Page 121 of The Hallows Queen

I nod, turning to walk back inside. I’m afraid if I stay any longer that I’ll slip up and say something to give myself away – that, or I’ll beat him to death. “Thanks for the tour.”

“Here,” he calls after me. “Take my card.”

When I turn around, he’s stepping closer and holding out a business card. I take it, flipping it between my fingers a few times as I stare at his pretty face. “You have plans later, Gavin?”

“What?” he asks, his brows pulling down.

“Plans,” I say, keeping my expression neutral. “Want to grab a drink or something?”

“Oh, like to talk more about the house?” he asks, confusion still pulling at his features.

I chuckle. “Sure. Meet me downtown around seven? That little bistro makes a great martini. I like to know more about the people I get into business with.”

I’m talking out of my ass, but he doesn’t know that. I have a half-formulated plan, and I’m running with it.

“I’m actually supposed to have dinner with my fiancée tonight, could we reschedule?”

“Oh, that’s perfect.” I grin. “Why don’t you bring her? I’dloveto meet her.”

The confused look on his face becomes more enhanced, and a little fire blooms in my gut. I know he wants my money; he knows how deep my pockets go, and I’m betting he’ll do whatever I suggest to get this sale.

“Alright,” he says, holding out a hand for me to shake. “Beach House at 7.”

I’m not sure what my end game is here. I’m a thousand percent sure this is going to piss off Penelope, but I need to see her. I need to see herwith himto know if it’s real or not. Plus, I’ve always been a sucker for a little game.

Chapter43

Penelope

Gavin:

Pick you up in 10. We’re having dinner with a potential client. Promise I’ll make it up to you, babe.

I tossmy phone onto the couch, sighing. Of course Gavin would take our date night and make it about business – right when I’ve been shaken up by the ghost of Hayden Monroe and need validation that being engaged to him is what I want.

As I spin the ring on my finger with my thumb, a lump forms in my gut.

It didn’t feel right when I woke up, so I went all day without wearing it – it was like a weight around my finger, pulling me under. I always thought there would only be one person I would be engaged to – and it wasn’t Gavin.

When the ring starts feeling heavier and heavier the more I turn it, I grab my phone and stand up. Going to my closet, I change into a black dress that clings to my curves and slip my feet into some heels. My hair and makeup are already done, and by the time I’m swapping my stuff from my work purse to a cute little clutch, Gavin is ringing the doorbell of my apartment.

I swallow the bile rising in my throat, regretting not canceling these plans so I could stay home and binge Netflix with my face in a tub of popcorn, then I go to the door and pull it open.

Gavin is in a light grey suit that hugs his muscles, and my stomach burns with anxiety.

“Hey, lovely.” He leans in for a kiss, and I turn my head to the side so he kisses my cheek.

He laughs as he pulls away. “Are you mad I hijacked our date night with a business dinner? I’m sorry, babe. This is a huge client, one of the richest families in the south-east. Getting in with him would pay for the entire wedding in one shot.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine, Gavin. Let’s go.”

I walk out the front door and close it behind me, and he slips his fingers through mine to hold my hand as we walk to the car. It feels foreign and wrong.

I need to pull it the fuck together. I can’t let seeing Hayden shake me up this bad. After everything I’ve been through, I deserve to live in the happy little bubble I’ve created for myself here. He doesn’t get to just show up and ruin everything again. I won’t let him.

Gavin opens the car door for me, and I slide into the passenger’s seat with a warm smile on my face. He does that every time we get in the car together, and it’s always made me swoon like a girl from the fifties – there’s something so simple and gentlemanly about a man opening the door for you that I love. I never used to pay attention to that stuff, probably because I’ve never dated aniceguy before, but it was the little things like that that made me sayyesto Gavin.

He gets in the driver’s side and starts the engine, buckling his seatbelt before he pulls away from the curb.

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