However, Sienna is smart enough to put two and two together, right?
“So, you understand,” I convey evenly. “I wouldn’t risk you?—”
“You’re not my hero, Mr. Wolfe. I didn’t get a say on whatIwould’ve wanted to do.”
I frown. “I wasn’t willing for you to risk your career for me.”
“Then that’s that.” She shrugs. “There’s nothing else to say.”
“I didn’t want it to be this way.”
“Obviously, you did. You made the choice.”
“You’re mad at me for protecting you?”
She stares back at me flatly and replies. “I’m not mad at you at all.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because you look so happy to see me right now.”
“Did you want me to smile, Mr. Wolfe?” A beautiful, yet fake as hell smile illuminates her face, and it’s scary to see how real it looks if I didn’t already know what a genuine one looks like. “Better?”
“Not really.”
“Making you happy isn’t in my job description.”
“Depends who you ask.”
“Take it up with Principal Simpson, Mr. Wolfe. I’m just doing my job.”
“I just may, Miss Vesper. I’m feeling judged.”
“Depends who you ask.”
I narrow my eyes. “Let’s not get it twisted, Miss Vesper, I’d still fuck you. In fact, I’d love nothing more than to do that right now.”
“What would your ex say?”
Low blow.
And like I give a shit about what Laura would say.
However, it’s not about that. It’s about Sienna’s reputation, her career, and the unwanted attention she’d get for being with me.
“You think I give a shit about the woman who left me and my son when he was a few month old?” I input flatly. “Who signed over full custody before she left, because she thought about it beforehand? That’s probably what hurt the most. Is that she lay in bed with me, knowing she was going to leave. And now she has a new man, so she’s trying to play house withmykid. So, if you thought it was because I’m confused, I’m not. I’ll fight her every day for the rest of my life for Heath. But she’ll throw you under the bus for being with me just to win a case.”
Sienna frowns, but she doesn’t utter a word.
“I didn’t want to be your downfall like she was mine,” I utter softly. “I made a rash decision, I thought the right one. I was afraid Laura’s petty was going to show. She’s not above taking someone down to get what she wants, and you and Heath were all I was focused on. Fuck me and how she’d get me…I don’t care about that. There’s no love between us anymore, Sienna. All I see is still you in this town.”
“Not anymore.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“That’s reality.”
“You don’t think I still see you in town?” I rebuke with a bit of annoyance in my tone. “I see you all the time. I keep a distance. You’re fucking everywhere.”
She shifts her weight a little and appears a bit apologetic for that. “Then tell me the places you frequent and I’ll?—”
