It was already one in the morning, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight anyway. “Right now.”
“You want me to come with you?”
I knew he would tag along to be supportive, but he had other things to worry about. “No. I’ll handle this alone.”
“Alright. Good luck, man.”
“Thanks…for all your help.” No matter how stupid I was, I knew I could always turn to Carter to help me out.
“No problem. But Conway, if you’re lucky enough to get her to listen to you, don’t fuck it up again. You may not get another chance.”
Last time I was in New York, Muse was my date to my biggest fashion show. Everyone looked at how beautiful she was, how stunning she was on my arm. She was my woman at the time, the woman I took back to my hotel and made love to.
She was the only woman I ever made love to.
Now I was back, but this time, she wasn’t with me.
It was evening when I arrived, so I got some rest and showered the next morning. My PI was ready to follow her once she made her move, and he got me the details I wanted to know by the end of the day.
She lived across the street from Central Park, in a building that was for homeowners only.
Which meant she bought some real estate.
And that also meant Andrew was paying her well.
But he’d better only be paying her for her work in front of the camera—and nothing else.
After she finished her day of work, she went to the gym down the street. So I waited outside her condo door for her, waiting for the time to trickle by until she returned. I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say to her when I saw her.
I’m sorry?
Could I really apologize after being the biggest dick on the planet? Would an apology mean something to this woman who was kicked out on her ass? If I apologized a hundred times, would it ever erase my stupid decision?
She shouldn’t forgive me.
She shouldn’t have loved me in the first place.
An hour later, her footsteps sounded around the corner. I knew it was her before she was visible because I recognized her footfalls. After living with her for months, I knew all the small details about her, even the way her small feet hit the hardwood as she moved. I knew the quiet sighs she would make when she was about to fall asleep. I knew the way she always touched her hair when she looked in the mirror, slightly self-conscious about her appearance.
She rounded the corner in black leggings and a tight t-shirt. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her face was slightly flushed from the workout she’d just had. She didn’t wear any makeup, and that highlighted her perfect complexion. Her eyes were focused on her hands as she moved her keys around until she found the right one.
She didn’t notice me until she almost bumped into me.
The keys fell to the floor, making a loud rattle once metal hit wood.
She inhaled a quick breath in surprise, her hand still extended where her keys should be. Based on her large eyes and the pure shock on her face, I was the last thing she expected to see when she rounded the corner.
My eyes took in her face, seeing the perfect skin without any hint of a bruise. She wore expensive workout clothes, and her hair was properly taken care of. She looked healthy and glowing, no sign of trauma or abuse.
I was so fucking relieved.
She held my gaze, the surprise slowly fading away and annoyance taking over. Now she was angry with me, livid after the way we left things.
As she should be.
“What do you want, Conway?” Cold, malicious, and angry, she didn’t hold back.
I blocked the door so she couldn’t dart inside and slam it in my face. “Can I come in?”
She bent down and picked up her keys, her eyebrows furrowed in displeasure. “I don’t want my neighbors to hate me, so that’s probably a good idea.” She unlocked the door then stepped inside.
I could have let myself into her apartment and waited for her to return, but I didn’t want to piss her off the second she saw me.
She was already pissed off enough.
I stepped inside her place and saw the elegant decor she had. It reminded me of my house in Italy, and I wondered if she did that on purpose. There was a nice living room, a full kitchen, and a dining room. The hallway turned to the left, and I suspected it led to several different bedrooms.
“You have a nice place.” She’d done very well for herself in only three weeks. I shouldn’t have underestimated her.
“Thanks.” She set her bag down and dropped her keys into the bowl. She turned around and faced me, her arms crossed over her chest. She didn’t look at me with the affectionate gaze she used to have. She didn’t rake her eyes over my body with lust. Now she stared at me like I was nothing but a nuisance. “What do you want, Conway?”