Page 181 of My Temptation (Kingston Lane)

Her tears . . . the way they made me feel.

I can’t even comprehend what normal is anymore.

For a few weeks there, I was kidding myself that things were on the upswing, that everything had finally clicked and the darkness was over.

But reality has set in; it will never be over.

This is it for me.

I am the final product—there is no remodeling from here. Things are set in stone.

Today that’s magnified, and I feel especially unhinged. I haven’t slept. How could I?

The rain comes down hard, bringing me back to the moment. It’s loud and angry. It begins to splash up and get my legs wet.

I see her tears again, and I close my eyes in regret. This is for the best anyway. She’s better off with someone else. Someone who can love her properly.

I hear Juliet’s car start, and I glance up at the fence and then at my watch. She’s leaving for work, doing the afternoon shift.

And if I were a better person, I would go over and apologize, ask her to come back to me and make this right between us.

Beg for a second—no, third—chance.

But what’s the point? I’ll only ruin it later on down the road anyway . . .

I did do one thing, though; I proved a point to myself.

Now I know.

If the perfect woman can’t save me, nobody can.

Thursday, 4:00 p.m.

I glance at the sign over the door.

A A R O N S T E V E N S

P S Y C H O L O G I S T

With a deep exhalation, I roll my eyes. “Here we fucking go.” I push the heavy door open and arrive in the foyer.

“Hello,” I say to the receptionist. “I have an appointment at four.”

She fakes a smile. “Take a seat, Mr. James.”

I glance over at the waiting couch. “Actually . . . I changed my mind. I won’t be needing an appointment today.”

The office door opens in a rush. “Henley,” a blond man says in an English accent. “This way.”

Fuck.

I walk past him into his office and stand, unsure what to do.

“Please, take a seat.”

I unbutton my suit jacket and sit down. I cross my legs and then immediately uncross them. I sit back and then sit forward.

Aaron sits down and smiles calmly. “Nervous?”

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