Given his expression, the fact that he was even here at this ungodly hour, his words weren’t a complete surprise. But that didn’t mean they hurt any less. They cut into her like a razor-sharp dagger, slicing her heart into useless little ribbons.
“You…” Her voice shook and she paused to clear her throat. “You don’t mean that.”
His eyes seared into her now.
“You know I do,” he said softly.
Oh god.
Hailey fought the urge to wrap her arms around herself. Struggled for control. “I thought…I thought we were having fun.”
“We were.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “It’s just getting too complicated.”
“We…we don’t need to make it complicated,” she found herself whispering.
“You know it doesn’t work that way,” he said bluntly.
She shook her head. Tried to make sense of what was happening. “I don’t get it. Why now? What’s making you say this?”
“Hailey…” He let out a long sigh. “Don’t make this hard.”
No. Oh, no. He wasn’t going to listen to her. No matter what she said, he’d already made up his mind.
The hot weight of tears burned behind her eyelids, but she fought it back. If she could out bluff the Poker King, she could hold herself together now. She had to, because she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching her fall apart.
Forcing her spine to stiffen, she met Andrew’s gaze straight on. “If you think that’s necessary, then fine. We’ll go back to the way things were.”
His lips gave a sardonic twist at that, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he looked down at Loki, who sat by his feet with his tongue lolling out. His mouth tightened, and then he held the leash out to Hailey.
Despite her full intention to hold back any emotion, her mouth dropped open. “What are you doing?”
Andrew shook his head. “I can’t keep him. I was foolish to think I ever could.”
“Are…are you serious? You’re just going to give him away?” Her heart wrenched in agony. How could he be so freaking heartless? “He’s your dog. He’s already gotten attached to you.”
Like me.
“He likes you, too,” Andrew said. “You take him.”
“I can’t. Dogs aren’t allowed in this apartment.”
Something almost pained crossed his face, but then his gaze shuttered. “Then give him back to the shelter. I don’t have the time or the energy for a dog.”
This time he shoved the leash at her. Stunned, she took it.
“Sorry.” With that terse word, he turned and strode away.
Her veins iced over in disbelief, as she stood frozen, watching him go.
He didn’t look back. Not once. Not even when Loki let out a whimper and a soft bark.
Hailey lost track of how long she stayed there, but it wasn’t until Loki stood and put his paws on her leg, clawing it softly, that she broke out of her stupor long enough to close and lock the door.
A door clicked open from down the hall, and a moment later Lily stepped into their tiny foyer. “Is everything okay, Hailey?”
From the concern in her voice, she had an idea what had just happened.
The ice in Hailey’s veins shattered, taking her heart along with it. The tears she’d struggled to hold back finally emerged, clogging her throat and rolling down her cheeks. Turning, she whispered, “He gave the dog back. He didn’t even care.”
Lily’s face crumpled with sympathy. “Oh, Hailey.”
She enveloped Hailey in her arms, and the cries Hailey had tried so hard to restrain burst forth.
“Shush…shush…” Lily held her tight, rocking back and forth.
“Why?” Hailey wound her arms around her friend. “He didn’t even care.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Lily said softly. “He most definitely cared. He just wasn’t strong enough to admit it. Not even to himself.”
Sobbing, Hailey clenched her fists around the back of Lily’s cotton T-shirt. “I hate him. I hate him.”
After a moment of silence, Lily whispered, “I know.”
The dog gave a soft whine and settled onto the floor, resting his head on Hailey’s foot. Sorrow for the poor creature racked her body.
I know, Loki, I know…
He left me too.
Chapter Thirteen
Andrew was on the verge of having all his dreams come true, and he was the most miserable he’d ever been. These past few weeks had been utter torture.
After that night at Hailey’s apartment, she had never returned to work. She’d called Miranda the following morning and given her some story about finding another job that required her to start right away. His angry assistant had decried Hailey’s lack of work ethics and her failure to give a two-week notice, but she didn’t know what Andrew knew.
He told himself it was for the best. Hailey was a distraction he didn’t need and couldn’t afford. Now that they were no longer seeing each other, it would have been supremely awkward having to pretend everything was the same here at the office.
Yes, all of that was true….but he still missed her. Somehow she’d wormed her way under his skin.
Now, every time he returned home, his apartment seemed empty. He’d found Loki’s chew toy lodged under the couch a few days ago and had been hit with a melancholy so hard that he’d immediately left his apartment and headed to the closest bar for a few drinks.
He never did that.
Then there was the matter of his office. Every time he sat in his chair he remembered Hailey kneeling at his feet. He’d stare at the desk and recall the way she’d leaned up against it, giving him the teensiest peek of her underwear. The flirty look in her eyes as she did it. And then he’d grow hard with longing and angry with frustrated desire.
Damn it.
Andrew pushed away from his desk and stalked over to the large windows, blindly taking in the view. This was when he needed to be the most focused, and he was blowing it. So far, James had managed to pick up the slack, but it hadn’t escaped his younger brother’s notice that he was distracted. Off his game.
Two more weeks. Two weeks and the contracts would be finalized, the opening dates set on the French and German locations. Then he could rest.
But that wasn’t really true, was it? Because once those two locations opened, there would be constant travel to ensure everything got off the ground. The directors were in place, but that didn’t mean his workload wasn’t going to double, or more.
This was only the beginning.
The soft buzz of his intercom preceded the sound of Miranda’s voice. “Mr. Everly, Miss Milstrom is on the line. She wants to confirm that you’ll be meeting her for a late lunch at Il Belaggio.”
Andrew bit back a groan.
He had started seeing Diane again. In the beginning, he’d convinced himself it was because she was a good match for him, not because her father had threatened to pull his support. But the lackadaisical manner in which she approached their relationship told him her father had forced this on her just as much as him. Still, he couldn’t deny she would make an acceptable partner.
Even if he hadn’t been able to bring himself to kiss her even once. Not since Hailey…
“Yes,” he said without turning from the cityscape. “I’ll meet her there at two.”
The intercom cut off and he leaned his forehead to the glass with a sigh.
“You’d think a man about to go on a date with a beautiful woman would be a little more excited about it.”
James’s amused voice broke Andrew from his thoughts. He straightened and faced his younger brother with a frown. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“No, you were pretty busy thinking whatever it is you’re thinking.” James adjusted the collar of his dark blue polo shirt and leaned on the corner of Andrew’s desk. “Care to share what that is?”
“Just going over plans for the Paris location.”
When he stepped away from the window, James said, �
��Bullshit.”
Andrew stopped, arching one brow. “What?”
“That’s bullshit. You’ve been distracted like crazy lately and I want to know why.”
“I haven’t. There’s a lot going on here, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“I have,” James replied evenly. “I’ve been doing a fair amount of it. But I also know that’s not what has you so moody.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened and he stalked over to his desk, picking up a file. He thumbed through the expenses reports inside of it. “I’m not moody. Just busy.”
But his little brother had always known when he was lying. And he’d never been afraid to call him on it.
“I know what’s wrong, you know.”
Andrew froze, his stomach constricting. Forcing himself to stay calm and collected, he met James’s knowing gaze. “Nothing’s wrong.”
James’s eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a mocking grin. “Hailey.”
To Andrew’s disgust, his hand shook at James’s mention of her name. He carefully set the file down. “She left quite unexpectedly, but we all knew this was just a temporary job for her. I wish her the best.”
James laughed. “Nice try.”
“I don’t know what you—”
“I know there was something going on between you two, so give up the act.”
The breath deflated from Andrew’s lungs. Now that James had called him out, he couldn’t continue denying it. He turned back toward the window and shoved his hands in his pockets. “It was nothing serious. We went our separate ways.”
His little brother rose and crossed over to stand beside him, forcing Andrew to meet his gaze straight on. “Who said it wasn’t serious?”
Andrew frowned. “We both did.”
James gave him a puzzled frown. “Why?”
Now it was Andrew’s turn to laugh. “Why do you think, James? We’re too different.”
“So?”
“So, there could never be anything there. Not anything that would last.”
James shrugged. “Why not?”
Andrew sighed, shaking his head. Sometimes his little brother just didn’t get it. “She doesn’t fit into our world. She’s young. Irresponsible. Wild.”
James’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“Am I wrong? She moved to the city on a whim, for god’s sake.”
“I see,” James murmured. “And this Diane, she does fit into your world?”
“Yes.”
James pursed his lips and turned to gaze out the window. “So, it doesn’t matter to you that you two have absolutely no chemistry?”
“That’s not…” Andrew trailed off, because he couldn’t exactly deny that, could he?
There was a long moment of silence, then James said, “Don’t do this, Andrew.”
Andrew’s shoulders stiffened. “Do what?”
“Don’t make the most important decisions in your life based on what Father would have wanted.”
That stung. “That’s not a fair statement.”
“If it’s not because of Father, then Mother.”
Shaking his head, Andrew said, “I don’t know what you mea—”
“Come on, admit it, Andrew. You’re so worried about falling in love with someone that reminds you of our mother that you’ll run away from any woman who’s even remotely exciting.”
“That’s not true.”
James’s eyes flashed. “I get it, bro. I do. Mother’s death tore us all up, but you were the oldest. You had to hold us all together. You never really grieved.”
Much to Andrew’s shock, his brother’s words sparked a knot of sorrow deep in his gut. His mother’s death was something he’d never dealt with. Something he’d ignored.
“That’s true,” he whispered. His brother was right there. He hadn’t truly grieved.
James’s face softened. “You’re worried that if you love someone vibrant and alive like Hailey, something will happen. Like what happened to mom. That this time it’ll tear you up inside.”
Andrew turned his unseeing gaze to the window. “I don’t…”
“I feel the same way too sometimes,” James confessed in a harsh whisper. His hand reached out to pat Andrew on the back.
“How do I stop it?” Andrew finally asked.
“Go out and get what you truly want.”
Thinking about James’s words, Andrew let out a sigh. “I don’t really know what that is.”
“Do you want Hailey?” James asked. “Really want her?”
“Yes,” Andrew answered automatically.
The moment the word hit his lips; he realized just how true it was.
“Yes, I do.” His eyes widening, he turned to face his brother. “Hell, I love her.”
James’s mouth split into a wide grin. “Now that’s what I like to hear.”
A glimmer of hope lit within Andrew’s chest, but then he remembered.
“I broke things off with her. Like she meant nothing to me.” His heart wrenched at the memory of her face. The way she tried to hold in her sorrow and anger when he’d told her it was over. The heartbroken look in her eyes when she realized he’d not just given her up, but Loki too. “She probably hates me now.”
“So go talk to her,” James said. “Tell her what you told me.”
Clenching his fist, Andrew gave voice to his fear. “What if it’s too late?”
“With any luck, it won’t be. But you’ll never know until you try.”
James was right, and he wanted to try. God did he ever. But there was still the matter of the expansion…and Daniel Milstrom.
Andrew turned to James. “Diane’s father has all but threatened to withdraw his financial support if I stop seeing her.”
“Jesus.” James’s face screwed up in anger. “I knew that guy was a downright greedy bastard, but that’s just sick. Doesn’t he even care if his daughter is happy?”
“Apparently not. He said he doesn’t mind financing the company, but only if he has reasonable assurance it’ll benefit his bloodline.”
“Son of a bitch. He’s all but selling her to stroke his own ego.” James’s jaw tightened. “I can’t believe you didn’t sock him in the jaw.”
His brother was right. That was what he should’ve done. But the fact remained…
“We need his support. We can’t complete the expansion without him.”
James shook his head. “Fuck him. We’ll find someone else.”
That made Andrew snort. He raked a hand through his hair. “Easier said than done, especially at the level of investment we’re talking about.”
His words must have penetrated, because James fell silent. He turned and absently began to pace the room. Several minutes passed before he snapped his fingers. “Martin Freeman.”
“I’ve already considered him.” The older man was a billionaire and actively seeking a new business venture. “But he’s only looking for one company to invest in, and there are several possibilities on his list. We both know him personally; he prefers to invest in smaller local companies. It was simply too much of a risk to hope he would take us on.”
Shaking his head, James strode to one of the chairs opposite Andrew’s desk and threw himself down on it. “So what if he doesn’t? What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Seriously?” Andrew shot his brother a disbelieving look. “We wouldn’t be able to go through with the expansion. Our investors would be in an uproar. The board of directors would probably call for my termination.”
“We’re on the board,” James pointed out.
“It’s still majority vote.”
James scratched his chin, his eyes glazing over as he thought. Finally, he stood and announced, “I’ll get Martin to invest in us.”
The absolute certainty in his brother’s tone caught Andrew off guard. “How?”
“Let me worry about that.” James gave a wicked grin. “You know I can be quite persuasive when I set my mind to it.”
He could, bu
t was that enough to stake the future of their company on?
What about your future? What about Hailey?
The butterflies setting flight in his stomach answered that. Drawing up to his full height, he said to James, “It’s a risk, and if it backfires, we could all end up destitute.”
Grinning, James said, “I’ve always been a betting man, and you know Sam will be all for it, romantic soul that he is.”
Andrew snorted. He wouldn’t exactly call Sam romantic, unless it were in a Casanova sort of way, but yeah, James was probably right. Sam was all for taking risks, and often told him he should. Not to mention he pretty much hated the family business and only participated because Andrew pressured him into it.
His office intercom buzzed, and Miranda’s voice flooded the room. “Mr. Everly, it’s one-thirty. You should leave soon if you want to make your lunch appointment with Miss Milstrom.”
Miranda’s words propelled him into action. After stalking to the desk for his cell phone and keys, he shoved them into his pockets.
James’s mouth fell open. “You’re still meeting Diane for lunch?”
“Yeah.” He grinned at his brother. “I owe her an explanation, and then I’m going to go find Hailey.”
Pumping his fist in a gesture of triumph, James replied, “Go get her.”
Buzzing with adrenaline, Andrew turned and rushed out the door, right past his shocked assistant.
“Good luck,” James yelled behind him.
The subtext of his words was easy to read.
No doubt you’ll need it.
Chapter Fourteen
A ray of late afternoon sunshine broke in between two buildings, warming the top of Andrew’s head. It was a gorgeous day, and for the first time in a long time he realized just how much he’d missed out on.
He’d missed out on a lot over the years.
His heart raced with fear and anxiety as he rushed toward the front of Hailey’s apartment building. Please god, let her be there.
When he’d left James he’d immediately wanted to run to Hailey’s, but first he’d had to meet Diane. She’d seemed the slightest bit upset when he explained he couldn’t see her anymore, but he also thought he’d seen a glimmer of relief in her gaze. Somehow, he thought she knew they weren’t meant for each other.
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