Page 78 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

"Daphne."

I grimaced. I should have known it would be harder to shake Rob after he had been so persistent all day.

He stopped in front of the elevator, blocking my path when the doors dinged open. "What's going on? I thought we were going to see where this weekend went? I don't understand what happened."

"I'm sorry if I led you on. I'm just going to go back to my friends."

"Sorry if you led me on? I thought we were on the same page here. What the fuck happened?"

I folded my arms in front of my chest. I silently cursed myself after I realized it just pushed my breasts up. "Don't raise your voice at me."

He shook his head. "Then don't treat me like one of your students."

"I'm not..."

"You're talking all sternly like I've done something wrong. Trust me, teachers were always mad at me. What, are you going to give me detention?" He raised his left eyebrow. "Tell me why you're leaving." He looked so sexy when he stared at me so quizzically.

"I'm just tired."

"If it's something I did, then I want to know. I'm sorry about tonight. I'm sorry if James made you uncomfortable."

Uncomfortable? That's what he thought I was upset about? "Your brother needs help, Rob."

"Help with what?"

"His problem."

"What problem?"

"I know it's easy to be in denial about this. But...James is clearly an addict."

"Clearly? Seriously? You don't know him."

"He's using..."

"He's not using. It was Matt. Just like you said."

"Whatever you want to believe. But he..."

"Don't you dare judge him."

I almost jumped at the harshness of his tone. I took a step back from him.

"You don't know anything about him. Where do you get off?"

"I'm just trying to help."

"Great. But you're wrong."

"Look, I know what I'm talking about."

"And I know my brother."

"You wouldn't see it even if it was staring you in the face. He needs help. Ignoring the problem isn't going to make it go away. I'm just trying to help," I said again. I felt horrible about the expression on Rob's face. His handsome features seemed twisted. He was clearly seething and I didn't know why. I really was just trying to give him advice, advice that he should take if he wasn't so stubborn.

"Well, great. How about you help us by leaving us the fuck alone?" He stepped away from the elevator and walked back toward his room. Before he got there, he turned around. "And you know what, you did lead me on." He laughed and shook his head. "What the hell did you come up here tonight for anyway?" He walked back into the room and closed the door before I had a chance to respond.

"Because I care," I said to the empty hallway. I wasn't trying to hurt him. I wiped away the tears that had started to fall from my eyes and stepped onto the elevator. It wasn't just because I cared. I also wanted to experience something outside my comfort zone. I wanted to experience him. I was such an idiot. There wasn't a world that existed where I could be reckless. What had I been thinking?

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