“It is a black-tie affair. I have instructed Romano’s to send something over in the morning.”
“I don’t need you picking out my clothes!”
Her eyes drifted over what he had on derisively. “Apparently you do. Eat something darling, you look a little too thin.” With a wave of one elegant hand, she was gone.
“Not now, Shep.” His tone was unnecessarily sharp, causing the animal to slink away.
Cursing loudly, he snapped his fingers and had the animal rushing forward. “It’s not your fault that I’m in a stinking mood.”
He led the way into the kitchen and poured some of the dog’s favorite food into a bowl before heading straight to the cabinet to pour himself a drink. The central air kicked in just then, making him shiver and reminding him he needed a shower.
Taking the drink with him, he wandered over to the window to stare out at the sun going making its appearance and shining brilliantly on the flowers just east of the pool house. What was she doing now? He wondered achingly. He had just stopped himself from calling her – well for the past two months.
He had to get over her – put her behind him, put the entire mess out of his mind. They were incompatible. He would not change his bloody mind, and he could not expect her to live with him, knowing that he could never give her what she so desperately wanted.
Even if she had agreed to the terms of the relationship, he would have known it to be a lie. She had lost her parents when she was just leaving college, a tragic accident that had left both of them dead and her fervent wish was for a family of her own.
Tossing back his drink, he relished the sting inside his stomach. She was better off finding someone who could give her the family she craved. That someone was not him.
And as much as he still cared for her – hell, the truth was that he had never loved anyone, the way he loved her. But it would pass. He would go somewhere again, try, and get her out of his bloody mind and that was that. Tossing back the rest of the drink, he slammed the glass down and went upstairs to take a shower.
*****
“Darling, you look ghastly.”
“Thanks.” Janelle shrugged off her light jacket and hung it on a peg, before going towards her desk. “I can always rely on you to make me feel worse than I already do.”
“I will always be honest.” Michael Davenport was a dapper man with a sense of style that was unmistakable.
His thick honey blonde hair was impeccably styled, and his long lashed green eyes had a worried look in them as he followed her into the office. Even on a Saturday morning, he was wearing tan dress pants and a rose pink -beautifully - styled sports jacket over a ruby red shirt.
“Are you coming down with a cold?”
“No. Just…” Plopping down on the chair, she passed a hand over her forehead. “My appetite is not the best, since lately.”
“And we know who’s to blame for that.” He hitched a hip on the edge of the desk, a disapproving look on his handsome face. “Have you spoken to him since he got back?”
She shook her head. “What difference would it make?”
“You need to get back out there. He has!”
“Has he?” She tried to make it sound as if she did not care, but the pain of that statement went through her like a sword.
“He’s very photogenic.” With regret, Michael slid the society rag towards her where, featured on the front page was Harry and an up-and-coming actress. He had his arm around her waist and the pose was very intimate.
Sucking in a sharp breath, she continued to stare at the glossy photo. “Bastard!” She whispered.
He waited until she had recovered some of her composure before whisking the offensive magazine away and dumping it inside the trash can. “You don’t have to attend the function tomorrow.”
She stared at him puzzled. “What function? Oh crap.” Covering her face with her hands, she felt her stomach muscles quivering. How much more was she supposed to endure?
“I had completely forgotten about it.” Lowering her hands, she stared at her unadorned nails and considered. Looking at him, she shook her head. “I am not going to cower and hide. It is an important form of networking and we both need to be there. I will not let you down.”
Reaching across the desk, Michael took one slender hand in his. “I blame myself.”
She let out a rueful laugh. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“I was the one who pressured you into going to that damn party where you first met him.”