âDonât bother. I can do it myself. Iâm already feeling a lot better.â
âButââ
âI can do it.â Louisa sat up. âNow, git!â
Diana shook her head as she closed the door. âSheâs going to drive me crazy,â she mumbled under her breath as she waltzed past Marcel.
Marcel chuckled. âItâs probably because you two are opposites.â
âNo kidding.â
When they made it to the foyer, Marcel stalled for time by asking, âSo whatâs wrong with her?â
Dianaâs hand froze on the doorknob before she turned to face him. âWhat makes you think that thereâs something wrong with her?â
He shifted uncomfortably beneath her direct stare. âYou said something about her missing an appointment.â
She visibly relaxed. âOh. Well, itâs nothing.â
Another lie. Marcel crossed his arms and gave her his own hard glare. âYou know, Iâm trying really hard not to be offended by your attitude toward me all night. And I have to tell you Iâm not sure itâs working.â
Diana opened her mouth to respond, but then quickly closed it. âYouâre right. Iâm being rude. Sorry.â
He drew a deep breath and nodded. âItâs okay. But itâs clear to me that somethingâs wrong. Letâs talk about it. Maybe I can help.â
Diana crossed her arms but she kept her tone civil. âI appreciate it, but you canât help. No one can.â With that,she turned back toward the door and opened it. âGood night.â
Marcel sighed and gave up. He certainly wasnât going to force her to talk to him. âAll right. If thatâs the way you feel. Good night.â
Dianaâs heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she watched Marcel stroll out of the apartment. Her enormous pride refused to let her stop him and, God forbid, ask for help.
Once he was gone, she closed the door and rested her head against it. Only then did she allow her tears to fall.
Chapter 9
A t five-thirty Saturday morning, a puffy-eyed Diana dragged out of bed, pulled on her jogging suit and grabbed her MP3 player. Neither rain nor snow prevented Diana from starting her day with a four-mile run. It was what centered and rejuvenated her, which was exactly what she needed these days.
Stepping out of the apartment, she was surprised to see Tim was already out and waiting for her.
âI want details. Donât leave anything out,â he said with a wide, knowing grin.
âWhat are you talking about?â She started her stretches. âWhere did you disappear to last night?â
Timâs lips dipped dramatically. âNothing happened last night?â
She stopped in the middle of a leg stretch to narrow her stare. âWere you expecting something to happen?â
âWell, Lou saidââ He caught himself.
Understanding dawned on Diana. âI donât believe this.â Last nightâs events scrolled through her headâmainly, Timâs sudden disappearance and Louâs lack of concern.
Tim held up his hands. âNow before you get upsetââ
âWhy should I be upset? Louisaâs meddling is a constant state in my life. She always knows whatâs best for everybody but her.â
He relaxed.
âBut you, on the other hand, shouldâve known better. Youâre supposed to be my friend.â
âI am your friend.â
Her expression soured. âSome friend.â
âLook, I saw the way you looked at Marcel. More importantly, I saw how he looked at you.â
âWhat?â She shook her head. âNever mind. I donât want to know. The man is my boss. Thatâs the beginning and the end of our relationship.â
âThe beginning, yes. The end, Iâm not too sure.â His gaze caught hers. âJust admit it. You like the guy.â
Dianaâs irritation flared. âListen to me. I donât
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