Page 65 of No More Heartbreakers

Slowly I turned to face Aric.

He still sat on the rumpled bed, shirtless, gorgeous… scowling. “So you’re just going to leave, huh? No explanation. One minute you’re on fire, the next you’re ice cold. Just like in the edit bay. And now you’re going to walk out without a goodbye?”

My icy fingers gripped the door handle, my toes dug into the thick carpet beneath me. I stared at him, so tempted to run back to those strong, beautiful arms and confess the whole humiliating truth about my past.

Instead, I said, “Good bye,” and left the room, nearly running to let myself out the front door.

Aric did not follow me.

SEVENTEEN

Cold Shoulder

Aric was in the newsroom talking to Colleen when I arrived for work Sunday.

He looked up as I walked in then dropped his gaze back to her upturned, smiling face.

I’d bet if he’d started foreplay withher, she wouldn’t have frozen him out and left him with a grievous case of blue balls and no explanation.

No, Colleen didn’t look the least bit conflicted. That was probably very attractive to him right about now.

As I approached, she whipped her head around. “Hey, Heidi. Aric and I were talking about the game yesterday. Exciting night, wasn’t it?”

She had no idea. “Yeah, it was… interesting. How’d it go for you and Dennis?”

“Oh, we had great luck getting interviews with all the players. For some reason, they were lining up to talk to us.”

At this she threw a flirtatioussee what you’re missing? glance at Aric. Then she turned and picked up her designer purse from her desk.

“Well, I’ve got a thrilling Catfish Festival to cover. Have a good day, Heidi. Don’t work too hard. And Aric—we’re on for tomorrow? One o’clock at the gym?”

He nodded, and Colleen flounced out of the room, leaving a cloud of perfume and hormones behind.

This would’ve been the perfect time for one of those words we were forbidden to use on the job. The one that came to mind started with a “B.”

I went to my desk, trying to pretend my heart wasn’t pounding out of my chest over Colleen’s last remark.

Aric approached me. “How are you?” His voice was soft, cautious-sounding.

“Fine,” I lied.

To keep the conversation off of last night, I turned it back to Colleen. “Do you think she saw something at the game?”

“Are you referring to when youkissedme? I doubt it. She and Dennis were all the way across the field... why?”

Because I’m eaten up with jealousy, that’s why.

I shrugged. “The policy. You know.”

He smirked. “Right. I should’ve knownthat’swhat you were worried about.” His tone had hardened.

“Well, what if she did? What if she goes to Janet?”

“Janet wouldn’t care.”

“But Mr. Aubrey…”

Aric turned away, walking back toward his desk as he answered, clearly bored with the conversation. “I wouldn’t worry. She’s not going to tell. Who would do that?”

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