Page 57 of The Love Lie
She bends her elbow and wrenches her arm free. Nina lets go without a fight. Not that it matters. Her claws have already sunk deep. And from her smug expression, she knows it.
“I’ll take your fucking call,” Sam spits. “But leave Cooper out of it. This is between you and me. He deserves a clean break.”
“Deal.” The producer doesn’t hesitate. Just like that, it’s done. “I hope you have a safe flight home.”
“Yeah? And I hope you crawl back into the hellhole from whence you came.”
“See? This is what I mean.” Nina waves her hand between them. “Emily would’ve just mumbled a half-hearted goodbye. But you’ve got fire, Sam. Viewers love fire.”
“You know what they say about playing with fire, Nina?”
“Bye, Sam.”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, she turns her back, climbs into the boat, and holds up her middle fingers until the dock, the producer, and the rest of the resort disappear from view. The first thing she does when she gets to the airport is switch her flight to the one that leaves tomorrow. She can’t risk being in the airport today, not when there’s any possibility of a run-in with Cooper. Leaving when he was out cold was hard enough. Leavingwhen he’s begging her for something more? Even diamonds have their breaking points.
When the transfer is complete, she books it to the airport hotel across the street and gets a room. The sight of a bed gives her flashbacks to large, calloused hands roving over her skin and commanding lips laying claim to every inch they kissed. So she sits on the toilet. But even then her gaze pulls toward the shower and a wave of heat leaves her breathless. Eventually she ends up in the closet with her headphones on, her laptop open, and angry rock music blaring. But even that isn’t strong enough to completely drown out his presence, his memory, or his deep, assured voice when he so confidently whispered,I’m not the one you’re trying to fool.
Dammit.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
cooper
“Give me the number, Nina.”
It’s been five days since the Maldives. And for five days, the producer’s answer has been the same. “It’s not mine to give.”
“Nina—”
“I’ve got an expression for you, Cooper. Perfect for a cowboy. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink. You get me?”
“Give me the number.”
“She doesn’t want you to go after her, and it won’t work anyway. Trust me. I’ve had more experience reading people than you can even imagine and I know how she works. You’ve got to let her come to you.”
“The hell I do.”
“Then call me the Devil, because you aren’t getting through me.”
“Nina—”
“Goodbye, Cooper.”
“Nina!”
Click.
“Fuck!”
He slams the satellite phone into the dirt and falls back on the grass, covering his face with his hat so the others around camp won’t see him fume. They’re settling in for another night on the open plains. But even fresh air, starry skies, and vast untapped nature isn’t enough to appease him right now.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity fuck.
It’s been five days since he woke up alone in that bungalow and he’s going out of his goddamn mind. After the night they had, after the week they shared, how could she just up and leave as if it were nothing? And he knew she would. Heknewit. The second he woke up alone, he already sensed it was too late. But he still tried. He threw some pants on and tore out of the bungalow, only to be met by Nina, sitting on the edge of the dock, kicking her feet with a coffee cup in hand, patiently waiting to burst his bubble.
“She’s gone,” the producer said, her tone almost bored. “Took an airport transfer about an hour ago. Probably switched herself to an earlier flight. You’re too late.”
“The hell I am.”
