asked. “One woman’s not enough for you? Today…”
He took a chance, cupping her cheek in his palm. “Babe, today was everything I imagined it would be and so much more. You’re more than enough woman to keep me happy, forever.” More than anything, he needed to make her believe that he was finally looking for forever, with her.
“I don’t believe you,” she said quietly, looking at her clasped hands. “Men like you are never satisfied with one woman.”
“Men like me?”
“I dated someone just like you once. He said and did all the right things, made me feel like I was the only woman in the world for him.”
He knew right then and there she was holding him accountable for her ex’s sins. “But he was sleeping with other woman while you two were together?”
“There were dozens of them.” She swiped at the tears still streaming down her face. “My friends tried to warn me, but I refused to listen. I wanted to believe that he loved me, that we would get married after graduation.” She reached for a tissue, fisting it in her hand. “We were looking for apartments, planning a wedding…”
He reached for her hand to still the subtle tremble. If he ever got his hands on this guy, he’d be happy to administer the punishment he deserved. “Go on.”
“He thought I was away visiting my family for the weekend, but my flight was canceled due to foggy conditions. I thought I’d surprise him, but it turns out he surprised me.”
“He was in bed with someone else?” he asked, trying to imagine what that must have done to her.
She looked at him with such contempt that he was certain she saw her ex in his eyes. “Not just one girl; there were two. Apparently he’s not the only one who likes to experiment with multiple partners.”
“Baby…”
She pushed his hands away. “If you touch me, I swear to God I’ll scream.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What can I say to convince you that I would never cheat on you? I may have slept around in the past, but if you’re willing to give me a chance, I swear to you, I won’t let you down.”
“I don’t believe you.” She looked him in the eye. “And I don’t trust you. I think you’re just like him. You’ll say or do anything to get what you want.”
“Alana,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve never felt this way about anybody. You’ve got to believe me.”
“I’ve wasted more than enough time listening to your lies. I want you gone, now.”
“I’m not leaving until you agree to…”
She picked up the cell phone on the table at her elbow. She punched in two digits and said, “This is your last warning. You can leave on your own, or I can arrange a police escort.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.”
Chapter Five
Three Months Later
Alana was eating cold Chinese food from a cardboard take-out container when her brother, Justin, barged through her office door.
“How’d I know you’d still be here at 10:00 at night, sis?” he said, rolling his eyes as he claimed the seat across from her. “It’s pathetic. You really need to get a life.”
She was tired of everyone telling her that. The one time she’d tried, it was an unmitigated disaster. At least she’d gotten a sale out of it. When it came to buying the car, Ryan was true to his word. If he thought he would score points with her just because he’d spent a small fortune on a new car, he must have been disappointed when he learned she’d passed the sale off to one of her salesmen so she wouldn’t have to see him again.
“How’s the new job going?” she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Apparently Ryan had called Justin to extend the offer they’d talked about, and Justin jumped at the opportunity. She was sure Ryan was trying to win her over, but she didn’t want to spoil the opportunity for Justin, so she said nothing.
“Oh my God, Ryan Lang is a freakin’ genius,” Justin said,
He took a chance, cupping her cheek in his palm. “Babe, today was everything I imagined it would be and so much more. You’re more than enough woman to keep me happy, forever.” More than anything, he needed to make her believe that he was finally looking for forever, with her.
“I don’t believe you,” she said quietly, looking at her clasped hands. “Men like you are never satisfied with one woman.”
“Men like me?”
“I dated someone just like you once. He said and did all the right things, made me feel like I was the only woman in the world for him.”
He knew right then and there she was holding him accountable for her ex’s sins. “But he was sleeping with other woman while you two were together?”
“There were dozens of them.” She swiped at the tears still streaming down her face. “My friends tried to warn me, but I refused to listen. I wanted to believe that he loved me, that we would get married after graduation.” She reached for a tissue, fisting it in her hand. “We were looking for apartments, planning a wedding…”
He reached for her hand to still the subtle tremble. If he ever got his hands on this guy, he’d be happy to administer the punishment he deserved. “Go on.”
“He thought I was away visiting my family for the weekend, but my flight was canceled due to foggy conditions. I thought I’d surprise him, but it turns out he surprised me.”
“He was in bed with someone else?” he asked, trying to imagine what that must have done to her.
She looked at him with such contempt that he was certain she saw her ex in his eyes. “Not just one girl; there were two. Apparently he’s not the only one who likes to experiment with multiple partners.”
“Baby…”
She pushed his hands away. “If you touch me, I swear to God I’ll scream.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What can I say to convince you that I would never cheat on you? I may have slept around in the past, but if you’re willing to give me a chance, I swear to you, I won’t let you down.”
“I don’t believe you.” She looked him in the eye. “And I don’t trust you. I think you’re just like him. You’ll say or do anything to get what you want.”
“Alana,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve never felt this way about anybody. You’ve got to believe me.”
“I’ve wasted more than enough time listening to your lies. I want you gone, now.”
“I’m not leaving until you agree to…”
She picked up the cell phone on the table at her elbow. She punched in two digits and said, “This is your last warning. You can leave on your own, or I can arrange a police escort.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.”
Chapter Five
Three Months Later
Alana was eating cold Chinese food from a cardboard take-out container when her brother, Justin, barged through her office door.
“How’d I know you’d still be here at 10:00 at night, sis?” he said, rolling his eyes as he claimed the seat across from her. “It’s pathetic. You really need to get a life.”
She was tired of everyone telling her that. The one time she’d tried, it was an unmitigated disaster. At least she’d gotten a sale out of it. When it came to buying the car, Ryan was true to his word. If he thought he would score points with her just because he’d spent a small fortune on a new car, he must have been disappointed when he learned she’d passed the sale off to one of her salesmen so she wouldn’t have to see him again.
“How’s the new job going?” she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Apparently Ryan had called Justin to extend the offer they’d talked about, and Justin jumped at the opportunity. She was sure Ryan was trying to win her over, but she didn’t want to spoil the opportunity for Justin, so she said nothing.
“Oh my God, Ryan Lang is a freakin’ genius,” Justin said,
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