Page 56 of Can’t Fight This Feeling

“I was just about to call you!” Kate steps aside, inviting us in. Her voice drops low. “I saw the headlines. What’s going on?”

“Is Arthur home?” Rob glances around the empty apartment.

“He just got here.” She nods toward the bedroom. “He’s changing.”

Nervous energy skitters along my spine. Rob’s grip tightens on my hand. His hazel eyes meet mine, reminding me that I’m not alone. He’s right beside me.

“I’ll let him know you’re here. Help yourself to a drink.” Kate takes two steps before Rob’s question stops her.

“Does he know?”

Kate shakes her head. “I’m glad you’re here. He’ll take it better if it comes from you, Marcy.”

I nod, unable to trust my voice. Rob leaves me in the living room, retreating to the side bar to pour two whiskeys. When he returns, he places one in my hand with a confident smile.

“This’ll take the edge off.”

“Thanks.” I down it, letting the drink warm me through.

Déjà vu. A piss-poor decision has led me to my brother’s doorstep once again. I want to melt into the carpet. But it’s different this time. Yeah, it is. This time I was smart enough to know when to walk away. This time I have Rob beside me, giving me courage to do what I need to do.

His solid presence infuses me with courage. How was I so stupid for so long? Thinking he disliked me. Thinking him indifferent to my presence.

The signs had been there all along, and I was too fucking blind to see them. Rob didn’t save me; he supported me. He cared when he could have walked away.

“Marcy.” Arthur joins us. “Rob. To what do I owe the pleasure?” His gaze fixes on my face.

“I made a mistake.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Kate, do you have the magazine?”

“Yeah.” She edges around Arthur and retrieves it from the kitchen. When she hands it to me, I clutch it to my chest, like a shield blocking my heart.

“What happened?” Arthur’s scowl deepens.

“I wanted to tell you, show you, before you read about it in the tabloids.” With a deep breath, I press on. “One of my clients invited me to dinner last Saturday. I said yes, and we were photographed together.”

Rob takes the magazine from my hand and gives it to Arthur. The furrow between his brows deepens even further, and the kind face of my older brother skews into horror and disbelief.

“Is this the man who hurt you?” His gravelly voice is menacing.

If I had been worried about Rob’s reaction, I was terrified of my brother’s. Both men were overly protective of me, but since my divorce, Arthur has made it his life’s mission to keep me from experiencing that pain again.

“Yes.” I hold his gaze steady as I elaborate on the events of that night and the startling revelation of our relationship in the tabloids.

“I see.” He clenches the magazine in his fist. “Have you filed charges?”

“My lawyer is working on it.” The pressure of Rob’s hand on mine encourages me. “But unless there’s a witness, it’s hopeless. His status will give him indemnity. Between his agents and the press, any whisper of wrongdoing will be swept under the rug, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“No one saw you together?” Arthur crosses his arms.

“Oh, people saw us together. Hell, the whole city now knows we were together that night.” Bile bites the back of my throat at the thought. “But there was no one around when he hit me. He made sure of it.”

“You think he’s done this before?” Rob asks with surprise.

“Judging from his reaction, yeah, I think he has a nasty habit of beating women who don’t fall at his feet and do what he wants.”

“Do you have any proof that this isn’t the first time he’s done it?” Kate interjects.

I shake my head. “I don’t have proof of anything. All I know is that a man of his stature, his status, isn’t used to being called out for his shitty behavior. He’s all charm until you say no.”

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