“You didn’t causea scene.”
“There was noreason to.” She wanted to burst into tears. Not once during their time togetherhad Gabriel ever made her feel like an easy fuck untillast night. After he’d told her it was over, and the way he’d done so, she feltsick to her stomach. He’d been cold. “Did you get a kick out of last night?”she asked. “Did it make you feel all special?”
“Claire?”
“You know what, Idon’t want to know. Forget it.” She shook her head. “I thought you had moreclass than the way you ended things. I guess I was wrong.”
The elevator doorsopened up and she stepped out, but he caught her wrist.
“Don’t make ascene, Gabriel. You hate them, remember?”
He gritted histeeth and let her go.
Her heart racedbut she stepped out and into freedom. She nodded at the receptionist, knowingthis would be the last time she saw this place. There was no way she would evercome back to Rhianna for help. She would always confide in her best friend andthat wouldn’t change, but favors were not in the cards.
She found a cabwaiting and she gave the driver the address for her new place. After puttingher bags in the trunk, she climbed into the back and waited as he pulled intothe main traffic.
Leaning her head back,she looked up at the building. Was Rhianna looking at her?
She shook herhead. It was stupid and pointless to think of what might have been.
“Are you okay,honey?” the cab driver asked.
She nodded herhead but the tears she’d been keeping at by started to spill over. “I’m fine.Honestly, I’m fine. There is nothing to worry about.” She took a deep breath,and a second. In and out, she could do this.
She could handleanything.
Sniffling, sheglanced out of the window and rubbed at her chest. The pain wasn’t real. Shedidn’t love Gabriel.
He was an asshole.
A monster.
A prick.
He’d dumped herafter fucking her. He’d used her. There was no way inhell she was going to ever have feelings for such a man. He was a complete andtotal dickhead.
But he’d beenhers. For a few short days, a couple of weeks, he’d been hers. In her mind, sheran through the time in his kitchen, the way he’d trapped her. His hard bodykeeping her in place. It changed to each time they were together. The feel ofhis lips, his hands, all of it.
“Are you sureyou’re okay?” the cab driver asked again.
“Yeah, just, a badbreak up.”
“Someone youloved?”
She shook her headand then nodded. “Yeah, I think so, or it wouldn’t hurt this much, would it?”She sniffled. “It will be fine.” There was nothing that couldn’t be solved withdistance, ice cream, and a good old cry. She only hoped getting rid of herfeelings would be so simple.
Chapter Ten
“You are acomplete and total fucking asshole,” Rhianna said the moment he entered his apartment.
Gabriel didn’teven try to protect himself as his sister started to attack him. It wasn’t very nice but he took the pain of her fists. He didn’texactly feel like himself at all. “Back off.”
“No, I won’t backoff. You broke things off with her. How could you?”
“She knew thedrill.”
“Do you know the drill? Do you know whatyou’ve done?” she asked.
“I didn’t mean forher to leave but she has. You’re going to have to get over it.”
She growled andstormed away. “You know, for someone so smart, you’re so fuckingdumb at times. I mean, seriously, what is your deal? Do I have to spellit out for you?”
“I have no ideawhat you’re talking about.”
“No?” She steppedup close to him. “Do you feel anything right now? Did you see her leave? Whatwas it like to watch her walk away or better yet, not to even cry?”
“Are we done withthis?” It was early in the morning but he went straight to his liquor cabinet.He was so fucking done with this conversation already.
“You’d like that,wouldn’t you, to be done? To have everything neatly tied away into their ownrespective boxes, but it doesn’t work like that. It will never work like that.”She shook her head. “Ugh, I have to be the person to spell this out. You loveher.”
He paused with theglass next to his lips and stared at his sister. “You’ve been watching way toomany romance movies.” He shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”
He moved towardhis window and looked out over the city.
His sisterlaughed.
“Oh, my God, youreally do love her. I see it now.”
He rolled hiseyes. “What is it going to take to get some peace now?” He pulled out his cellphone and messaged the man who was tailing Claire. He hesitated. Should he callthe man off? He didn’t. He told him to keep by her side, to keep an eye on heruntil he gave him further instructions.
“I know you liketo build up some kind of romance in your mind, but in this case, you’ve got itall wrong.”
“I haven’t,” shesaid. “That’s the point. You’re afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“The bikers. Theyscared you. Claire saved me. She put herself in danger to save me and thatscares you, doesn’t it?”
He swallowed downhis drink in one gulp. “I can have you put away for a long time, Rhianna. Stopbugging me.”
“I’m your sister.I know you love me and will do whatever’s necessary to keep me safe. Knowingyou, locking me up will be at an all-day spa resort, whatever. This isimportant.” Rhianna reached for his hand.
“No, it’s not. Youwant the truth. I told Claire that it would last as long as I saw fit. We didn’teven get the entire month clear. It’s over. I don’t do long-term.”
“Okay, fine, andwhen she moves on?” she asked.
He squeezed hisglass tightly.
“Claire’s abeautiful woman. In fact, with her finding a new apartment so fast, I may haveto suggest we go to a nightclub, have some fun. She doesn’t know how to havefun.”
“Stop it.”
“Imagine anotherman moving close to her, touching her waist, feeling her against him. Butrather than imagining Claire not wanting him, think about her being happy. Herwanting his kisses, his touch, being in his bed. Making love, fucking if
