“Yet here we are.” He blew out a deep breath. “Summer, honestly, it's nothing against you. It's not meant as an insult, baby, it's just business."
She wasn't sure if she was angry at him for playing her or angry at herself for falling for it. She should have known he would use her. She certainly knew his type. It was disheartening to know he really wasn't any different from the others.
"Look, it wasn't my idea.” He flicked his ashes in obvious irritation. “It's my manager. Apparently I'm too tempting of a target and well, you know how they are. Too many damn sleazy reporters have tried..."
His words trailed off as disappointment and hurt flickered across her face. She turned away disappearing back into the bedroom even as he called of after her. “Summer, wait, I didn't mean you."
Summer slapped the document back down on the desk. She yanked on his boxer shorts then searched the bedroom for the few belongings she'd brought with her. Sleazy reporters my ass , she thought bitterly. Non-disclosure statement.
"Summer, wait. Please don't leave angry."
"I'm not angry.” Her voice was calm and level even though inside she was trembling. She dragged her purse over her shoulder and stormed across the room.
He lifted an arm and pressed his palm against the doorway to block her exit from the bedroom. His dark gaze settled on her and much to her surprise she saw hurt flicker within them. “You are angry."
"No, I'm not. I'm grateful actually.” She forced a smile even though she felt like crying. “Thank you for the dose of reality. I almost forgot where I was ... who I was with."
"Summer.” Her name came out ragged on his expelled breath.
She ducked under his arm and scooted past him as she headed for the door.
"You know this business, Summer, you know how people are. We all have to protect ourselves. Don't be so touchy, baby."
Unable to resist, Summer turned about on her heels. Her narrowed gaze settled on his handsome face. “I'm not touchy, I'm just realistic."
"It's just a piece of paper."
Summer closed the distance between them. She lifted her chin defiantly. “You think I'm angry because I don't want to sign your little insurance policy?"
Anthony nodded.
Summer stormed past him. She went back into the bedroom and picked up the document. She snatched a pen off the desk and signed her name to the bottom.
She shoved the paper at his bare chest. He slapped his hand over it as she yanked hers away.
She said nothing as she headed for the door. She let her hand rest on the knob as she paused and cast a glance over her shoulder. Anthony stood naked, all but for his boxers and the piece of paper he still clutched against his chest. “Thank you for a lovely weekend, Mr. Phoenix. It was ... enlightening to say the least."
She slipped out of his hotel room and slammed the door behind her.
Alone in the hall she paused. Her knees trembled beneath her, the strength fleeing her body as she drew in a deep, steadying breath.
She waited, counting her breaths. One. Two. Three. Four.
Silence greeted her.
What was she waiting for? Did she expect him to follow? Did she really expect him to come running after her, beg her to stay? She was an idiot. A first class idiot.
Summer stepped onto the elevator and out of his life.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Nine
Summer stood in line at the terminal. Somewhere in a private hangar Anthony was doing the same. “Bastard,” she cursed bitterly beneath her breath. Damn arrogant asshole with his fucking paperwork for sex.
She handed the attendant her ticket, forcing a smile she didn't quite feel as she boarded the plane. She plopped down in her seat.
She was the asshole. She had fallen for his seductions. Let him do with her exactly as he pleased and she had encouraged it. Hell, he'd even made her beg for it. What an asshole she was.
She rested her purse in her lap and pawed through the contents until she found her cell phone. She supposed she should call Spencer
She wasn't sure if she was angry at him for playing her or angry at herself for falling for it. She should have known he would use her. She certainly knew his type. It was disheartening to know he really wasn't any different from the others.
"Look, it wasn't my idea.” He flicked his ashes in obvious irritation. “It's my manager. Apparently I'm too tempting of a target and well, you know how they are. Too many damn sleazy reporters have tried..."
His words trailed off as disappointment and hurt flickered across her face. She turned away disappearing back into the bedroom even as he called of after her. “Summer, wait, I didn't mean you."
Summer slapped the document back down on the desk. She yanked on his boxer shorts then searched the bedroom for the few belongings she'd brought with her. Sleazy reporters my ass , she thought bitterly. Non-disclosure statement.
"Summer, wait. Please don't leave angry."
"I'm not angry.” Her voice was calm and level even though inside she was trembling. She dragged her purse over her shoulder and stormed across the room.
He lifted an arm and pressed his palm against the doorway to block her exit from the bedroom. His dark gaze settled on her and much to her surprise she saw hurt flicker within them. “You are angry."
"No, I'm not. I'm grateful actually.” She forced a smile even though she felt like crying. “Thank you for the dose of reality. I almost forgot where I was ... who I was with."
"Summer.” Her name came out ragged on his expelled breath.
She ducked under his arm and scooted past him as she headed for the door.
"You know this business, Summer, you know how people are. We all have to protect ourselves. Don't be so touchy, baby."
Unable to resist, Summer turned about on her heels. Her narrowed gaze settled on his handsome face. “I'm not touchy, I'm just realistic."
"It's just a piece of paper."
Summer closed the distance between them. She lifted her chin defiantly. “You think I'm angry because I don't want to sign your little insurance policy?"
Anthony nodded.
Summer stormed past him. She went back into the bedroom and picked up the document. She snatched a pen off the desk and signed her name to the bottom.
She shoved the paper at his bare chest. He slapped his hand over it as she yanked hers away.
She said nothing as she headed for the door. She let her hand rest on the knob as she paused and cast a glance over her shoulder. Anthony stood naked, all but for his boxers and the piece of paper he still clutched against his chest. “Thank you for a lovely weekend, Mr. Phoenix. It was ... enlightening to say the least."
She slipped out of his hotel room and slammed the door behind her.
Alone in the hall she paused. Her knees trembled beneath her, the strength fleeing her body as she drew in a deep, steadying breath.
She waited, counting her breaths. One. Two. Three. Four.
Silence greeted her.
What was she waiting for? Did she expect him to follow? Did she really expect him to come running after her, beg her to stay? She was an idiot. A first class idiot.
Summer stepped onto the elevator and out of his life.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Nine
Summer stood in line at the terminal. Somewhere in a private hangar Anthony was doing the same. “Bastard,” she cursed bitterly beneath her breath. Damn arrogant asshole with his fucking paperwork for sex.
She handed the attendant her ticket, forcing a smile she didn't quite feel as she boarded the plane. She plopped down in her seat.
She was the asshole. She had fallen for his seductions. Let him do with her exactly as he pleased and she had encouraged it. Hell, he'd even made her beg for it. What an asshole she was.
She rested her purse in her lap and pawed through the contents until she found her cell phone. She supposed she should call Spencer
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