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)
His familiar scent hit me with such impact, a tight knot took up residence in my chest again. Rafe’s coldness was as hurtful as his absence, and I hated he had that power over my emotions.
The building receptionist nodded at Rafe, and he pressed a button on the nearest elevator. Tension crackled, but not the sexy kind.
We stepped in and hit the button for his brother’s floor, which was near the top.
The elevator glided slowly upward and my hurt built up too until I blurted out dully, “I’m surprised you texted. I thought I’d been given the heave-ho.”
We both stared at the elevator doors as Rafe replied, just as tonelessly, “I would tell you if you were no longer required.”
His words cut deeper than I could believe. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. I tried to swallow past the emotion.
“Anyway, Pippa sent a friend to the clinic the morning before I texted you, so she obviously took your lack of presence at the last family dinner as proof you and I are on the downward spiral.”
So he’d just needed Pippa off his back.
“Right.”
I felt Rafe look at me now. “Are you . . . well?”
I huffed bitterly, not able to hide it. “Yeah.”
“Star—”
That anger that had been building up, that I’d tried so hard to push down, suddenly blew out of me as I whipped around to face him. “You don’t get what you want from me, so you just cut me out? No calls, no texts, and I was more than likely fired until Pippa started her shit again, right?”
Rafe gazed down at me, his eyes searching, but I couldn’t discern what was going on behind them. “It isn’t like that. I didn’t mean for it to seem like I cut you out. You made it obvious you wanted to maintain some professionalism.”
“I didn’t know that meant we’d stop treating each other with kindness.” The elevator slowed to a stop and I realized I was blaming him for something that wasn’t his fault. It was mine. For having allowed the professional distance to be breached. For allowing myself to think that Rafe Whitman actually cared about me. “Don’t worry about it, Whitman. You’re not the first person in my life to just disappear when they feel like it. Pretty used to it, in fact.”
His face slackened. “Star—”
The elevator doors opened and I stepped out into the hallway. Rafe followed, taking hold of my elbow to slow me. “Star, wait—”
“Rafe, there you are!”
We both looked up to see Pippa waving at us from her apartment door. Rafe sighed in exasperation and released my elbow, but only to take hold of my hand. I tried not to tense as he squeezed it and led me over to his sister-in-law.
She eyed me in surprise. “You came.” Her gaze drifted down my blue summer dress before she looked up at Rafe. “Shame on you for not telling Star about the dress code.”
“Dress code?” I replied flatly.
She gestured to her black cocktail dress. “Formal wear.” She eyed Rafe suddenly. “Though I see you forgot your dinner jacket.”
“I didn’t forget.” Rafe gestured to the door. “Are you going to let us in or lecture us on things that don’t matter?”
Pippa frowned. “You better not be in a mood at my party, Rafe.” She shot me a frown like his mood was my fault and then led us inside.
I’d forgotten how big their apartment was.
“Star—” Rafe bent to my ear, but Pippa cut him off, telling us to hurry because everyone else was already seated.
From there, we were introduced to the couples sitting at the long dinner table. Jen and Greg were there, of course, and I felt a pang of sadness and guilt when I saw how happy Jen was to see me. Gigi wasn’t in attendance because she was working overtime on a project she’d mentioned to me in her texts.
At first I thought everyone was coupled up, but as conversation filled the table while staff served us a three-course meal, it became apparent that two of the women were flying solo.
They were both in their early thirties and were stylish, attractive career women. Miriam, the redhead, was a book editor for a large publishing house, and Elle was a buyer for a fashion house.
Elle, I noted, kept shooting Rafe longing looks, but I doubted Rafe noticed, because I could feel him studying me.
I spent most of the meal making small talk with the couple on my left.
After dinner, everyone moved to the lounge for drinks and I excused myself to use the bathroom. My hands shook as I washed them, and I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back. The last time I’d allowed a guy to make me feel horrible was when I’d lost my virginity to Matt Remner and he’d dumped me two days later for my friend Ashley. I’d cried myself sick until Dawn got impatient with me and told me it was my fault for believing Matt should be monogamous. She said human beings were not monogamous creatures and I only had myself to blame for my hurt feelings, considering she and Arlo had taught me monogamy was a fairy tale.