Page 155 of Never Fall for an Angel

“Mila can stay in the lodge.”

Bella shakes her head. “She’s Christian’s wife.”

And there it is. The look in her eyes . . .

She’s in love with Christian.

God, could life get any more difficult?

Scratch that. I don’t want to know the answer.

“Wife?” Talia beams, her smile in danger of cracking. “I wasn’t aware Christian had married.”

Me either,I think dryly.

“It was a surprise to all of us,” Bella says.

“I’m sorry, Mila. You’ll have to forgive me,” Talia says, taking a step back. She makes a quick assessment of me as if she’s suddenly regarding me in a different light. It’s not a good one. “I just would have expected him to say something if there was a new woman in his life. He never mentioned you.”

“Yeah, he didn’t mention you, either,” I grumble, but she ignores me.

“We’ve been friends for a long time,” Talia explains, nothing fake or malicious in her gaze, but I can’t escape the jealousy slipping through me like venom.

“More than friends,” Bella interjects pointedly.

“Yes, I suppose that’s true. Though, there’s really no need to rehash first loves, is there? After all, we weren’t married. Just engaged.”

I feel the blood drain from my face, my gaze shifting to where Bella is watching me nervously.

It’s true.

My stomach twists with resentment. I had always assumed that before me, he’d never really had any serious relationships. It’s my fault for being presumptuous, but now that the leggy brunette standing in front of me is here, I realize there’s no way in hell I ever stood a damn chance.

If Christian could walk away from Talia—a woman who exudes confidence and sophistication—how on earth could I ever expect to keep him?

“I’m sure Mila would like to get to bed, Talia. Let’s leave her, and I’ll take you to the lodge for a room.”

“No, I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding,” Talia says as if my standing in front of her with nothing but a robe covering my front is an everyday occurrence. Hastily, she tugs out her phone, pressing buttons on it faster than I can even comprehend. “I’ll just call Christian and fix this.”

“He won’t answer,” Bella says, crossing her arms over her chest with a bored look. “He’s busy.”

“Nonsense, we talk every day.”

I think it would hurt less if she had waltzed right in here and slapped me in the face.

He won’t answer . . .

Unfortunately, the pain blooming in my chest grows a thousand times worse when I hear his voice come through the speaker on her phone.

“Hello?”

“Christian,” Talia whines. “I just got to the lodge, and I’m so exhausted, but I just came up to our suite, and there’s a naked woman standing naked in here. What is going on?”

I don’t even hear his reply over the ringing in my ears.

He answered . . . for her.

I don’t realize my legs are carrying me into the bathroom until I’m standing in front of the mirror and listening to Talia’s soft, fluttery voice from the bedroom.

---