Page 15 of Dirty Deceptions

She called him a few choice names, which seemed to make no dent at all. When he walked over to the couch along the far wall and sat, with her astride him, Lauren stiffened. “I quit,” she shot right back.

“Not a chance in hell.” His silvery eyes darkened and his brows scrunched together.

She tried to get up, but his arms were steel bands around her, keeping her prisoner on his lap. “If you don’t let me up right now I’m going to scream.”

He relaxed his hold but didn’t let go. “Give me five minutes,” he murmured. “Just five minutes. Please, baby.”

The endearment enraged her all over again. “Don’t call me that! You don’t have the right. Not anymore.”

He let out a heavy breath. “Will you at least let me explain. That’s all I ask.”

“You lied, Alex…or is it Alexander?” she shook her head. “You must have gotten quite a kick out of me going on and on about me landing my dream job.”

“It wasn’t like that,” he murmured. “You got the job because you earned it. I had nothing to do with that. And I wasn’t laughing at you, Lauren. I’m not that much of an asshole.”

God, he appeared so sincere, but a good con artist could feign that sort of thing. “Five minutes, then I’m leaving.” She wasn’t entirely unreasonable. He could have a few minutes to plead his case, then she’d tell him to go to hell.

His arms loosened and Lauren got up. He waited for her to sit next to him before saying, “Finding you at Rooney’s wasn’t planned. I did go there to have a drink. But when I saw you, I recognized you. I don’t do the hiring, but I am kept appraised of every new employee. So, when I saw you I knew. I expected you to know me, but you didn’t. It was…it was refreshing.”

Her anger took on biblical proportions. “It wasrefreshingto dupe me?”

A muscle in his jaw flexed. “No, of course not. The thing is, I’m used to being recognized. I’m the sole heir to the Costa fortune and there’s a certain amount of baggage that comes with that.”

“Okay, I suppose I can understand that, but it doesn’t explain why you didn’t come clean with me. At some point you could’ve explained.”

“Most women see dollar signs attached to my name, Lauren. You had no idea who I was and God help me I liked it. Liked being a regular guy. For once I wasn’t Gregory Costa’s son. I was just Alex to you.”

She had no experience with the kind of life he led, but she could understand the pressure. A little of her anger dissipated. “I can understand that a lot of women—and men, for that matter—can be very materialistic. But did youreallythink that if I knew you were rich that I’d immediately want a ring on my finger? Do you think I’m that shallow?”

He snorted. “Hell, Lauren, you’re the least shallow person I’ve ever met.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And yet you didn’t fill me in on your little secret. You let me find out the hard way.”

“At first it was because I didn’t want to ruin the moment,” he admitted. “Being your Alex…It’s the first time I felt like I could truly be myself.” He ran a hand through his short dark hair. “I should’ve told you yesterday. Before I left your apartment. I took the coward’s way out. I’m so damn sorry, baby.”

She didn’t know what to say. Her anger had vanished while he’d told her his reasons for tricking her, but she was still hurt. And she didn’t know if she could trust him again. “I need time to think,” she replied, her voice shaking with emotion.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he growled as he reached for her. Lauren glared and he dropped his hand.

“I need time,” she repeated as she stood.Escape before you turn into a puddle.That would definitely be the icing on the cake. “I just…I can’t right now, Alex, er, Alexander.”

He followed her to the door and before she could pull it open his arm came around her middle, turning her toward him. “Can I come over later?” he pleaded. “Let me fix this, Lauren.”

Lauren wasn’t strong enough to maintain an emotional distance with the overbearing man if he was in her home. Near her bed. Where they’d spent so many glorious hours together. “No, just let me…”

“Process,” he helpfully supplied. She nodded, but Alex wasn’t finished yet. “I’m not giving up. I care about you and I think you care about me. I’ll do whatever it takes, baby.”

She didn’t speak. Couldn’t with any degree of composure. Alex let her walk out. Lauren refused to look back. To see him standing there watching her. It would be her downfall. She should report to her boss, first day on the job and all that crap, but she couldn’t pretend she wasn’t breaking into a million pieces.

When she reached her car and got in behind the wheel, Alex’s words came back at her.I’ll do whatever it takes, baby.The warning shouldn’t excite her and yet it did. Self-respect? Zip.

****

Alexander quietly shut the door before exploding. “Son of a bitch!” He’d fucked it all to shit. The devastated look on her face would haunt him. If she never forgave him it would be justified. He’d treated her worse than Jake. At least Jake had texted her when he wanted to end it. What had he done? Waited for her to show up for work, then ‘Surprise!’

His cell phone rang, interrupting his pity party. He went to his desk and glared at the name on the screen. His father. Alexander tapped the answer button. “Hi, Dad.”

His dad whistled low. “Oh, boy, that doesn’t sound promising. Not go well with your woman?”

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