Chapter Nine
Mar stormed around the suite and threw things haphazardly into her suitcase. Mentally, she called Luke all kinds of names, and when she ran out of those, she turned them on herself. Pulling out her phone, she wondered if Uber came out here. She hoped so; otherwise, how in the world she was going to get out of here without asking Luke for a ride?
She’d finally thought this was the man she could trust and let herself fall hard for, and look where it had gotten her—in pain and more alone than she’d ever been. Dang Luke Jewel. How could he hide what his “business deal” was? How could he be so smart yet be oblivious to how badly it would hurt her if he bought her competitor’s perfume business?
Maybe part of the hurt was that Selena Sapphire obviously had no clue who Marietta even was, and Luke had introduced her as his girlfriend, not the CEO of Cosette Enterprises. That was probably just pride on Mar’s part, but still it stung. She’d actually aspired to beat out Selena’s lines in different sale venues, and more often than not, she’d accomplished it. Sometimes she’d fantasized about meeting the beautiful actress, and either the woman would be jealous that Mar had succeeded in beating her, or she would tell Mar how impressed she was. Nope. Not a flicker of recognition.
Sinking onto the bed, she pushed that sting away and focused back on Luke. How could be so thick? She knew she was right; what did another business matter to him? How could he even understand how it felt to work your tail end off for your success, and then the man you thought you were falling for didn’t even realize he was basically making himself your rival? Yet it wasn’t a rivalry to him; it was just another distraction, another challenge, another million dollars. What did he care?
It made her feel small and lost. She’d been falling hard for Luke, and he hadn’t even understood why she was upset. Was she just another distraction or challenge to him as well? Probably. Was she reacting too strongly and being too fiery and unreasonable as many men had faulted her of doing in the past? Maybe.
Her door creaked open, and she shot off the bed.
“Mar?” Luke stayed by the door but swung it wide so she could see him. He was still in his deep-blue suit and gray-striped tie. He was incredibly handsome and powerful and successful. She’d think he was irresistible if she wasn’t so ticked.
Mar stormed across the room to him and poked him in the chest. “Get out of here,” she demanded. He had no right to come in her bedroom. It might be his house, but this was her private space.
Luke wrapped his hand around hers and held it fast. Despite herself, she felt a surge of warmth at his touch, and the beseeching look on his face. “Mar, please, let me apologize. Please hear me out.”
She glared at him and tugged her hand free, but the humble look in his blue eyes made her pause. She didn’t really know how to navigate close relationships—she’d honestly failed at every attempt besides her friendship with Cosette—but she felt like he was sincere in his request to apologize. She let out a heavy breath of air, stepped back, and let him in.
Luke gestured to the couch. “Do you want to sit?”
She jutted out her chin and folded her arms across her chest. “Not really. What were you saying?”
Luke took off his suit coat and slung it over the couch. Mar watched as the muscles in his shoulders flexed underneath the thin, fitted dress shirt. She’d noticed how well built he was in the pool last night, but he’d upset her then as well. Was she too fiery to be in a relationship like many of her past boyfriends had accused her of, or were she and Luke simply not meant to be, no matter what fantasies she’d had of the two of them growing old together?
He turned back to her and splayed his hands. “You were right, Mar.”
“About?” She felt her shoulders relax. Everybody liked being right.
“Me.” His mouth twisted and he said, “I’ve been excessively driven my entire life. Part of it was all these ideas in my head just fighting for their chance, and part of it was that I just love being busy, being in charge, being the businessman, making my dad proud at every turn.” His voice lowered. “I hope you’ll believe that I was being an obtuse idiot not realizing that it would hurt you to buy your competitor’s business. I honestly just didn’t think of it because I don’t really factor in who my competition might be as I always think I can do better than them.”
He paced away from her to the window and then back. “I never meant to hurt you or undervalue the hard work and success of your and Cosette’s business. Your business is obviously your world, and I apologize that I didn’t see that or understand it. You were right that for me it’s just another acquisition to put under a different assistant. It’s fun and exciting and doesn’t mean a whole lot to me, which is my only excuse why I didn’t realize it would hurt you.”
He paused to take a breath, and Mar processed what he was saying. She had been right that another business didn’t mean much to him and that he was too thick to understand what hers meant to her. Her business and her friendship with Cosette were all she had in this world.
“I’m not going to buy Selena’s company,” he said, “and I hope you’ll forgive me for offending and upsetting you. I would never want to do either.”
She studied him for a few beats. He meant every word; she could tell that. Maybe she should be magnanimous and tell him he could buy the company if he wanted, but selfishly, she didn’t want him to. She didn’t want to be in competition with the man she thought she’d been falling in love with. Not that the other company’s perfume was anywhere close to the quality of Cosette’s, but Selena’s name made it sell well.
A dart of happiness traced through her. If this was really happening, if she could believe that Luke had never intentionally hurt her and that he was sincere in his apology, then …
She rushed to him, jumped, and flung her arms around his neck.
Luke grunted in surprise but wrapped his arms around her lower back and held her against him. A slow grin grew on his face. “Does this mean you forgive me?” he asked, his voice full of hope.
“Depends.” She licked her lips.
“On what?” He pumped his eyebrows.
“How good you are at kissing and making up.”
He chuckled. He set her on the floor but then slipped one hand under her knees, lifting her into the air.
“Whoa!” Mar clung to his neck, happy to do so. His chest muscles bulged against her as he easily carried her out into the hallway, down the stairs, into the great room, and over to one of the leather sofas.
Settling down on the sofa, he cuddled her against his chest. “See, here’s the thing.”