Page 10 of Broken Vows

I glance up and suck in a sharp breath.

Theo.

He steps into the office and stares directly at me with an intensity that makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand upright.

“Sorry,” I say, nearly tripping over my own feet as I stand. What the hell is he doing here? “I—uh—I thought you were someone else.”

“No need to apologize,” he says, speaking slow and intentional. Voices drift past the open doorway as a few coworkers chat in the hall. Theo’s gaze flicks toward the sound, then back to me. “You don’t have to look so scared, I don’t bite.”

At his remark, I straighten, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “Can I help you with something?”

“I think it’s important we get to know each other better.”

What? I grip the folder against my chest. “Ah, yes, sure.”

He leans against the wall and shoves his hands in his pocket. “I just wanted to say how thrilled Anna and I are that you’re leading the account. I know it’s a quick turnaround, but I have complete faith that you’ll make the day perfect.”

Why do I feel like there’s more to his words than he’s letting on? I force a smile, my knuckles whitening around the folder. “I’m looking forward to helping you prepare for your special day. You really make a beautiful couple.”

“Do you actually mean that?”

The sudden darkness in his expression throws me. “Of course.”

A smile cracks through his stony exterior, but it isn’t warm.

“Is that so?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Truthfully?”

What the actual fuck? He wants to talk about honesty—when he’s the one pretending he doesn’t know me?

“I. Don’t. Lie.” My trembling fingers lose their grip on the folder and invitation samples, card stock, and business cards scatter. Great.

In a few long strides, he’s bent at my side, helping to gather the items. He grips a few invitations and when I look up to thank him, fire burns in his dark eyes.

“Lexie.” Five letters whispered right at my ear with so much venom my stomach knots. He’s close. Too close. His stormy cedar scent reaches my nose, the heat from his body radiates off him like a furnace. “That’s not what you were saying earlier,” he murmurs. “When you decided you didn’t trust me—or my relationship with my fiancée.”

Shit, shit, shit. He heard my conversation with Justin. And depending on how much he overheard, there’s no way to back track. Hot blood rushes to my neck.

“I’d love to know exactly what you mean by something’s ‘off’ about me and Anna,” he says through a tight jaw, using the excuse of helping me to disguise his real intentions.

Dizzying heat courses through me. I blink through the spots, but it’s no use. Someone please save me. “I… don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, Lexie. I thought you just said you don’t lie.” He rises with me. God, he’s so tall. He towers over me by at least six inches, his shirt pulls taunt against his broad, tight chest, his neck veins thicken as he narrows his eyes. “I was in the hall and heard everything.”

Goddammit. Why did I not keep my mouth shut? “I’m really sorry,” is all I can push from my dry mouth because what else am I supposed to say? But I still stand by those words. Someone like Theo is probably the definition of a psychopath. He can’t care for Annabelle, at least not in the authentic way she deserves, and there is something off.

He closes the distance in a single step, my ass brushing the wall. The room narrows, compressing until it feels like there’s only him and nowhere left for me to go.

His tapered eyes have turned even darker, from bourbon brown to a midnight sky, and I shrink. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

His voice drops, low enough to send a sliver of fear through me. My knees wobble, threatening to give, and I grind my heel into the floor to steady myself. “That was… an unfair conclusion,” I manage, hating how small my voice sounds. “To draw after just meeting you.” After knowing exactly what kind of man you are for years. “I’m—” My breath stutters. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

His jaw flexes at my words and he goes even more rigid. I press my body further into the wall and Theo notices, because he suddenly starts inching closer. I can’t run. I can’t hide. Oxygen traps in my lungs.

“There is nothing, and I mean nothing that will ruin our day, do you understand? Someone like you will not break us apart.” His gaze flashes down at me and I want to gouge his eyes. Someone like me?