Page 73 of The Irresistible One
She wiped her forehead, keeping her fingers there after she was done. “What are you even talking about?”
“I think what I said was pretty clear.” I shifted my weight.
“Affected by Jones and me?” She continued to stare into my eyes. “You think I’m with Jones? Or that I have been?”
“You guys looked pretty cozy at dinner. But did you see me getting jealous and accusing you? Nah. I said nothing and kept those thoughts to myself.”
“No. You held those thoughts until you found a perfect opportunity to throw them at me. Don’t act like you’re innocent.”
“And all I’m saying is, don’t be a double standard, Sophie.”
Her hand moved over the top of her head, stretching her forehead so hard that her brows lifted. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now. You sat at a table with a woman, and the two of you couldn’t stop gazing at one another. You ran your fingers through her hair. She touched your hand. But me?” She pointed at her chest. “I simply have a conversation with a friend—a best friend actually—and you’re trying to tell me we’re the same?” She huffed. “The situations aren’t even close to being alike.”
I ran my hand through her hair?I began to rewind that evening in my head.What the fuck is she talking about?I groaned, “Jesus,” when it hit me. “What you saw, and the reality of the situation were two very different things.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head. “I don’t care.”
I chuckled. “If you’re angry, which I see you are, then it does matter.”
“I’m not angry.” She took a breath, lifting her shoulders high. “I’m just done.”
“You’re done because I was taking something out of her hair? Sure, I could have left it in there, but if I had something stuck to my hair, I would hope someone would save me the embarrassment and remove it. And the way my arm had been positioned when the sunroof was down on the yacht Hayden and I were touring yesterday gave me a funky tan line.” I showed her what I was talking about. “She commented on itand touched my hand. That’s what you saw. And that’s what you made a big fucking deal of.”
“Colson”—she rolled her eyes—“you were on a date.”
“That wasn’t a date.” I smiled. “Marci is my VP of operations on the East Coast. So, she’s not just an employee, she’s an extremely important employee, as she’s our eyes and ears on this entire side of the country and someone who’s about to get even more responsibility because we’re giving her additional restaurants—something I shouldn’t even mention to you, considering who you represent.” My gaze deepened. “I don’t fuck my employees, Sophie. What you saw was nothing more than a business dinner.”
She stopped blinking. The only part of her that moved was her throat when she swallowed. Her face was so masked in concentration that I couldn’t tell what she was thinking or feeling.
“So, now that you know the truth, do you have anything you want to say to me?” I pushed.
Her cheeks puffed out when she exhaled. “My lips have never been anywhere near Jones. He’s family. Just like Callum, Talon, Leo, and Troy—guys I wouldn’t ever cross the line with or even want to.”
I squeezed my arms against my chest. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
She slowly nodded.
“You’re not going to apologize for?—”
Before I could finish the rest of my sentence, she started running. But she didn’t pass me, going in my direction; she did the opposite, as if she were returning home.
Un-fucking-believable. I could never win with her.
Rather than follow her, I went back to my hotel, where I grabbed a cold bottle of water from the front desk before I took the elevator to my room.
I had gotten in at least two miles, so my body should feel satisfied. And the sight of the bed should somewhat entice me, considering I had plenty of time to shower and get in a small nap before I had to meet Hayden. That was what I needed anyway. It would be another long day of heat and sun, and I was going on no sleep.
But as I stared at the white bedding, at the indent of where my body had been, my fucking mind was racing.
My heart was pounding.
Sophie hadn’t bothered to reach out last night, and this morning had been even more confusing. Was it that difficult for her to admit when she was wrong?
Or was something else happening that I wasn’t privy to?
Would I ever get these answers?
Fuck me.
