Page 129 of His Juliet

My heart started pounding before I fully realized what I was looking at. The cover photo of the article featured a gorgeous redhead staring at the camera, all beauty and seduction. Her hand was wrapped around a man’s bicep.

Romeo’s bicep.

I couldn’t fully see his face because he was looking down at her.

Nausea churned in my stomach as I numbly clicked on the article.

Billionaire playboy Romeo De Luca graced Boston society with his presence after several months away from his usual high-society haunts. His attendance at The Sovereign Gala tonight caused ripples through the crowds, especially when he won the attention of Leona Byrne, Boston’s sexiest philanthropist.

There was another photo of Romeo and Leona dancing. I stared at it so long my eyes glazed over. I finally came to my senses and threw my phone to the side.

Romeo hadn’t told me he was going to Boston, but I hadn’t asked what he was doing tonight, either. Maybe he was making a business deal with this woman.

That doesn’t explain why they’re dancing.

See how he looks at her? How perfect she looks beside him?

Romeo loved me. He’d told me so over text just hours ago.

So why didn’t he tell you about Leona?

I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted that horrible voice to go away, but I couldn’t stop myself from listening to it. Was Romeo getting bored with me?

You’ll never be able to attend a gala with him.

You think he’ll be happy hanging out on the couch every night with you?

She looks like she belongs with him. Beautiful, thin, and sexy. All the things you’ll never be.

My eyes burned with tears, and for the first time since moving in with Romeo, I had the urge to cut. The skin on my thighs itched, dangling the possibility of tantalizing relief from my emotions. But I had promised him I wouldn’t... and even more important, I’d promised myself.

I rolled over in bed and wrapped myself around his pillow. I wasn’t going to let my insecurities ruin our relationship. I was sure there was a perfectly innocent explanation for the photos. Tonight, I would let myself cry, but then I would pull myself together and stay calm until I could ask Romeo about it in person.

* * *

Romeo

I won’t be back again tonight, angel

Juliet

What are you doing?

Romeo

Getting a business deal done, but it’s taking longer than expected

Juliet

Oh ok

Romeo

I wish I was there with you

Juliet

Could we talk on the phone tonight?

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