Winter sighed. He knew her games too well. He and Gavi had been on and off for years, though the last time they spoke was over a year ago, several months before his mission with Panacea. But every time he thought they’d broken up for good, Gavi would show up on his doorstep. Somehow, she always knew where he’d be—and when his defenses would be down.
It was his own fault. No one was forcing him back to her, and yet he always went.
“Go back to your own hotel,” he said as he swiped his keycard. “I’ll book you a car, if you need me to.”
“No chivalry at all,” she said, shaking her head at him, jeweled earrings flashing. “I just escaped my date at a movie premiere, and I don’t feel like rushing back to sit in my room all alone.”
“Who, Rory?” he asked incredulously. “I thought you two were head over heels for each other.”
“You of all people should know better than to believe the tabloids, Winter.” She looked down at her heels, letting her perfect highlights fall softly against her face. “Turns out the fairy-tale romance has been a little one-sided.”
Winter felt a pang of guilt—she was right. He should know better. With Gavi, things were never as they seemed. Now he vaguely remembered the big movie premiere in town this week, and if there was a lavish event, Gavi would be there. As an It Girl on the social scene, even a five-minute appearance from Gavi could boost an event’s publicity tenfold. The world couldn’t get enough of her. But apparently her current fling could.
Or so she said.If there’s one thing Winter knew, it was to take Gavi’s words with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“I’m sorry,” he said politely, without asking for more details.
She looked up at him, her doe eyes soft but hungry. “Judging by the news spreading online, I’m guessing you’re not having the best night either.”
Winter entered the open doorway, put his hands in his pockets, and leaned back into the frame. He had worked so hard to distance himself after their last epic breakup, had done so well staying away.
You need to say no,warned the voice in his head.Right now.
But he knew he was weak tonight, and when he looked back into Gavi’s upturned eyes, he couldn’t help himself. So instead of sayingno,he uttered a different word. “And?”
“Figured you needed the company as much as I did,” she answered, a sly smile playing on her lips.
In spite of their history, Winter felt himself waver. His relationship with Gavi had been completely different from the one he’d had with Sydney; he and Sydney had loathed each other at first sight, a tension that turned into something he’d call friendship, maybe more. But Gavi—he had fallen for Gavi too quickly. They’d found each other irresistible and funny and fascinating before they both realized that they were awful for each other.
And yet here he was, about to make that mistake again. Even now, Gavi drew him in, lulled him into the feeling that perhaps, with one more try, they could work out.
Gavi was still studying him with a coy look that he knew he couldn’t refuse.
“Well?” she said. Her eyes turned down. “Don’t make me beg.”
He sighed. Looked into his suite. Looked back at her.
“Just until the rain lets up,” he said, recognizing the lie before the words even left his lips.
“That’s all I was hoping for,” she replied with a shrug.
He stepped aside and held a hand toward his suite. “Claire’s sending some tea. Should I ask her to make it for two?”
Gavi walked past him, the dangerous smell of jasmine and vetiver trailing behind her. “Tea sounds perfect.”
By the time their tea arrived, sheets of rain were slanting down across the nightscape outside his window.
Gavi took her cup and went to stand by the glass, her gaze fixed on the palm trees swaying against an ink-black ocean.
“So,” Winter said, coming to stand beside her with his own mug. His eyes stayed on the scene outside, too. “How bad was the premiere?”
She shrugged. “About as bad as finding out some mystery person is going to reveal your darkest secrets in an unauthorized tell-all.”
He snorted. “I’d much prefer a terrible movie to my reality.”
Gavi laughed, in that easy way of hers, and pulled her lustrous hair over one shoulder. “So, you don’t know who’s behind it?”
He shook his head. “Whoever it is, Claire probably already has our lawyers drafting up a lawsuit.”
