“No! There’s no amount of time that will take back what you’ve done. You’ll always be the first man who touched me, the first man who loved me, and the first man to royally fuck me over, and I’ll
never forget that. You can’t negotiate your way back into my heart. I won’t let you. If you think I’m
bluffing, try me. All of my life I’ve had one cardinal rule: the only person I can trust is myself. I’m the only person I can count on to truly look out for me without ulterior motives. That’s what I’m doing now, looking out. I don’t need your hotel. I don’t need your damn limo to give me a ride. And I don’t
need you.”
He stared at her, a blank expression on his face for a long moment. Finally, he whispered, “But I
need you.”
Weary, she shut her eyes and shook her head. “You don’t need me, Lucian. You’re gorgeous,
wealthy, and, for the most part, a sweet man. Find someone else to give your heart to. I don’t want it.”
“Is that what you really want?” he rasped.
No. God, no. The thought of him loving another woman was agonizing. “That’s what I need. That’s what’s for the best.”
“And what will you do, Evelyn? Will you find someone else?”
“My mind is so far away from that right now, Lucian, I can’t give you an answer.”
He visibly swallowed. “Will you be okay? Will you promise to come to me if there’s anything you
need?”
His words showed he was relenting. That was what she needed, but the pain in her chest was back.
“Yes.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I know that means nothing to you right now, but it’s the truth.”
She looked away. He didn’t deserve any sign of forgiveness from her. She lacked even the ability to
acknowledge his apology at that moment. Everything was still too fresh, too raw. It had only been a
few days since she found out about his betrayal—his and Parker’s, the man she loved and the man she
thought was her best friend.
She was tired, needed a shower and wanted to sleep in a bed with blankets. “Will you drive me to
the motel?”
He hesitated, but nodded. They walked back to the limo in silence. Scout slid onto the cool leather
seat and stared out the window. Lucian climbed in beside her and shut the door.
“Take us to the Slumberland Motel, Dugan,” he said, and the limo eased into traffic.
They arrived at the motel ten minutes later, neither of them speaking a word along the way. Dugan
parked but didn’t get out. Scout sighed. Would they leave or continue this ridiculous trailing?
Her hand reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.”
She was yanked back to the center of the bench seat, and Lucian’s mouth was suddenly on her. A
squeak slipped past her throat as he kissed her hard, his fingers digging into her shoulders. It took
everything she had not to melt into him.
He betrayed you!
Her palms shoved at his chest and he drew back. His breath was labored. “This is not the end of us,
Evelyn. I don’t care what you say. I’m not done with you and you’re not done with me.”
Scrambling off the seat and out of the limo, Scout slammed the door behind her. Her heart pounded
wildly in her chest. Lucian didn’t roll down the window or try to come after her. Her shaken
expression reflected in the tinted glass, and she felt his eyes on her, staring through the barrier.
Turning, she headed toward the window with a blinking light. By the time she opened the motel’s
office door, the limo glided away. She was shocked to actually see it go and keep going until it
disappeared.
Wavering emotions had her hand settling over her empty belly. Disbelief that he’d actually gone
was quickly followed by sharp devastation. Lucian never walked away from something he wanted. But
what if he no longer truly wanted her? Careful what you wish for.
Perhaps this was all part of his next calculated move. Or perhaps this was truly the end of them.
Asking for space didn’t make it any less painful to bear. She hated him, but missed him all the same.
Love didn’t surrender to hate, it merely tolerated it like a sister emotion.
She’d bathe and rest here for a while, and then she’d move on. Tomorrow she had off, and she’d use
the day to find a more permanent place to stay. Somewhere Lucian wouldn’t be able to find her,
because as much as she insisted this was how she wanted things, her heart was of a whole different
opinion.
She didn’t trust herself not to go running to him the first time life got complicated. If he knew
where she was and knew how to find her, it would only take a matter of visits for her to give in. She
was too vulnerable, and hiding herself away was a safeguard she needed until she could trust herself to be strong.