“I know, buddy,” he said under his breath. “Fucking Vicky.”
She probably saw an opportunity when Temperance went to the bathroom and pounced on the chance to confront her, away from Gabriel. Lionesses could be ruthless like that. Plus, he could only imagine what she’d said to Temperance. But knowing his ex, it couldn’t have been good.
He practically leapt out of the Jeep as soon as he got to her house, not even bothering to turn the engine off. “Temperance!” he called, rapping on her door. “Temperance!”
She didn’t answer, but his keen senses could hear her moving around inside. His chest tightened, and his lion growled and snapped its jaws at the flimsy door. With his shifter strength and claws, he could tear that scrap of metal into shreds in seconds, but he would never do anything to frighten her.
“Go home, Gabriel,” came the faint voice from the other side.
“Please, Temperance,” he begged, desperation clawing at him as he braced his palms on the door frame. “We didn’t even finish our date. Why don’t I order us some food—”
“I’m not hungry. And I’m t-t-tired.” Her voice seemed louder now, so he could imagine her just on the other side of the door, centimeters away from him.
“What did she say, Temperance? What did Vicky tell you?”
“N-nothing.”
“I don’t believe you. Open this door or I’ll—”
“Don’t make me call the police,” she said. “Please.”
The hurt in her voice struck a chord in him. What a fucking mess. The moment Vicky walked into the restaurant; he should have insisted on leaving. That woman was hell-bent on destroying his life; she’d already tried five years ago.
Leaning his forehead on the door, he let out a long huff. He knew he could wait it out here all night. But she had work in the morning, and so did he, plus, Anders was already doing him a favor, so he didn’t want to abuse the other man’s good will by showing up late. “This isn’t over, Temperance,” he warned. However, only silence answered him back.
He knew he had to make her listen. But how? Seeing him with Vicky had probably shattered the already tenuous trust she had in him. And now she wouldn’t even come out to see him and let him explain. Maybe it was time to give up.
As he pushed himself off the door, the grinning figure of Fred caught his eye.
An idea popped into his head.
No.
Wait.
Could he …?
Well, as they say, desperate times called for desperate measures.
Chapter Six
Did you really think he would want you?
You’re delusional.
Why would he choose you over her? Or any other girl for that matter?
He’s so out of your league. What were you thinking?
Temperance bit her lip, as if that would make that voice of doubt go away. However, now that that voice had once again started to make itself home in her brain, it didn’t want to leave.
She didn’t move, only stared at her door, waiting. Only when she heard the shuffle of footsteps and the sound of a vehicle driving away did she allow herself to breathe. Trudging back to her tiny bathroom, she stripped and stepped into the shower, wishing she could wash off this whole day, too.
It was better this way. Better that she stopped acting like a fool before she got hurt. She’d been giddy the entire day waiting for six o’clock to arrive, primping and preparing herself for Gabriel, even managing to curl her hair so as to hide her cheek. She looked almost normal. Almost good enough to be standing next to Gabriel.
Oh, when she opened the door and he was there … she nearly chickened out because he looked incredibly handsome. He was dressed simply in khaki pants and a dress shirt that made his eyes look bluer. His long, bronzed hair looked perfect as always, and that smile on his face made her melt.
Everything seemed to be going well, despite the initial awkwardness. She was starting to feel more relaxed and confident around him. Even starting to open up to him.
And then she came along. Vicky with her perfect blonde waves of hair. Perfect heart-shaped face and nose. Perfect body and legs till Mexico. And perfect skin.
It was obvious Vicky and Gabriel had a past from the way she was so familiar around him. She was exactly the kind of woman that Gabriel should have on his arm. Even though Vicky was on a date with another man, that hot slice of jealousy in Temperance’s chest wouldn’t go away as she watched her and Gabriel interact.
Though she didn’t really need to go to the bathroom, she had to get out of there. She was staring at herself in the mirror, trying to fix her hair which had fallen out of place when Vicky walked in, looking perfect in her designer dress and red-bottomed shoes, a cloud of expensive perfume in her wake as she walked behind Temperance and stood at the next sink over. When their gazes met in the mirror, the look of shock—and disgust—on Vicky’s face was evident. Temperance realized she had her hair pulled back, and the scars looked even harsher under the fluorescent light of the bathroom.
The horror on Vicky’s face, however, had dissipated, and a satisfied smile crept up on her lips. Temperance’s stomach clenched at the silent communication the other woman seemed to convey—that she was obviously not worthy of Gabriel. Vicky didn’t even think Temperance worth speaking to as she finished washing her hands and strode out of the bathroom confidently.
Yes, it was true what she said to Gabriel. Vicky didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to; that look was all Temperance needed. And if that wasn’t enough, seeing Gabriel at the bar, pressed up against her, was the final straw, and she high-tailed it out of there.
But he followed you here, a small voice inside her said.
Maybe
