Greer: I have to know if he really wants me.
Chelsea: I just worry you’re going to get hurt, Greer.
Greer: I’m already hurt. I just need to know if the wound is survivable.
Chelsea: :(
Greer: I can’t trust what he says, not right now. This is the only way I’ll know. I give him what I think he wants the most and if he gives it up to be with me, then I know he really wants me.
Taylor: This sounds like it’s going to backfire spectacularly.
Greer: Yeah, it does. Which is why I’m having a nervous breakdown.
Taylor: That does it. I’m on my way over with pizza!
Greer: Don’t you have a raid or something?
Chelsea: She always has a raid.
Taylor: I’m making Loch play my toon. It’s going to be awful but I told him if he fucks up bad to pull the cord out of the router and pretend a power outage. Coming over with pizza!
Greer smiled despite her misery. Her friends were awesome. She really was lucky to have such wonderful support. Count on them to cheer her up when she was down and have her back no matter what terribly shady things she was up to.
The screen flickered and a new text rolled in.
Donna: Hey, it’s Donna. The plan’s on. We’re meeting tomorrow for lunch. He wanted me to call him tonight but I’m keeping our agreement and insisting we meet in person. You going to be there?
Oh god. Oh god. This was really moving forward. Greer stared at her phone, panicking. Had he answered so fast because it was Donna? Or because of Greer’s name? She hoped this wasn’t a mistake. It felt like a mistake, but it was too late to change course, wasn’t it? She agonized for a moment, and then typed her answer.
Greer: I’ll be there.
***
Greer should have guessed that Donna wouldn’t play fair, but it was still a little shocking to see her rival show up in a pale blue sheath dress with a low-cut vee in front that showed off more cleavage than Greer owned. Her hair was even bigger today, no doubt from a salon blowout, her makeup flawless. She looked dewy and fresh despite the summer weather.
And Greer? Greer’s hair was in a fat braid over one shoulder, and she wore no makeup. Her glasses were smudged and kept sliding down her nose thanks to the heat, and her tank top and capris were a hideous maternity version of sailor chic that made her look more like a dumpy prisoner than a sassy yachter. She didn’t care, really. If Asher had been after looks alone, there were a million hot girls in NYC that he could have banged without following her to Vegas. It made Donna look as if she was trying too hard. That made Greer feel better. If Donna thought there was no competition, would she have gone to such lengths to get dolled up?
They were in front of the same small cafe they’d met at yesterday. It seemed like the right place to have the meeting, but to Greer’s chagrin, the place was nearly empty today. She’d have to sit far in the back and Donna in the front. That meant she wouldn’t get a chance to look at Asher, and for some reason that was disappointing.
“All right,” Donna said, pulling a blinged-up phone out of her purse. “I’m going to put you on speaker and then put the phone on the table facedown so he can’t see that it’s on. I’m also going to put you on mute so you can’t speak up and ruin things, okay?”
“That’s fine. I’ll wear headphones so there’s no chance of him hearing noise feedback, too.” She held up her earbuds, demonstrating. “I don’t want him to know I’m listening.”
Donna nodded. “I’m warning you now, though. I want him back and I’ll do whatever it takes to get him back. So be prepared to hear some things you don’t want to.” Her look was confident.
“I don’t know that I want to hear any of this. I just know that I have to find out the truth.” And if you want him so badly, why did you let him go in the first place?
“Whatever.” Donna shrugged, the same unconcerned smile on her face. For a moment, Greer wanted to punch her—not for being smug, but for being such an awful person. For betraying Asher and nearly breaking him, and now deciding that she wanted her discarded toy back, like some spoiled child.
Whatever indeed. “Let’s just plan our seating, all right? In case he shows up early.”
Greer sat in a very back booth, hunching her shoulders and pulling the menu up to obscure her face. The table that Donna had chosen was directly in front by the windows. There would be no missing her, and no need to head to the back of the restaurant. Greer’s chosen seat had her back to the two of them.
Her phone rang and she put in her earbuds.
“Putting you on speaker,” Donna murmured and then set the phone down.
Greer put her own phone dutifully on mute and listened to the soft sounds of the cafe. Napkins rustled and forks clanked against plates, but through it all she could hear the soft rustle of Donna’s dress and her light, sweet humming to herself. Like this was a party or a fun reunion.
This wasn’t fun for Greer. Her entire body was trembling with anxiety. There were so many things that could go wrong. She was spying on him like a big snoop, and she knew if he ever found out, he’d be upset. Heck, she would be if someone did this to her. It didn’t matter that he’d concocted all kinds of lies to get closer to Greer and the baby; what she was doing was equally wrong and that didn’t sit well with her. Worse, what if he saw Donna and immediately fell in love all over again? Donna was beautiful and everything Greer was not—graceful, showy, extroverted, sophisticated. Hell, she even hummed sweetly. Greer couldn’t sing for shit. She’d grown up in titty-mag central and knew more about nipple alignment post–boob job and asshole bleach than any human probably should. All she brought to a relationship was a fat wallet and some dubious connections.
And a baby, but the baby was a question mark because she didn’t know that Asher even wanted one. He didn’t need her money, just like she didn’t need his.
As minutes ticked past, she grew increasingly nervous. A cafe employee walked past and gave her an odd look, and it made Greer worry. Should she leave? If she was on speakerphone, there was no need for her to be in the same establishment. What if he saw her sitting here and realized he was being spied on? That she was eavesdropping? Maybe she should go next door.
She got to her feet, and as she did, she saw Asher enter the cafe. Oh. She quickly slid back into her seat, but not before she got a good look at him and drank in his features. God, he was gorgeous. His hair was slightly tousled and a little long, as if he hadn’t had a chance to cut it. His face had looked pale and strained, and he hadn’t shaved. His suit was immaculate, but she didn’t care about that.
Asher had looked . . . tired. Weary. Was he worried over her? Her heart clenched. Or was something else wrong?
“Asher!” Donna’s coo got Greer’s attention and she clutched her phone in her hands, hunching over it in the booth like Gollum with a ring. “Oh my goodness, look at you. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Donna.” His voice was abrupt, and that made Greer’s heart sing a little. “I didn’t know you’d moved back to the city. What’s this about?”
“I did! But don’t change the subject on me—don’t I get a hug? I haven’t seen you in two years.”
There was a massive rustle of fabric that indicated that Donna was moving, and Greer desperately wanted to turn around and peek at them. Was Asher going to hug Donna? Or was he going to blow her off?
“We didn’t exactly part under friendly circumstances, Donna. You leaked private information about my company to a rival.”
“That was a mistake.” Donna’s voice grew sad. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but it was a big mistake, Asher. Haven’t you ever made a mistake you regretted?”
Greer froze, clutching her phone. That question had hit too close to the mark already. Her hand strayed to her stomach, and she thought of the baby. What would Asher say? Was Greer a mistake?
“None I’ve regretted quite as much as being with you,” he told Donna coldly.
Ouch. Okay, while that wasn’t super helpful for Greer, it had to have hurt Donna.
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you today, Asher.” Donna’s voice had taken on a teary edge. “I made mistakes and they cost me your love. I want you back. I want what we had back.”
“That’s what this urgent meeting was about? You told me it was about Greer.”
Her heart thumped wildly and she clutched the phone tight in her hands. Please love me, please love me, please love me. Please don’t be the asshole I’m worried you are.
“It is, to an extent. I want to know what’s going on between the two of you. I want to know if there’s still a chance for me.”
There was an achingly long pause, and then Asher spoke. “I’m in love with her.”
Greer silently fist-pumped in the booth. Hot tears of happiness sprang to her eyes. There was no reason for him to bring her up unless it was the truth. Whatever else was going on, she could believe in that.
“Oh.” Donna’s broken little voice barely registered over the phone. “I . . . I see.”
“You probably don’t.” He sounded almost amused. Cold.
“Actually, you’re right. I don’t.” Donna’s voice strengthened and Greer’s hands got sweaty with nervousness on the phone. “What is it about her that you’ve fallen in love with? Because I’m not seeing it. Is she rich or something?”
And just like that, her gut clenched. This was difficult to hear. Hurtful, too. Donna had warned her, but every word was like a dagger in her chest, and she dreaded Asher’s response. What was he going to say? It’s just the baby. There’s not much else to it.
Oh god, she might shatter into a million pieces if she heard those words come out of his mouth.
She didn’t want to listen, but she pressed a finger to the earbuds anyhow, trying to increase the volume so she wouldn’t miss a word.
“You wouldn’t understand, Donna.”
“Try me?”
His sigh of irritation made Greer’s shoulders hunch defensively. “She’s the only person in my life that has ever completely and totally had my back.”
Oh.
That . . . that wasn’t what she expected to hear. Nor had she expected to hear the soft note in his voice as he spoke. Hot tears poured down her cheeks. She’d had his back? When? How? She’d always loved him, but lately—
“What do you mean?” Donna’s voice had resumed its sugary note.
“I mean that looking back, I see a lot of things I was too blind to see in the past. Greer’s always been there for me. When I needed a friend, she was the first to extend her hand. When I needed money, she sent me a loan. She saved my business. She saved me. She’s given me so much of herself and I’ve given her nothing but grief, but I’m determined to change that.”
Greer gasped. He knew about the money? But she’d been so careful. She swiped at the tears running down her face. He’d never said to her . . .
“So it’s gratitude? Is this like a pity fuck?”
“I know it’s hard for you to believe, Donna, but I’m actually interested in Greer as a person, not just as a wallet. I love her. She makes me happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I love you,” Donna said, voice pleading. “I made you happy. Don’t you feel anything for me anymore?”
“Actually, yes. I do feel gratitude toward you, because if you hadn’t made my life so miserable, I would have been too blind to see the greatest thing in my life standing right in front of me.”
Okay, she was going to openly start sobbing right about now. Greer pressed a napkin to her mouth to quiet herself, but the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
“You’re an idiot,” Donna said, and there was a wealth of hurt and anger in her voice.
“I guess you’ve given up thoughts of reconciliation if we’re back to calling me an idiot?” He sounded amused. “That was fast.”
“You think she has your back? Your sweet little Greer will always support you?” There was another rustle of fabric and what sounded like stomping feet. “You want to know the truth, Asher? Come with me.”
Oh no. Greer stared down at the phone in her hand. Don’t do it, Donna. Don’t—
“There you go,” said a triumphant voice just as Greer pulled the earbuds out of her ears. Donna stood at Greer’s booth, extending a triumphant hand at the guilty party. Asher was there with her, a hint of a frown on his face.
Greer just swiped at the tears on her cheeks.
Donna waved her rhinestone-crusted phone in the air. “You’ve been on speakerphone the entire time. How’s that for trust?”
The look on Asher’s face darkened. He looked at Greer, then at Donna. “This was all a setup by the two of you?”
“No,” Greer said quietly.
“If by setup, do you mean we want you back?” Donna put her hands on her hips. “I thought I did.”
Asher looked back at Greer again, as if daring her to deny what had happened.
She couldn’t. She licked her lips, anxious, and quietly turned her phone off and stuck it in her purse. “Asher—”
He grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. “Come with me, Greer. We need to talk.”
Yeah, they did. Greer nodded and slid out of the booth. She couldn’t help but notice that Asher grabbed her hand again the moment she was standing.
“So what now?” Donna asked. She tossed her beautiful red hair. “What about me?”
Asher leaned in to her. “You can go fuck yourself.” Then he tugged on Greer’s hand. “We’re leaving.”
Chapter 14
Asher was furious.
Furious, and he knew he didn’t have any right to be. Seeing Greer there with Donna and realizing they’d pulled a trick on him? Realizing that he’d been going on and on about how Greer had always been there for him only to find out she was deceiving him right under his nose? It pissed him off and he knew that made him the world’s biggest hypocrite, but he didn’t care. They needed to have a private discussion and not in front of Donna.
So he clasped her fingers in his and pulled her along in his ruthless march onto the sidewalk. Greer’s small hand was clammy in his as he dragged her through the crowded streets of New York.
“Where are we going?” she asked after they swerved through a tangle of people.
He didn’t know that, either. His brain was a jumble of anger at the situation and relief at seeing her again. He wanted to pull her against him and kiss her until she was blue in the face just because she looked healthy and whole and he’d found her. He was so damn glad he’d found her. And yet . . . he wanted to bend her over his knee and spank her for leaving him without a word. He wanted to spank her again because she’d been deceiving him.
“Your apartment?” she suggested delicately when he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and people began to swerve around them.
He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to protect her. Even in his anger, he didn’t want her to be shoved or hurt. He noticed that she moved instinctively closer to him, and it helped cool his anger a bit. Asher nodded. “My apartment.” He moved to the curb and raised a hand, flagging a taxi. When one stopped, he opened the door for her and she got in.
The moment he slid in next to her, her thigh brushed his and a rush of memories came crashing back. His anger and frustration at her disappearing without a trace again. His misery when he realized he’d somehow fucked up again and she was ignoring him. His frantic need to find her again, only to be turned away at the door to her building. Hours staring at his phone, willing her to text him back, just to get nothing in return.
On impulse, he pulled her against him and cupped her chin. “You can be mad at me later, but right now, I’m going to kiss you.”
She gave him a puzzled look from
behind her glasses. “What—”
He silenced her with his mouth. No excuses, no explanations, just a meeting of lips and a quiet reassurance to him that she was there and she was his. She didn’t fight or protest; she melted against him. Her arms twined around his neck and she leaned into his body, her tongue stroking against his, and he felt a surge of fierce, possessive pleasure.
Whatever was going on between them wasn’t too broken for her to kiss him. He’d take that small victory.
He continued to kiss her, licking at her sweet mouth with deep strokes until the car stopped. She stared up at him, dazed, a look of drugged pleasure on her expressive face. “Upstairs,” he said between kisses. “We’ll finish this upstairs.”
Of course, by the time he’d paid the cabdriver and they’d taken the elevator back to his apartment, his head had cooled a little. He watched her, noticing the guilt in her expression and the way she fussed with her glasses to deliberately avoid eye contact. Yeah, someone was definitely feeling a little awkward at being caught. As well she should, he thought with irritation. What she’d done was a shitty, shitty thing.
He shut the door to the apartment and watched her as she stepped into the foyer. “So, you want to tell me what all this is about?”
“Not particularly, but I suppose I should, shouldn’t I?” She nervously tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I asked Donna to meet you and throw herself at you to see how you’d react.”
Just the thought made his head want to explode. “What the fuck, Greer?”
“I knew it was stupid,” she continued in that calm, even voice. “I just didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to know how you really felt about me and that seemed like the only way.”
He raked a hand through his hair. Fuck. She’d pushed his ex in his face just to see how he’d react? She’d fucking tried to trap him. Anger surged. “Why didn’t you fucking ask me how I felt? How’s that for starters?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Or how about listen to me all the times that I tell you that you’re beautiful and I love you?”
“First of all,” she said, stalking a few steps away. Gone were the nervous movements. Greer looked . . . angry. At him? He was the one who should be angry. “Men will tell a woman anything and everything to get in their bed. And second of all? Ask you?” She laughed and the sound was bitter and unhappy. “All you do is lie to me, Asher. How am I supposed to trust what you say to me?”