“Carol, please. Just say it.”
“Charismatic.” The word comes out in a rush. “Irresistible. There’s something…magneticabout—”
“I get it.” I didn’t need the reminder. Though she isn’t wrong.
“He seems to really care. He was worried about you…”
She trails off again, like she’s already said too much. Carol’s lovely, but she’s a talker. Presented with the force that is Alexander Reyes, it was only to be expected he’d get what he wanted from her. I can’t blame her, not really. Besides, she got me the job in the first place. It’s not reallymine, after all. It’s as much hers.
“He seemed…” she continues, hesitating as she searches for the word. “…disparaging.”
“Of?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
“Your work. Like he didn’t think you actually did any. Had any.” She cringes. “So I told him to show him how wrong he was.”
Figures. Typical of him. “I understand.”
“I was defending you,” she finishes in a small voice.
“Got it.” I arrange my face into something approximating gratitude. “Thank you. Sorry he camehere.” That was another question. How the hell did he find me? “I… uh… don’t suppose you told him I was here?”
“What? No!” She looks horrified. “Didn’t you?”
“No.” But Alex has always been resourceful. I suppose there were only so many places I could go. All right, one place I could go. “Don’t worry about it.” I give myself a little shake. “I’m going to take a shower. Try and warm up.”
“I’m really sorry, Vicky,” Carol says to my back.
I flap a hand in acknowledgement, walking into the bathroom. I know I should stop and comfort her, but I’ve reached my emotional limit for the moment. I need time to process that Alex just walked in here, criticized me for going running—of all things—thendemandedthat I return home because I was beingpetty.
So very Alex.
Except he came, and before ten at night, in this sleet, in that ridiculous coat.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was rattled by something.
I’d say I was, too. Even just seeing him makes me tremble in a way I can’t credit just to the chill.
The shower warms me slowly, the cold having sunk deep into my bones. Yes, Alex, Iwouldhave preferred to go to a gym. Seven hundred dollars in a bank account doesn’t make that viable.
Damn him.
Damnmefor walking out with only pennies to my name. If it wasn’t for Carol, I’d be totally screwed. I’ll have to apologize for being abrupt. She didn’tdeserve it, she didn’t really do anything wrong. I just wish she hadn’t told him about my new gig.
I mentally list the projects I have. A wealthy client who has me running background checks on his daughter’s new love interest. An internal expenses fraud investigation for a small construction firm. And now HM&L—far larger than both the others put together. It’s not much; I could really use more. But in three months, I’ll be in a stronger position.
Then I can send Alex his twenty grand, and remove that noose from around my neck.
But I’m deflecting. It’s not about the jobs, or the money. It’s about Alex walking in here, not asking me to come home, buttellingme to. Showing some degree of care, in his own emotionally stunted way.
I hadn’t expected that.
God, I hardly expected him to notice I’d gone. He didn’t notice when I wasthere.
Funny how that works—leave, and suddenly you exist.
I pour some shampoo and work it into my hair, lathering harder than necessary.
Nine months of my life I gave Alex. Willingly, too. I may have walked away, but he left weeks and weeks ago. My parents are dead, my brother I never speak to, my friends half-forgotten as I focused on my failure of an engagement. All I have left is Carol, and the scraps of a career. Not much to show at twenty-eight.
