Page 79 of The Widower
“You know damn well what, Colin Adams.”
“I hate when people use my full name,” I growled, glaring at him.
“I know. But getting jealous over Isabelle won’t do you any good. You might wanna face that fact.”
“Who said I’m jealous?I’m just… concerned. About her daughter.”
What the hell did Hanna have to do with me staring at Isabelle? Nothing. It was hands down the worst excuse I’d ever come up with—in my entire life.
“Yeah, you might wanna work on your excuses too. That one was pathetic.”
I didn’t reply. I just kept watching Isabelle, feeling more and more pissed as I saw her smiling at that guy—and him smiling right back. Their conversation had gotten close, too close, and it was pretty obvious where it was headed.
Damn it, Isabelle.
How do I get you out of my head? Do I even want to?
These unanswered questions were eating me alive.
“I need some air.”
I left our table and stepped outside, trying to think. I should’ve just gone home—saved myself the trouble—but the thought of leaving Isabelle with a guy she barely knew didn’t sit right with me. She should’ve been with me.
Anyone would be better than a screwed-up man like me, but still…
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the guy she’d been talking to leaving the bar—alone. He looked a little too pleased with himself, grinning like an idiot as he answered his phone. We were only a few feet apart.
“Yeah, I’ll be late,” he said. “I’m talking to this woman, and she’s totally into me.”
My blood boiled the second I heard it.
ISABELLE CAMPBELL
I tried to mask the shock when I saw Colin at the bar—with Henry, of all people.
The man never goes out. And now he’s in the same place as me. He couldn’t have followed me; I’d decided to come here with Lauren at the last minute. Still, I was stunned.
I’d met an interesting guy at the bar—his name was Alfred. We were in the middle of a lively conversation when I caught Colin looking in my direction, and my stomach flipped.I wasn’t sure what to do.
“How about we go somewhere quieter?I promise I won’t attack you.” He winked.
“That’s not exactly something you should say to a woman who wants to be attacked,” I teased.I hadn’t meant it as much as it sounded; it was just to break the tension.
“I’ll rethink my behavior then,” he said with a grin.
We talked for a few more minutes before getting into his car. Alfred was funny, respectful—he never crossed a line.
“How about we head to Jack’s?Just you and me?”
I hesitated for a moment. Lauren was chatting with a charming guy and, before I left, gave me a discreet look that said she’d be fine.Sometimes in life, you’ve got to take a chance.
“Why not?” I said.
But as soon as Alfred started the car and drove maybe thirty feet, another car cut us off, swerving hard and stopping right in front of us. My heart jumped into my throat. The door flew open, and before I could process what was happening, I saw him—Colin.
He was striding toward the car, his expression unreadable. Alfred and I got out almost at the same time.
“What the hell are you doing, man?” Alfred snapped, visibly shaken. And honestly, who could blame him? What was Colin thinking?
