Page 71

The first thing I see when I hit the ground floor is Conner and Tess playing pool. As usual, they’re bickering over something. When she sees me, Tess straightens up from a bend and gives me a look before aiming one at the bar. I follow her gaze and my stomach does a slow roll before slamming itself into my throat. Sara is sitting there, talking to Patrick while he makes drinks. He’s laughing at something she’s saying and he slides a college girl special across the bar. As soon as he sees me, he stops laughing, letting his gaze settle on Chase. “Hey, man,” he says, recovering quickly. “Want a beer?” He smiles while he says it but I saw it in his eyes. He’s jealous. Knowing that shouldn’t make me feel good, but it does.
Behind me, Chase laughs and leans over my shoulder. “Tell me again about how you’re not his type,” he says in my ear before straightening himself to walk around me to approach the bar. “Sure,” he says, taking the stool next to Sara while Patrick draws him a beer.
“Cari?” Patrick says, looking at me, a glass in his hand. He’s asking me if I want to a drink.
“No, thanks,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ll take a burger though.” I say it loud, so Declan can hear me in the kitchen, my request answered with a far-off laugh. I know it’s Declan in the kitchen. If given the choice, it’s where he prefers to spend him time when he’s working a shift at Gilroy’s. I think it’s because it keeps him sequestered and away from Tess when she’s here but that’s just my guess.
Leaving Patrick and Chase at the bar with Sara, I make my way to the pool table where Tess is waiting for me.
“Well, that was quick,” she says as soon as I’m within earshot and I give Conner a quick look to see if he’s listening. He looks focused on lining up a shot but I know him. He’s listening to every word we say.
“What?” I say, even though I’m certain I don’t want to know what she’s talking about.
“Second date with Mr. Arty-fartsy in less than 24-hours,” she says, she leans against the pool table and arches an eyebrow in my direction. “You worked Cap’n out of your system in record time.” Behind her, Conner takes his shot and sinks a solid.
“His name is Chase. And we’re just friends,” I say quickly when I see the smirk on Tess’s face.
Conner proves he’s eavesdropping by laughing out loud. “I swear, I’ve heard that somewhere before,” he says, cocking back his cue before letting it fly, breaking up a tight cluster of balls at the other end of the table.
His words, and the meaning behind them, stain my cheeks a bright red. “He wants to show my work at the charity benefit he’s putting together with my boss.”
“Oh, yeah,” Conner says, shooting a glance at Chase who’s looks like he’s in deep conversation with Sara. Behind them, Patrick rounds the bar with a pitcher and a stack of pints, headed our way. “And what does he want from you?”
The question yanks the rug out from under me. “Why,” I say, feeling like he just punched me in the gut. “Because I’m not good enough? Because no one would want to show my paintings unless I fucked them for it?”
Conner shoulders go stiff and he suddenly looks uncomfortable. “That’s not what—”
“Yes it is,” I say, shutting down his excuses. “It’s exactly what you meant.”
“What’s going on?” Patrick says behind me and I turn to watch him set the pitcher and glasses down before he divides an expectant look between me and Conner.
“I was just telling Tess and Conner that Chase wants to show some of my paintings at the benefit show he’s putting together with Mandy.” Saying it makes me feel proud. Something I haven’t felt nearly enough.
“Seriously?” Patrick lifts the pitcher and pours a pint before handing it to Tess. “That’s fantastic.” He smiles at me and I smile back because this moment feels so normal, so right, that I can’t help but smile. This is the Patrick I know. This is the Patrick I know how to handle.
“Thanks,” I say, cheeks flushed. “It’s not a big deal—just a charity thing he’s working on with Miranda.”
As soon as Tess and Conner resume their game, Patrick leans into me. “So, how’s your date going?”
I don’t know what happened. I really don’t. Maybe it was Conner’s snide comment about having to seduce Chase to get him interested in my work or maybe it’s the fact that this is the second time in as many days that Patrick and Sara have been hanging out. Hell, maybe it’s the fact that despite all the orgasms he’s been giving me, Patrick hasn’t fucked me in days and it’s making me irritable. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something. And it’s enough to make me snap.
“You know what, Patrick,” I say, narrowing my eyes on his face. “Fuck you.”
His pint stalls halfway to his mouth, the smirk withering on his lips. “Excuse me?”
I resist the urge to smack the glass out of his hand. “You heard me.” I take a step back so I can look him full in the face. He doesn’t look amused. That’s okay because neither am I. “You’ve made your opinion of me clear.” Just thinking about it, the things he’s done to me over the past few days—the things I’ve begged him to do—sends a rush of heat across my chest. Whatever he thinks of me, whatever he’s done—it’s my fault. I pushed him. I asked for it. I know that but right now, I don’t care. “Now, let me be clear—I don’t give a shit. You want to fuck me, fine. You want to make me feel like shit, great. But it’s not going to be both. Got it?”
My voice rings in my ears, echoing around the bar and the people in it. They’re all quiet. Too quiet. I keep my glare trained on Patrick’s face, ignoring the flush that erupts across my chest and neck. They’re all staring at us. Waiting to see what happens next.
Patrick lowers his glass, setting it on the table, never taking his eyes off me. “Loud and clear, Ms. Faraday,” he says, his tone so calm I’m able to pretend the last thirty seconds happened in my head and not in front of God and everybody. The thought is comforting but it only last a second before someone clears their throat—my bet’s on Conner—and breaks the spell.
I don’t wait for him to say anything else. I don’t wait for Tess to rescue me with a smartass comment or for Chase to make his excuses and leave.
I just turn on my heel and bolt.
Forty-three
Patrick