Page 72 of Coldhearted King

I focus on him. “I don’t think so. She never said anything to indicate she was.”

“Well, she obviously feels something for you if she was hurt enough to end things.”

I’m supposed to be taking my mind off Delilah, not being forced to confront my mistakes. I wave my hand in the air. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s over. She can move on to someone who can give her the kind of commitment she’s after. And I can go back to—”

“Screwing random beautiful women and making a fuck ton of money?”

I raise my brows at him. “It’s the family business, isn’t it?”

“Not sure Mom would agree,” he says.

“No. In Mom’s case, it’s having semi-discreet affairs and taking advantage of the money we make for her.” Tate is silent and I shake my head. “Sorry.”

He shrugs, but the amusement in his gaze has dimmed. Considering he’s the result of one of Mom’s affairs, they’re a sensitive topic for him. It’s hardly a secret. His blond hair could have come from Mom, but those startling copper eyes of his don’t come from anywhere in our family tree. It explains why Dad has always been the hardest on him too, even if Tate is still his son on paper. Like most things in our world, it’s all about outward appearances. People can whisper whatever they want behind closed doors, and as long as it doesn’t affect our wealth and status, we don’t care.

Except, I remember a time when Tate cared. A lot.

I also remember the times when Roman and I got into fights with the boys who thought it was a good idea to taunt him about his parentage. That was before things changed, anyway. Before we grew apart, becoming strangers to each other.

Maybe working together like this will give Tate and me a chance to reconnect. I make a mental note to catch up with him about non-work-related issues on a more regular basis.

“Are you planning to get her back?” Tate asks.

I’ve lost track of our conversation. “What?”

“Your architect. Are you going to make it up to her?”

“I think we’re both better off if we just leave it.” A pit forms in my chest at the realization that my last time touching her happened without me even knowing it.

“Are you sure about that?”

I look away from Tate’s too perceptive gaze. The best way to distract myself from Delilah is to concentrate on what’s important—work. “I’ve got to prepare for this meeting. Feel free to go directly to the architectural team if you want to use them in any promos.”

“That’s it?” Tate protests. “That’s all you’re going to give me?”

“You’re lucky you got that much. Now let me get back to work.”

He huffs out a breath, slaps his hands on his thighs, and stands. “Fine. Leave me hanging, then.”

I grunt and return to my notes, not bothering to watch him cross to the door.

“So if she’s single now, you won’t mind if I ask her out?”

My eyes shoot to his, rage bubbling up in my chest. He’s more of a playboy than any of us. “Keep your fucking hands off her.”

He’s still laughing when he shuts the door behind him.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

DELILAH

“Are you going to be okay?” Alex asks as I gather my purse and get ready to head out the door. When she returned from work last night, she’d immediately known something was wrong. Probably because my eyes were red from crying. When I explained what had happened, she wrapped me in her arms and told me Cole was an asshole who didn’t deserve me. Then she ordered in dinner and put on a thriller with absolutely no romance in it, and I managed to turn my mind off for a couple of hours.

This morning, I’m prepared—if not exactly ready—to face Cole and Paul. The former I probably won’t even see, and the latter, well, I’ll just have to put up with his smugness.

“I’m going to be okay. I won’t let a man as self-absorbed as Cole King get me down. I just need to finish this project and then I’ll never have to see him again.”

She comes over and gives me a hug. “Good for you. Just keep your head held high and ignore those assholes. You’re worth twice the both of them put together.”

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