Page 143 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

“I’ll talk to you about it in the morning,” I say to Mason.

I can sense Eden staring a whole into the back of my head.

Earlier, I told them what happened at the pod. Instead of staying for the dinner, we came back to my penthouse. Thankfully, we ride in separate cars. From the beginning, Eden was insistent that Paisley never would’ve chosen to deceive me without Max’s prompting. When speaking of Max Grove, she often ends her remarks with “He’s such an asshole.”

But I knew that already. Of course, Paisley infiltrated my company under Max’s behest. If she had told me the truth before I caught her hacking the brain, I would’ve forgiven her. I’m the one who arranged tonight. Nero was to bring Eden to the event. The moment Paisley saw, I was going to let her know that I knew who she was. I realized too late that my plan had cracks it. My guess is that Paisley saw her old friend and got spooked. Eden suggested that Paisley may have thought I set her up.

The feisty blonde with a snappy bite said, “My goodness, that was such a block-head move for a good-looking and obviously smart guy.”

I can’t remember the last time I was insulted and complimented in one breath.

Regardless, Paisley and I weren’t simply having casual encounters. There was depth to our relationship, which began when I first laid eyes on the mysterious Grove daughter in high school. And I’ll only admit to myself that that I am falling in love with her.

“Herc, are you still with me?” Mason asks.

I squeeze my eyes closed a few times to alleviate the tension in my head. “Yeah, I’m with you,” I whisper. “Let’s talk tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning? What the hell’s going on, Herc? I thought you were taking Lark to dinner. She’d been walking in the cold at night. She nearly died.”

“What?” I grumble.

“Lake had to warm her up. Did you guys get into a fight?”

Jaw clenched, I shake my head. “I’ll give you the download first thing in the morning.”

“Download? It’s never good when you give me the download. What happened? Is this about work?”

I squeeze the bridge of my nose, thinking that might alleviate the tightness in my head. “In the morning, Mason.”

“This isn’t about… Okay, forget it. We’ll talk at the office.”

I’m too drained to push him on whatever the hell he was going to say. “Listen, I have guests. I have to go.”

“You have other female company?” He sounds like he’s still digging for answers.

“It’s my cousin, Nero. Come on, dude. There’s no other girl besides P—”Damn it. I almost said her name.“I gotta go, okay.”

He’s silent. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. So where do you want to meet?”

Damn.I forgot it’s the weekend. But we need privacy. “My office at eight.”

“All right, then.”

I scratch the side of my face, wondering how to ask him to take care of Paisley without making it seem as if I care, because I don’t.But I do.She should be ashamed of what she’s done.Forget her.

“All right.” The edge in my voice matches what’s going on inside me. Then I end our call.

I cling tightly to that burst of anger I just experienced. I refuse to let go of it as I grip the edge of the white stone bar. I want the emotion to saturate me and stop me from racing over to Lake’s apartment to collect Paisley and bring her back to my place.

She’s the enemy. The enemy who double-crossed me. She’s the goddamn enemy.

I release the edge of bar and face Nero and Eden. She’s on her feet, eyeballing me like a hawk.

“How’s Pais?” she asks.

I refuse to release my anger. Every muscle is tight as I embrace the fire inside me.

“I don’t know,” I grumble and rip my eyes off her to down the last of my gin.