Page 49 of Seductive Hearts

All the air left the room. “Pardon?” I choked out.

His face softened like he understood everything. “At the house. Colton, why didn’t you tell me it was Rose?”

My insides turned to ice. This would blow back on her. She didn’t deserve it. “Who said it was Rose?”

“Nobody had to,” he retorted with a smirk. “You remind me a lot of myself right now. The way I was when I first fell for your mother. Suddenly, I cared about more than myself. More than my friends, having a good time. More than the business. Out of nowhere, my priorities realigned.”

Before I could find the words to tell him how wrong he was, he stood, turning to look out the window behind the desk. “The truth is, you remind me a lot of myself. That’s why I’m so hard on you. I know I am, but it’s only because I’ve been able to see your potential all these years. Watching you waste it, squandering your time, treating life like an endless party that will never satisfy you come morning.” Looking back at me, he concluded, “There’s nothing that pisses me off worse than watching someone blow their potential. And you have it. It was never about the family’s reputation or the company’s image. I don’t want you to waste your life. Take the offer, leave it, it doesn’t matter. So long as you eventually do something that matters.”

I couldn’t remember the last time he spoke to me like that—calmly, honestly, and without the customary sarcasm and bitterness. “I’m not sure what that is yet.” It wasn’t easy to admit, especially not to him.

“Tell me you’ll think about it, at least.”

“I can do that.” We were navigating uncharted territory. Slowly moving around each other, wary, but it was better than being at each other’s throats.

He checked his watch, frowning. “I have another meeting in fifteen minutes. Are we all right here?”

“Sure. We’re all right.” It was foreign and uncomfortable, but I accepted the hand he extended and returned his firm handshake. He always found a way to throw me off balance.

Before I made my escape with the folder tucked under my arm, he called out behind me. “What about Rose?”

I opened the door, firm with resolve. “It was never going anywhere.” Better to get used to the idea, repeating it to myself until the message sank in.

* * *

Noah was looking for Lucian when he stepped into the bar around the corner from his office. I appreciated my cousin’s willingness to go along with a plan without asking questions.

He’d texted Noah to invite him for a drink at my request since I knew he’d never show if I asked.

It wasn’t until he was halfway across the room, scanning the handful of tables currently in use, did Noah come to a stop, recognizing me waiting for him. There were already two drinks on the table, and I lifted mine in a silent salute.

“I should’ve known.” With a disgusted huff, he turned, ready to leave.

“Are you that much of a pussy?” I challenged, smiling to myself when he stopped. “You can’t face me? What happened to your balls?”

His fists clenched at his sides. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Then don’t say a word. Let me do the talking while you sit and have a drink on me. Sit,” I snapped when he wouldn’t move.

“I don’t care about anything you have to say.” Still, he dropped into the chair across from mine and picked up the whiskey waiting for him. Slouching, he rested the glass on his knee, staring at it rather than at me.

“Listen.” I swirled my scotch, fighting to find the words. I had rehearsed this somewhat, but as usual, reality was a different matter. “It was only supposed to be fun at first. We were pretending to date so that asshole Jones would notice her.”

“What did I tell you?” He guffawed, shaking his head. “I knew she would do something to get to him. I didn’t know you would keep it from me.”

“It wasn’t your business. If Rose wanted you to know, she would’ve shared. I’m sure there’s plenty she doesn’t tell you and twice as much you don’t tell her,” I added because I knew him too well.

“Fake dating and fucking are two different things,” he growled out.

I winced at his choice of words, then quickly recovered when he side-eyed me curiously. “And that’s our business,” I reminded him. “Not yours. I’m not going to apologize, and I’m not going to ask for forgiveness because I don’t need it.”

“Why did you arrange this, then?”

“I wanted to tell you it’s over between us. You have nothing to worry about anymore.” Throwing back what was left in my glass, I savored the burning sensation in my chest before grunting out, “They’re probably planning their engagement party as we speak.”

His stare was heavy. Intense. “Do you care about her? Tell me. It doesn’t have to go any further than this room.” His tone gave nothing away to explain the shift.

It shouldn’t have been so tough admitting this to my best friend. We knew virtually everything about each other, but we had never ventured into this territory. It meant swallowing my pride, but I managed to admit, “I think I love her. But, like I said, it doesn’t matter. She has what she wants.”

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