Page 29 of Mistletoe Masquerade
Amelie may be sweet, but she doesn’t put up with crap. That’s why I like her and respect her opinion, and why I really don’t want to hear about what an asshole I’ve been.
“Have a seat,” I say defeatedly.
“Thanks, I won’t keep you long.”
My lips thin. “Sorry about last night. Didn’t mean to cause a scene.”
“It happens. I’ve been the center of a little drama hereand there.” She smirks playfully, lightening the mood and easing the tension in my shoulders.
“If you’re here to tell me all the ways I’ve fucked up, then you can save your breath. I’m aware.”
“That’s good to hear, but not exactly why I came.”
I motion for her to continue.
“I’ve gotten to know Sachi really well in the past few months, and she’s one of the most genuine, decent people I’ve ever met.” Amelie smiles softly at me. “She’s a lot like you in that way.”
And … there it is. Cue the guilt.
“I wouldn’t stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong if I hadn’t seen for myself how upset she was last night after you left my apartment. She feels really awful about what happened, and after thinking about how upset you were, as well, I think there’s a solid chance you were into her just as much as she was into you. I hate for a misunderstanding to come between you before anything ever has a chance to begin.”
“I appreciate you wanting to help, but it may be a little late for that.” My grimace deepens with every word.
“That’s your call to make. I certainly can’t tell you whether the risk is worth it, but I’ll be cheering for you guys.” Amelie stands, righting her purse strap on her shoulder and smiling. “That’s really all I wanted to say, so I’ll let you get back to work.”
I stand. “Amelie?”
She pauses, smiling over her shoulder at me. “Yeah?”
“Thanks, not that I deserve it.”
“Hey, the situation was complicated. Anyone else would have reacted the same as you did. The question now is, what are you going to do about it?” She gives one last smile, then glides with her ballerina grace from my office, leaving me to ponder the million-dollar question.
WhatamI going to do about Sachi?
CHAPTER 15
SACHI
Pretending was supposedto be a fun departure from the humdrum parts of a life I otherwise enjoy. I wanted the equivalent of a weekend getaway and effectively moved into a yurt in the middle of Montana. Nothing against Montana. It’s just not where I’d hoped to be.
A bleak sense of melancholy wasnotthe goal.
Things I normally enjoy have lost their luster. And the kicker is, I’m still me, living in the city of my dreams. Nothing has truly changed except the way I feel. Ever since Dean Malone swept himself into my life,something inside me has shifted, and I’m not sure I can shift it back.
A weighted blanket of disappointment is draped over my shoulders, making every move feel cumbersome.
I know I’ll get over it. I hardly knew the man, after all. It was two nights of mind-blowing sex. That’s it. Of course, the dancing was really nice.
And our flirtatious banter at the ball had me feeling more giddy than I have in ages.
And then there was the tender way he held me when we went to sleep the first night…
The scent of his yummy aftershave.
The way he rescued me from those creeps.
He called me kitten…
