Page 175 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Barbara madea vegetable egg white omelet for me, and I asked her to make another one for my guest. I’m scarfing mine down, but Rain looks at hers like she’s scared of it.Whatever. I don’t care.

But Rain explained it all to me. She had a warrant for her arrest in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for check fraud. Achilles caught up with her at the airport in Miami. She was on her way to Honolulu, Hawaii. She had a room booked at the Ritz Carlton. But that was just the beginning of her excursion. Montego Bay, Saint Barts, and Bora Bora where all on her list of destinations.

“I heard about those places. I thought it would be cool to go and experience them as a rich person.” Her sigh was full of regret. “Your brother didn’t give me a chance to say no.”

I remain silent as I process what she’s told me. I don’t believe her one bit. First of all, Achilles would never show up at the airport to collect her. That’s not his style. He would send Huck or Cliff, his musclemen who pose as assistants.

“Then you don’t want to get married?” I ask, continuing to play along. I don’t take my eyes off her, watching how she tenses up during a hesitation that I’ve determined is too long.

“Does it even matter what I want? I mean, you’re hot as hell. And…” Her gaze roams my dining room. “Look at this place.”

I set down my fork. “Do you need money?”

Rain turns her head slightly. “Um… I don’t think so.”

I snort bitterly. “Now that’s an interesting answer.”

“What do you mean by ‘interesting answer’?” She has the nerve to sound offended.

“You want some money? You want me to give you few million to get rid of you—for good this time? How much will it take? Five? Ten? Fifteen? Hell, I’ll give you twenty million dollars.”

Her top lip curls into a bitter frown as she pounds her fist on my table. “You think you know me, don’t you? You think I’m scum. You and your fancy place and bland rich man’s food. Screw you, Hercules.”

I give her a moment to leap to her feet and storm out of my apartment. That would’ve been nice. But nope… It’s as I figured; her rear is glued to my chair. She’s waiting to deal with my next reaction.

I point a hand at her plate. “Would you like Barbara to make you something else?”

“I need a place to stay,” she blurts. “I can live here. I am your fiancée. Maybe you can start acting like it.”

Part of me wants to take her by the collar and throw her out. But I can’t. I’m forced to admit that she’s a formidable foe—we’re certainly not allies. She didn’t come here to conspire with me to make this all go away. She wants this. She wants me. I study her captivating blue eyes and classically beautiful features. She has a great body too. Physically, any guy would be happy to have her in his bed. But she’s crazy. And I have a feeling not getting her way makes her crazier.

On top of desperate, she’s must be lonely, too, and that’s a combination I should keep a close eye on. Before I can inform her of the decision I just made, my smartwatch buzzes. I peer at the face of it, to see who’s calling at this inopportune moment.

I shoot to my feet as my chest tightens. “Excuse me,” I say, turning my back on Rain as I dig my earbuds out of my pocket. Every second counts. I don’t want this call to go to voicemail. Finally, I fumble one bud into my ear then smash the answer button.

“Hi, Paisley, about what happened at the park…”

“It’s fine. She’s your fiancée, and I have a big date this Friday. Plus, I’m going to have to get used to seeing the two of you together anyway. I’m sure she’ll be your date for the coed bachelor and bachelorette party. Oh, and the rehearsal dinner too. Then we’ll have to do it twice. Yikes! You and her and me and maybe Ronald. My parents like him. Go figure…” Her sigh is tight. It isn’t the breather she needs to take. “Anyway, we’re moving on with our lives, you and I. I mean, we’ve been moving on but—yeah… So, since we have a party to plan, I thought maybe we can get together and brainstorm. You know, like two friends. Or colleagues. Or both.”

I’m grinning my ass off. I know she’s chastising herself for saying too much. She does that when she’s nervous. “Okay. When?”

“Today?”

I jerk my head back, surprised. “Where?”

She pauses. “Wherever.”

One Hour Later

I insisted we meet at her place. I would’ve picked her up and brought her back to the penthouse for lunch, a swim, and possibly something more, but I don’t want Paisley running into Rain again. I bet her mind is still spinning tales about what she saw this morning. I don’t know how many times I have to tell Paisley that I’m not interested in Rain before she allows it to sink in.

I didn’t choose to meet in a coffee shop or a restaurant because I want Paisley all to myself.

However, I needed an hour to first deal with Rain then shower. I gave Rain access to an apartment three floors down and clear across the other side of the building. It’s reserved for high-profile out-of-town business guests, but I sent a text to Orion and Achilles, informing them that it’s occupied.

By whom?Orion replied.

I never responded.