Page 25 of Heartless

Sawing through his steak, his tone was casual.“My trip was just business.But Joel was quite disappointed that you hadn’t come to his goodbye dinner.”

Joel hadn’t been.And I knew this because he’d told me when I’d texted him to wish him safe travels and promised we’d reconnect when he came back.

After I’d swallowed a bite of my baby potato, I set the prongs of my fork on the edge of the white plate.

“Nigel, that must have been quite a shock to find out about me.”

He kept cutting through the piece of meat on his plate.“I know I’ve missed out on most of your life.But let’s not dwell on what we can’t change.I promise we’ll make up for all those years we’ve lost.And Joel always wanted a sibling.Now he has you.”

God, if I hadn’t met Rowena, I would have gobbled it all up.

“Why didn’t you have more children?”

Nothing in his posture betrayed any discomfort.

“You’re an adult, so I know you can understand.I haven’t been as lucky in my relationships as I could have been.And part of it is my responsibility, but bringing children into defective relationships is never a judicious choice.”He leaned in.“What about Caitlin?You said she never had a steady relationship.Didn’t you want a brother or sister?”

It was weird to hear Mom’s name in his mouth, and knowing he’d just lied to my face made the sound grating.“Mom dated often, but we never needed anyone else in our lives.”My chest squeezed.“Then...she got sick.”

He nodded slowly.“I think Caitlin would have been happy that we met.”

I wasn’t so sure about that anymore.“Can we reschedule tonight’s dinner with your publisher friend?”

His posture stiffened, and his fingers clenched around the handle of his knife.“Are you all right?”

I couldn’t help the irrepressible smile that my heart associated with the thought of Jake.“I have a date.”

“You’re dating?”The question itself was banal, but his tone had taken on an edge.

My grin widened.“Yes.His name is Jake Rhodes.We—”

His hand slapped on the table.My heart hopped in my throat.Diners at nearby tables jerked in their seats.

Nigel’s jaw was tight, and his voice was but a hiss.“I forbid it.”

My lips moved but no sound came out.Then I rolled my shoulders back and leaned in.

“Youforbidit?”

The slight tick of his jaw was the only indication he knew he’d gone too far.I slanted back, dabbed my napkin on the corner of my mouth, and placed it beside my plate before locking my eyes to his.

“Nigel, you have no right to forbid or allow anything in my life.You’re not my dad, you’re not my friend, you’re just someone I share DNA with.”He flinched, but I sallied forth.“It is not and never will be your prerogative to tell me how to live my life.”

His features recovered fast.“Sienna, little dear—”

“I’m not your ‘little dear’.”

His gaze fired, but his tone was as calm as mine.“You’re making a mistake.I know him—”

“It’s my mistake to make.”

“Sienna, we should deal with this like adults—”

“There’s nothing to deal with, Nigel.”

Before he could respond, I pushed my chair back, and without another word, I snatched my purse and walked out of the pretentious restaurant.

After ordering a car, I dialed Gabby’s number, but my thumb stilled over the call icon.Since the fire at my house, I’d called and texted several times, but she hadn’t responded.I took a deep breath and pushed my cell in my pocket.