Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
She was right. But as a sixteen-year-old girl with her first big crush, and parents who had never loved her the way she needed, I’d wanted to believe in the idea of one special person. That Matt thought I was so special, he only wanted me.
But Matt Remner had proven my parents correct.
I’d never let a guy make me feel bad about myself again.
Or hurt me like that.
Until now.
“Stupid, stupid woman,” I whispered harshly to myself.
Pulling myself together, I returned to the living room and halted in the doorway to search for Rafe.
My heart skipped an unpleasant little beat when I found him.
He stood in the corner by the balcony doors, his back to me as he bent his head to talk with Elle. Their bodies were close and she was laughing and flirtatiously touching his arm.
He didn’t stop her.
So I guess this was his way of saying I wasn’t required any longer?
Jealousy and hurt burned through my chest.
Hugo suddenly appeared at my side, expression grim. “That is the look of a woman realizing she doesn’t fit with my brother.”
Hoping I’d misunderstood, I asked, “Excuse me?”
Hugo gestured with his drink toward Rafe. “Elle. Now she fits, doesn’t she?”
I’d known all along that Hugo was the Whitman truly unhappy to see Rafe with me. Yet it was still shocking to have him say it to my face. Remaining composed, I shrugged. “What do you care?”
“My brother needs a partner who understands him. Who understands his world. Like Pippa understands mine. Like Elle would understand. Unlike you, a woman-child who was barely raised and disdains success.”
I flinched inwardly at his insults. “You don’t know a thing about me.”
“That’s what would concern me if I didn’t know my brother will grow bored with your pretty face and settle where he should.” He gestured again in Rafe and Elle’s direction.
“Your brother isn’t you,” I spat, angrier at his words than I ever thought I could be.
“What does that mean?” Hugo narrowed his eyes.
“It means don’t tell me what Rafe needs based on what you need. Rafe isn’t you.”
Hugo stepped toward me with indignation in his eyes, and I felt a flare of alarm a second before Rafe’s voice cut between us. “Problem here?”
Relieved by the sight of him towering over us, I took a deep breath. Rafe glowered ferociously at his brother.
Hugo gave him a smarmy smile and I wondered how two brothers could be so different. “No problem. Just a friendly chat.”
Rafe slid his eyes to me, brow furrowed with concern.
“I’d like to leave,” I told him truthfully.
His expression darkened as he turned back to his brother and demanded quietly, “What did you say to her?”
“Nothing she didn’t already know.” Hugo patted him on the arm. “Now relax, little brother, and don’t even think about causing a scene.” He slid past us like the snake he was and crossed the room to where Pippa chatted with Jen.
Rafe glared after him and then looked at me. Those eyes searched my face again.
Then, as if making a decision, he took hold of my hand and marched out of the room and down the long narrow hallway that led to what I assumed were the bedrooms. “Rafe?”
He didn’t answer, and I hurried in my wedged heels to keep up with his long strides. His grip on my hand was unyielding.
We reached a set of double doors and Rafe opened one of them, pulled me inside, and shut the door behind us. I barely gaped at the luxurious primary suite because Rafe pulled me through a walk-in closet and into the fanciest bathroom I’d ever seen in my life. I skittered to a stop in the middle of the room as Rafe shut the door behind us and locked it.
Those butterflies roared to life in my belly again.
Rafe scowled down at me, hands on his hips, his breathing a little too fast.
“What are you doing?” I demanded. “We shouldn’t be in here.”
“We need to talk privately.”
“About what?”
Rafe stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “About whatever the fuck Hugo just said to you, but more importantly, about what you said to me in the elevator.”
Fear made my heart beat faster. “I don’t want to do this.”
“Tough,” he snapped. “We’re doing it.”
“Fine. You were flirting with Elle, and Hugo was just pointing out the obvious.”
“I wasn’t flirting with Elle.” Rafe stepped toward me, eyes narrowed. “And what was the obvious?”
“That you and I don’t fit.” I shrugged like I didn’t care. “He seemed pretty eager to make sure I knew it, so I guess we fooled him into thinking this was real between us. Good job, partner.”
“It seemed pretty real between us at my parents’ house that morning.” Rafe took another step toward me.
I braced myself against his proximity. “I thought our friendship was real, but like I said, when you didn’t get what you wanted . . .” I made a scissor gesture with my fingers.