane territory. She’d have her second.
Had she wondered where the pain portion of that pleasure-and-pain cycle was? Oh. It was right here.
She stepped inside the café, the scent of baked goods and coffee not reviving her spirits. She wanted to go home and burrow under the covers, hiding from the world. Now that she’d watched Nicholas kiss another woman could she be done with him?
It hadn’t been passionate. A peck on the cheek. He’d used to give her those as an afterthought, when he wasn’t going to see her for a couple hours.
He hadn’t kissed her cheek in a decade. He’d kissed her on her lips—hot, openmouthed, passionate kisses. He’d sucked her nipples, bitten the inside of her thighs, licked her between her legs. He’d given her hickeys all over her throat and breasts.
So why the hell was she envious of a peck on the cheek? Why did that feel like the height of intimacy?
Her fingers itched to touch her cheek, but she kept her hand at her side and walked woodenly to the line, standing behind a teenager blasting music through his headphones. Sadia wasn’t in sight.Maybe she was in the back? Livvy could use a dose of her best friend’s steady, pragmatic wisdom right now. Or the other woman’s threats to shank someone for Livvy, preferably the perfect, svelte recipient of Nicholas’s kisses.
She sucked in her stomach. Her arms, her pride and joy, were still sculpted as fuck, but she was starting to get a bit soft around the middle. That woman hadn’t been soft anywhere. She’d been tall. Elegant. Dressed perfectly.
Livvy wrapped a strand of her hair around her finger. That strawberry-blond shade would look terrible on her, but she coveted it anyway.
Stoppppp.
She didn’t hear any footsteps behind her, but she stiffened, prickles of awareness causing goosebumps to rise on her arms. She didn’t turn around.Please go away. You can’t see me like this.
Naked. Vulnerable.
“Livvy,” he breathed, and she almost crumbled.
It took her a beat too long to shore up her defenses. She stared determinedly at the teenager in front of her. The line was about six deep. “What are you doing in here?”
“I don’t know.”
Hell, at least he was honest. “Someone will recognize you. There’ll be gossip. Scram.”
“I can’t.”
“Nicho—”
