Fool for Love (Believe #2) (31 page)

She stands there, shaking uncontrollably in front of me, her eyes sprouting nothing but hate at me.

“Have you forgotten what he did?” I ask her softly. “What they both did to us?” The grief pierces my chest, and I flinch from the old hurt.

She raises her head. “If your
bitch
of a fiancé had let him be, he’d have come back to me.”

Anger fills my gut, and I breathe deeply. I can’t lose control now, but I won’t allow her poisonous words to take root. So I won’t.

I’ve had enough of this shit.

I turn and open the door, but her pleading voice stops me.

“Please, Garrett, please…” She sobs. I close my eyes briefly. “I
need
them! I need to forget!
Please
!”

I straighten my back and open my eyes, escape the only thing on my mind now.

“I can’t help you, Donna. Goodbye.”

I walk away and into the living room, regretting with all that I am that I gave in to Colin’s suggestion about hosting a party. I look at my watch and breathe a sigh of relief when I notice the time. It can’t be long until people will start to head home.

I scan the people taking up room in my home, wondering when I got so boring that I’d rather stay here alone instead of seeing old friends and colleagues. When my gaze lands on a familiar petite blonde, covered in a red dress with a bare back, my steps falter and I stop, shaken.

“Suzy…”

She can’t hear me over the sound of the music blaring, and it also looks as if she’s completely absorbed talking with a group of men – investors I only know vaguely – with her back to me.

My mouth waters from just looking at her. I’ve never been a fan of red before; but taking in the way she looks right now, in a dress that clings to her curves, following every dip and hollow, it doesn’t take me long to come to the conclusion that she can’t be wearing any underwear underneath it. My eyes follow her slender legs and stop when I find her feet covered in a pair of black stilettos with straps running up her calves. My possessive instincts take over, and I can’t seem to get to her fast enough.

In quick strides, I’m at her side, and I take her hand in mine. She jumps and looks at me, but her startled eyes change when she notices that it’s me. Her full lips part and transform into a soft smile, and my heart contracts inside my chest.

I give the men around us a brief chin lift, but I don’t know if they acknowledge me or not.

I only have eyes for
her
.

Her smile.

Her softness.

Her light.

When she cranes her neck towards me, I bend down to hear what she has to say.

“What happened to your rules?” she murmurs in my ear.

I frown. “What rules?”

“Only one in particular – the one where we let each other know if we plan on hosting a party or have someone over?”

“Ah. That…” Feeling kind of sheepish, I scratch my beard. “I guess I forgot.”

She squeezes my hand in hers.

“I don’t mind. It’s nice, but my feet are killing me from my shift, so don’t be too surprised if I suddenly stumble and fall.”

I grin at her. “If you do, I’ll be here to catch you, waif.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “You promise?” she breathes.

I nod. “I do.”

“Good.” A slow smile spreads on her lips, and she leans slightly into my body. I let go of her hand and place an arm around her, taking her weight. Before I lose her attention and get back into the conversation with the men around us, I grip her tightly, letting my thumb caress her hip.

“You’re not wearing anything underneath that dress, are you?” I murmur in her ear. My dick hardens when she shakes her head.

“I don’t know whether to punish you or kiss you senseless when we’re alone,” I grumble. “If I can tell, so can the rest of the party, and I don’t like that one. Tiny. Bit.”

She shivers, and I take great pleasure in being able to elicit such a response from her.

“What kind of punishment are you thinking about?” she whispers back.

When I gaze into her mischievous eyes, I curse under my breath.

“I’ll think of something,” I promise.

She beams at me, and the innocence in her eyes, mingled with the lust, is like a punch in my stomach. It lasts but a moment before her smile dims slowly.

“What is it?”

“We need to talk…about what you told me this morning.”

I sigh.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” I answer. “Later, I promise. But we need to be alone for this conversation.”

She nods.

“I met your brother, Isaac, when I came home.”

The change of subject puzzles me.

“When I asked him where you were, he said he saw you go into the bathroom with someone called Donna.”

Hearing her name, and seeing the question in Suzy’s eyes, makes me tense up.

“You don’t have to worry about her,” I grit out, trying to relax my hand in hers. “She’s no one.”

“I…” She looks down and shrugs. “It just seems strange to me, that’s all.”

“Listen, waif, when I say that she is no one, that’s the truth. Alright?”

She opens her mouth, but our little bubble of intimacy is interrupted when Colin stops beside me, clapping me on the back.

“Hey, Garrett. It’s good to see you get out amongst the living again. The party’s great.”

I shake my head at him. This guy has always had the worst timing ever.

“I’m getting too old for these late nights, man. And I’m not sure I know even half of these people,” I grumble. He only laughs.

“Well, I did invite a couple of possible investors – thought you might want to bring some more business to
Mama Rosa’s
now that you’re home.”

He takes a sip of his drink, and I just shrug.

“We’ll see.”

A tall brunette in a black, strapless dress, with a tight waist that flares out to stop just below her knees, comes towards us. When she stops at Colin’s side, I smile when I see the way his eyes light up as he takes her in.

“Garrett, I’d like you to meet Daisy, the love of my life.”

Daisy laughs loudly and extends her hand to me.

“Alright, Colin, please stop saying that whenever you introduce me to one of your friends.” There’s a slight blush in her cheeks but her blue eyes shine with happiness.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, and I mean it. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk when I came by to pick up Rufus. Thanks for looking after him while I was away.”

She nods. “Me, too. It was lovely to have him, and my daughter, Clementine, was quite taken with him.” She smiles up at Colin. “I have a feeling that we’ll be getting our own dog soon.”

Colin groans and shakes his head, but I know my friend. He’s going to relent on this one.

“But I hope you and your friend here will be able to come over to dinner soon.” Daisy looks questioningly at Suzy, and I feel like an idiot for not having introduced her to my guests.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter awkwardly as I look at her. She has a polite smile plastered on her face but seems a bit subdued.

“Suzy, this is Colin, one of my closest and oldest friends. And his girlfriend, Daisy.”

“Hi,” she smiles wide at both Colin and Daisy as they take turns shaking hands. “I love your dress, Daisy, where did you find it?”

And just like that, Colin and I are left to ourselves as Daisy starts talking exuberantly about some fashion shop she manages downtown.

Colin and I smirk at each other, and I indicate with my hand that I need something to drink. We leave the ladies to themselves and head to the kitchen. On the way there, I’m stopped several times by people who want to congratulate me on my recovery, and I find it difficult to not bristle at them.

Perception is everything, however, and I merely nod and smile politely as others stop me to thank me for the party before they leave.

I breathe a sigh of relief when we reach the kitchen, and I go to the fridge to get a bottle of water.

“No scotch?” Colin asks as he sits down at the bar opposite me.

I shake my head. “No. I need to keep my wits about me.”

He nods slowly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“What?” I ask him after I’ve picked up a glass and poured some water. I take a long sip as I wait him out.

He hesitates for a beat but then straightens in his seat.

“It’s probably a good idea. I’ve read that people just out of rehab are more prone to pick up another kind of addiction when they get out. I don’t want to see you end up an alcoholic now that you’re finally free of the drugs.”

I snort. “No chance of that happening, Colin.”

He looks over his shoulder and I follow his eyes. Daisy and Suzy are laughing, their heads close together, and I smile softly. It doesn’t seem that the age difference between them bothers them: they look thick as thieves already.

Colin turns back to me, wide smile in place, and I grin at him.

“You’re completely love-sick, aren’t you?” I ask him, leaning a hip on the counter.

“Yep. And I’m not afraid to admit it.”

I take another sip of my water. “I’m happy for you, I really am. Where’s her daughter, Clementine, tonight?”

“She’s with my mom and dad. I’m telling you, Garrett, that girl has completely wrapped my parents around her little finger. I’m not surprised, though. I feel the same about her.”

I laugh. “How old is she again?”

“Ten. Still a sweet and innocent kid, but Daisy’s warned me that the preteen stage will hit us soon, and that if she’s anything like Daisy was at that age, we’re in for a wild ride.”

I laugh heartily and shake my head at him.

“Good luck, then.”

He nods and looks back at the women in our lives.

“So…” He shifts in his seat, looking a bit uncomfortable now. “I take it you and Suzy are a whole lot more than just roommates now?”

I shouldn’t be annoyed to hear his question, and yet the first thought that enters my head is a defensive one.

Back off.

“What we are is not really any of your business, Colin.”

He frowns. “Come on, Garrett. I’m your oldest friend. I saw the way you looked at her when you noticed her chatting with those men.”

I clench my teeth.

“And what way was that?”

He leans towards me, a stubborn set to his chin. “You might as well have had a tattoo inked on your forehead. Your whole face screamed
‘mine’
, and not in the way a Dom/sub relationship works. Not to mention the intimate way you looked when you talked with each other before I came over.”

I open my mouth to protest, but I don’t get the chance to utter a word before he continues.

“Admit it, Garrett. Your feelings for her run deep. If I didn’t know you as well as I do, I’d almost say your eyes conveyed
‘love’
when you prowled towards her.”

I take a step back from him and then scowl.

“You’re wrong, Colin.”

“Am I? Can you honestly say to my face, right this minute, that the feelings you have for her don’t come close to the ones you had for Cecilia?”

My head snaps back, and shock fills me.

He nods at me and takes another sip of his drink.

“That’s what I thought,” he mutters.

“Look, Colin, for the last time – you’re
wrong
.”

Fuck, I want a drink.

Colin only stands up and comes to my side. I watch him carefully when he stops next to me.

“Garrett, stop running. This constant guilt you carry around is all messed up, and you need to talk with someone about it before it’s too late.”

“You need to stop talking before you find my fist planted in your face,” I growl.

He sighs and shakes his head, sadness written in his eyes.

“Deep down, you know I’m right. Ruining every chance you get of finding happiness needs to end now, my friend.”

Frustrated, I run a hand over my face and grunt when he walks away from me.

“Colin!” I shout. Either he doesn’t hear me, or he ignores me.

Probably the latter.

I ponder his words as he stops next to Daisy and she nods at him when he bends down to tell her something. I watch as they say their goodbyes to Suzy. Before Daisy leaves with Colin, she takes out her phone and hands it to Suzy, and it’s clear that they are exchanging phone numbers now.

My attention is broken by a commotion at the other end of the bar, and the displeasure of seeing Donna tear through my home, not caring in the least who she runs into, settles in the pit of my stomach. I don’t go after her when she heads to the front door and slams it behind her.

I’m finished with her for good, and I pray that I won’t have to see her ever again.

There are not that many guests left, and relief mingled with fear overtakes me when I realise that revealing my story to Suzy is drawing close. But I promised her I would explain myself, and I intend to do just that.

I’m broken from my thoughts when I feel a hard hand on my shoulder, and I turn around to see Isaac grinning at me.

“Fine-looking roommate you’ve got there, brother,” he says.

I frown.

“Keep those eyes away from my woman,” I growl.

“Oh, so she’s yours, is she?” he laughs, and I narrow my eyes in warning.

“Never mind,” he continues and glances at his watch. “I’m heading home now. Got my own little plaything waiting for me, warming my bed.”

I shake my head at my little brother’s choice of words.

“It was good to see you,” I say and give him a brief, but warm hug.

“You, too, big brother. I’m glad you’re home.”

He lets me go, and we stare into each other’s eyes for a moment. His smile grows wider.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he mutters. “Let’s get together next week, and you can tell me all about your little woman there.”

I look to the ceiling and roll my eyes at him.

“Get home to your girl, brat,” I tell him. “I’ll call you.”

“Sounds good.”

With a firm handshake, I tell my little brother goodbye, and then I turn my attention back to Suzy who’s watching me from the other end of the room.

Our intimate moment is broken as friends and associates come towards me, one after the other. I paste a polite smile on my lips and pretend to be the perfect host. Even so, it takes at least twenty minutes before the apartment is empty. After everyone’s gone, I go to the bookshelves to end the violent noise from the stereo system.