Page 31 of Bedding his Innocent Mistress

“Hey,” a low growl, a commanding voice to stop. She didn’t obey him. She could feel tears stinging at her eyes and one kind word from him would make them fall.

She didn’t want anyone else to witness her breakdown.

He followed her into the office, and shut the door. “Hey,” he repeated.

She turned to face him, her expression confused, her eyes enormous and wet.

“What is it?” He crossed to her, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her to his chest. “What’s happened?”

“I …” She shook her head. “I… nothing.” She sniffed back her tears and straightened, pushing away from him. Get a grip. She’d be with Lisette soon and could give vent to the full force of her emotions.

“Ivy,” he murmured, “You’re upset.”

“I know that,” she snapped.

“Why?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

His frown was a gash across his face. He pressed his hands to his hips, staring at her with frustration and then turned his head away. A muscle jerked in his cheek as he saw the flowers.

“They’re nice,” he said slowly, but she could see his mind working. “A secret admirer?”

She shook her head slowly.

He looked at her and then strode to the arrangement. She’d dropped the card back on top earlier, and it was easy for him to read the text.

“From him?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Rafe’s eyes met hers, probing, reading, understanding. “I see.”

“I doubt that. I don’t even see and he’s my ex.”

“Believe me, Ivy, there’s only one reason a man sends flowers to a woman he used to be with. He’s trying to get in your head. He wants to think you’re still into him.”

“Why?” She whispered. “He’s involved with someone else.”

Rafe tried not to let it bother him that she didn’t say the same for herself. After all, this was just casual. It didn’t mean anything. That was her stipulation and it hadn’t been a problem for him. “Some men are just twisted.” He looked at her stricken face and felt a welling of emotion.

Anger. Fury. Frustration. Impatience.

None of them sat well at his feet.

“Come with me.”

She shook her head, wiping her cheeks clear of any remaining tear-tracks.

“I can’t. I have to meet Lisette.”

His frown was just a flicker on his face. “Where?”

“A pub in Hammersmith.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No,” she shook her head, her eyes huge.

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