Chapter 74

ANNA.

I feel odd.

I wouldn’t say I was jealous, but there's something hot twisting my insides. Something that makes me want to be anywhere else but here right now. She’s just so…perfect. Almost doll-like, and I wouldn’t blame Neil if they got back together.

Never have I felt this self-conscious in my entire life.

Neil extends a hand for a shake, but she swats it away, pulling him for a hug. Heavens, she smells just as intoxicating as she looks. I steal a glance at Neil, holding my breath, not quite sure what it is that I expect. I mean, it’s not like we are dating or in love with each other. I haven’t exactly given him any assurance—not that he asked—other than crying every now and then about Sean.

The frown on his face only stretches when she pulls away and proceeds to adjust his tie—even if there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way it is placed. “There,” she says, and goosebumps erode my skin at the sound of her voice. It’s a seductive purr, and even I am affected by it. Her bright eyes take in the restaurant behind us and she smiles widely. “This place brings back fond memories. It was after all where you brought me for our first date.”

I shoot Neil a scathing look. Really? Again? First it was the ice cream flavors he got based off of her tastes—which are amazing by the way—and now he’s brought me to a restaurant where he had a date with his ex. I wonder if I’m his *rebound*, not the other way around.

He doesn't meet my gaze, his eyes wholly fixed on the woman in front of him. I bet I could slip away right now and he wouldn't notice.

The woman's gaze suddenly lands on me, and her smile falters. A little. She regards me from the curls I'd taken extra time styling this morning to the white shirt I'd stylishly tucked into a designer black blazer and then they drop to my legs I'd chosen to show off in my mini leather skirt. The slight curl of her lips tells me she doesn't approve of something, and I ignore the urge to look down at myself again and find out what it is exactly.

She stretches out a hand. "Hello. I'm Tara Allen, Neil's...ex-fiancée. You're a dainty little thing, aren't you?"

It sounded sweet, like a compliment, but I hear it. The undercurrent of disdain. My jaw clenches, and I reach forward, taking her hand. "Brianna. His woman."

Neil's head whips to me, his brows arched, and I catch a soft smile playing on his lips at my lie. His woman? Me who's never even spoken a word of affection towards the man? As if.

But my words have clearly struck a nerve because the woman straightens, taking a step away from Neil. One I'm all too comfortable with and I find myself inching closer to him until our fingers brush together.

"It was nice seeing you again," she says, giving Neil her full attention once more. "We should talk sometime."

Neil says nothing, unusually silent as he watches her, and she walks to the side, pushing the door open on her way in.

"Ex-fiancée?" I ask, pulling the door open.

"It's all in the past, Brianna. I don't want to talk about her."

"Yet you brought me here, where you both had your first date--"

"I own this place, so I can bring whoever the fuck I want here," he snaps, his blue gaze holding mine. He looks pissed, and I don't even know why. "Do you have a problem with that?"

I glare at him. "Don't do that with me. I don't appreciate being spoken to like I'm a child. You should've mentioned something--"

"Why?" he inquires, nostrils flaring. "You never ask me questions, not that I'm complaining. You don't get to be mad about the things I don't tell you when you make literally no effort to get to know me. It's one of the reasons why I have refused to take you like I desire to. I'm a man, with an atrocious body, but I have feelings too, and I want someone, anyone to ask me if I'm alright too. If I've had breakfast. If I like being the smaller or bigger spoon."

He blows out an exasperated breath, raking his fingers through his hair. "You barely even have time to sleep these days, and when you do, you have nightmares. Tell me why the fuck I'd be telling you about my failed engagement with a woman I feel nothing for."

I open my mouth and shut it. I've never met anyone so... thoughtful, and sensitive, so much so I might come across as the selfish one.

Maybe I am, wanting to keep the man, yet putting him at arm's length, far away from my heart. Maybe it's that Sean has broken my heart completely and there's nothing left to give Neil. Or maybe I'm just scared of giving in to this thing that exists between us. Acknowledging it meant it'd become real, and that'd mean entering into another relationship.

I don't think I'm cut out for another of those.

Neil seems to be a nice man, but Sean had been nice too when we started out. I hate that every time I think of something long-term with Neil, I always end up comparing him to Sean.

The man leads me to the last table beside the window--the one with the best view and he pulls out a seat for me. I settle, rocking my legs back and forth on my heels as I stare at everywhere but his face.

The waiter finds us almost immediately and I let him place the order. I start to bring out the files from my bag when his fingers wrap around my wrist, halting me. "No talks of work today. I'd much prefer if we spoke about us."

I shove the file back in my bag. "Us?"

He nods, his black hair falling to graze his cheek and he reaches up almost immediately to brush it back. "It'd be best to hold things off until the hearing is over. My lawyers say that while I'm an eye witness to more than one of the acclaimed assaults on your person, the credibility of it could be dismissed if it is found that we are...lovers."

I already knew that, but for some reason, I didn't mind. Not when Neil seems to be the drug to all my ailments. I don't want to push him away. I'm scared that if I push him far enough, he'll leave me. I force a smirk to curve up my lips. "Are we lovers?"

"Not yet."

His response sends chills down my spine and anticipation floods me, forcing me to clamp my knees and rub them together. Something suddenly drops into my subconscious, mentally dousing me with a bucket of cold water.

I lean forward, my mouth running dry. "Divorce proceedings take months! You want us to pretend for that long?"

He shrugs. "It's not pretense if it's the truth. Plus, I already have my lawyer speeding up the process. It shouldn't take so long." Neil reaches into his pocket, fiddling around with it for a moment before he withdraws a single golden key, depositing it in my palm.

It's cool to touch, and I turn it over in my hand. "Where does this unlock?"

He flashes me a cocky grin. "My apartment."