Page 28 of Dion

He stepped backinstantly, the pain flashing on his face. "I see. You’rehaving regrets."

"Sort of. I’mrealizing this is going to cramp my style. What if I met someone?"

"Are youlooking?" He asked her stonily.

"Not at themoment. Eventually I’m going to need a man. I’m justsaying." She muttered.

"Well, can youkeep your libido in check for the next seven months?"

Her eyes flashed."I’m not like you, Dion. Yours is tied up with a woman whois languishing in prison. Or maybe not. Do you go for conjugalvisits?"

She saw as heretreated and the awful pain and hurt on his face before a masksettled over his features. "I realize you’re upset andperhaps not for the reason you stated, so I’m going to makesallowance for that." He glanced at his watch. “I’llsee you at the next appointment."

With that, he turnedon his heels and walked to his car. She’d hurt him unbearablyand felt like a coward. Getting in her car, she sat and watched himdrive out of the car park.

What the hell had shedone? She couldn’t deal with the fact he wasn’t into her,so she decided to smash his feelings to bits? Who was she? She didn’trecognize the person she was turning into.

She loved him andloving him was not supposed to turn her into a bitch. Instead ofalienating him, she should be trying to make him fall in love withher. She’d never seen him look at her like he hated her and shecouldn’t bear it.

She’d made itseem as if she couldn’t wait to get back to her life and thatwasn’t true. Pressing her fingers into her eyes, she leanedback and allowed the remorse to flood over her.

*****

His expression wasbleak when he went into his office.

"The shipment-"

"Give me a damnminute, will you?" He snapped at his hapless assistant as theman came running in after him. "And close the doors behind you."

He waited until Jerryhad left before going over to the cabinet to pour himself a drink. Hehadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and the scotch wasn’tgoing to help much, but he didn’t care. Sloshing the liquorinto the glass, he took it with him to stare out the windowsightlessly.

She had regrets, hethought dully. He’d thought she would eventually, but thethought had been fleeting, because she was Odette, his best friend.But she was right. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman andsurely men would be chasing after her.

He didn’t wantto think about her with someone else. She shouldn't, not while shewas carrying his baby. Was that the main reason he felt the twistinginside his gut? Or was it something else?

She’d said somehurtful words to him, words he wasn’t able to forget, but whatstuck was what she said about meeting someone. He hadn’t reallythought about it about her getting involved with another man.

He was used to herbeing there when he called and just being there. But wasn't thatbeing selfish? He was using her as a prop and that wasn’t fairto her, was it? She was his best friend, but didn't she deserve alife? Tossing back the drink, he went over to his desk to pick up hisphone.

"I’m sorrywe’re out of sorts with each other. On careful consideration, Ithink if there is anyone you’re interested in, you should gofor it. I’m not being fair to you."

He sent the messageand waited for a response. When none was forthcoming, he decided tolet it go and concentrate on work.

*****

Odette read themessage three times in disbelief. He was giving her permission to seesomeone else. But what had she expected? She’d been the one tovoice the concern and no doubt it made him feel guilty she was caughtup in this and not able to live her own life.

Putting the phonedown, she opened the fridge to see what was there to eat. The idea oftaking a swim in the pool had lost its appeal, but she couldn’tstay inside the house on a lovely day like this.

She had some designsto fine tune, but her heart wasn’t in it. Staring at thecontents of the stocked fridge, she decided on a packaged mushroomsoup to pop into the microwave.

Dion had been true tohis word and had taken over the shopping, which was just as well. Herealized that when she gets working, she forgets to go to the market.Now there was no shortage of food in the fridge and in the pantry.

He'd even offered topay for a chef or a housekeeper to stay with her so she didn’thave to cook. "I know how busy you are."

"You mean youknow how forgetful I am."

"Something likethat."

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