Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) - J.C. Reed Page 0,20

he just had a cut.

Why the hell was I even noticing those things?

“I know you lied to me,” I whispered. “The least you could have done before you married me is be honest with me and tell me you’re Mystery Guy.”

“Who?”

“That’s the name I gave you after we met in that elevator.”

“Nice one.” He grinned but I didn’t return his smile. His smile died as he caught my expression. “You weren’t joking.” He grimaced. “Okay, I admit I owe you an explanation for my lies.”

The gentleness in his tone touched me, pulled at my heartstrings, but for some reason it also made me angry. A liar admitting or confessing all his lies?

That wasn’t going to happen.

Lies are like cobwebs. The moment you take one down, others will take its place. It was impossible for Chase to admit to one lie and be honest when he was cagey about everything else.

“I’m not interested,” I said and waved my hand dismissively. “Not anymore. You had your chance to explain everything. You didn’t.”

“No, you never gave me that chance, Laurie.” His tone was accusatory. “You just ran off and left your ring behind.” As if to prove his point, his hand slid into his pocket, and he retrieved the ring. My jaw dropped. I stared at the narrow band of gold shimmering in the daylight, imaging him carrying it around with him.

“Why?” I asked.

He frowned, not getting the question.

“Why did you bring it with you?” I clarified.

“Because we’re married.”

My eyes met his gaze.

And there it was again. That hurt expression that made me feel bad.

God, he really deserved an Oscar for being such a good actor.

Next thing I knew he’d be coming with the whole ‘where you end, I begin’ kind of crap. No idea whether he ever took acting lessons, but he was definitely talented.

Something broke inside me hard and fast—something I knew would make me forgive Chase. It took all my willpower not to give in.

I glanced at the ring. “You can throw it away. I don’t need it anymore.”

His eyes narrowed on me again, the hurt expression from before gone—replaced with so much coldness, it was palpable in the air.

His hand closed around the ring.

“Are you sure? Because the way you keep looking at and touching me, it looks like we’re still on.”

His gaze fell on my hand on his arm.

Holy cow.

When did I touch him?

Damn my body for wanting him the way it did.

Damn Chase for knowing how to evoke the kind of primal instincts I didn’t know I even possessed.

I drew my hand back as if I had just been burned, wishing I could do the same with my feelings.

Pull them in, control them, banish them.

“I’m not interested,” I said, more resolute. “What I wrote on the paper, I meant it. I want you to stay away from me.”

He grimaced, and something flashed across his face.

Disappointment, I realized.

“If you think I’ll give you up that easily, you’re mistaken,” Chase said.

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered and turned away to the taxi halting at the corner.

Only after taking my seat in the back and slamming the door did I throw a glance back, expecting Chase to be standing here, ready to dash after me. To my surprise, the space was empty.

Like a ghost, he had just disappeared, his last words echoing in my mind.

Chapter 9

I reached the hotel in less than an hour.

The moment I closed the door behind me, I sank on the bed, my arms spread out to either side. As I stared at the ugly stained ceiling, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind. But it was not the state of the ceiling that kept my attention busy.

It was Chase’s words.

Chase’s eyes.

Chase’s lips.

And his frigging, muscular chest.

How could anyone so physically perfect have such a flawed character? I had never asked him if he worked out, but there was no doubt that he was doing something to look so godlike.

Does it even matter, Laurie?

I groaned inwardly. Since meeting Chase, I had asked myself that one question on numerous occasions.

So far from home, I had thought I could escape his allure and get a grip on myself. That I’d stop wanting him. Stop fantasizing about having him inside me, and forget all about his breathtaking eyes, which seemed to undress me at every opportunity.

And yet I found that I couldn’t escape the memory of his disappointed expression when I walked away, and the stupid hope that he’d come after me, which he didn’t do.

But that wasn’t