Page 110 of Love on the Line

Chapter 42

Anne jerkedher head away from Devon. She didn’t want him touching her. For that matter, she didn’t want any man touching her ever again. And what the hell was he talking about with giving her everything? She must have misunderstood him. “I’ve asked you several times to leave. You really need to go right now.”

“Actually, I think that’s the last thing you need.” He inched closer. “What you need is someone who can take care of you. Give you the good things in life. Someone with a solid reputation in the community who doesn’t embarrass you and cause your picture to be constantly blasted on social media.”

The strong scent of his cologne gagged her, and she took a step back. Where was he going with this? She didn’t have the energy to deal with him. Her mind was still reeling from the shock of betrayal, and nothing Devon could say or do would help. She pointed to the door. “Last time I’m asking.”

“I don’t think you understand. Pearson isn’t good enough for you. I can offer you so much more. I’ve waited for you to see the light, and I think you finally have.” Devon slowly pulled a ring box out of his suitcoat pocket and flipped the lid open, revealing a diamond twice the size of the one Wyatt had given her. “What do you say? Will you marry me?”

Her chest seized, and her overtaxed brain snapped to awareness.

Holy shit.

He had to be kidding, but that ring wasn’t from a bubble gum machine, and not a hint of a smile lit his face. Nothing but hard lines and an intense focus on her. For God’s sake, they hadn’t even dated. He had to be crazy if he thought she’d accept a proposal right after finding out Wyatt had cheated on her.

She held her hands up. “This is nuts. Put that away and go. I’m not kidding.”

“I didn’t come this far to lose,” he gritted out, then smiled and softened his voice. “There’s no logical reason for you to refuse me. We’d be perfect together. What’s your answer?”

She broke out in a cold sweat. No logical reason? He must be a certifiable lunatic. She headed to door and yanked it open. “Go now.”

He crossed the room to her and took the ring out of the box. “Not without an answer. Last chance.”

The ominous tone in his voice sent a shiver down her backbone. She needed to be blunt and get him the hell out of her apartment. “No. I’ve never been interested in you that way and never will be.”

His eyes blazed, and heat came off him in waves. For a long moment, he stared at her. His nostrils flared, and his mouth twisted into a sinister, evil snarl. He grabbed her hand and tried to force the ring onto her finger. “Wrong answer.”

She curled her fingers into her palm and knocked the diamond to the floor, her breath coming in short bursts. The man had lost his ever-freaking mind.

Devon’s pupils dilated as his face turned red.

Her heart short circuited, and her flight-or-fight response kicked in. “I said no. What are you doing? You’re scaring me.”

“Scaring you?” He slammed the door shut, grabbed her chin, and pinched the flesh, forcing her to look up at him. “You should be scared. You should be very scared. I didn’t come this far for you to reject me. No one fucking rejects me. You think it was easy setting all this up? The flat tire? The attack in the alley?”

Backed against the door, she couldn’t yank free from his grip. Her mind scrambled to keep up, every muscle in her body tense. Devon had saved them in the alley. He wasn’t making any sense. “Wh-What do you mean?”

“Planning and more planning. You were so gullible.” He scoffed. “That chance meeting we had on the road? I put a nail in your tire so it would go flat. I obtained the leadership role on the stupid walk-a-thon so I could get close to you. I hired guys to jump you and your pitiful excuse for a boyfriend.”

Anne’s pulse beat wildly in her throat, and fear seeped out of her pores. Devon’s words rattled around in her head, but she couldn’t understand any of it. Why would he have sabotaged her car, and what did he have against Wyatt?

Panic closed her throat. She’d left her phone and purse in the car. With no way to call anyone, she’d have to deal with this Ted Bundy on her own.

Devon’s mouth contorted. “I spent a month eating crappy food at that cockroach-infested restaurant to make an impression on you. It wasn’t even my birthday the night we went to dinner. I just told them that. And do you think I actually give a damn about the brats in the hospital? Nothing but a show for you.”

Anne gripped the door knob, her heart beating faster than whirring helicopter blades. He’d been lying to her from the moment they’d met. Trying to impress her with crazy, conjured-up scenarios. Why? It’s not like she was a celebrity or anybody special. She had to get away from the psycho.

His gaze dropped to her hand, and he growled, a sick, guttural sound.

“Too late, bitch. You had your chance.”

He hauled back and slapped her face.

A million lights exploded in her brain as her head smashed against the door.

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