Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,269

not going to let him leave me with nothing.”

“I’m glad you found someone. Can I ask…”

“NELL!” she screams.

There’s a lot of splashing and screaming in the background and then a crash of glass. “NO!” Scarlett’s voice sounds farther away now. Before I can finish my question, the line dies.

I hold my phone out in front of me seeing the call ended. My head falls back in defeat. I just wanted one answer. I’m not even sure why it matters. So what if Roarke is representing David? That should mean nothing to me. Except it does. Can I continue to date a man who represents asshole men who want to leave their wives destitute?

That question plagues me for the next few hours as I watch the movie that comes on after Dirty Dancing. I have sushi delivered and wrap up the leftovers and put them in the fridge.

A text rings out from my phone four hours after Roarke left.

Roarke: Sorry, I’m going to be longer than I thought. Get some sleep and I’ll be there when you wake up.

Me: K

I place my phone on the counter and move over to his floor to ceiling windows that look out over the city. Leaning my shoulder on the glass, I stare out at the city, wondering where he is and more importantly who he’s with.

I could strangle Todd. Couldn’t he have left me before he cheated? That way I wouldn’t be feeling like it’s déjà vu with Roarke leaving so unexpectedly. For Todd it was always an emergency at the hospital. That continued to work until he left me at a restaurant and I found him five blocks down on the corner with a woman. He’d assumed I’d take a cab home, but I had decided to walk instead. I ducked behind the corner until he ushered the young redhead into the back of a cab. When I confronted him, he told me that he was sharing a cab with someone. That for some reason he couldn’t get one to stop for him because it was a Saturday night. I naively accepted the answer, but my antenna went up then.

Because of him, I’m doubting Roarke’s faithfulness.

“You’re the only woman.” His voice rings through my head. His truthful hazel eyes hadn’t reflected an ounce of deceit yet my stomach still churns wondering why he’s been gone this long.

I stir awake and immediately register the feel of Roarke’s body pressed to mine. His arm is draped over my body, his chest against my back. Sliding out from under his hold, I glance to the corner to find Lucy and Nickel sound asleep together on her dog bed. They really do get along well.

Closing the bathroom door, I turn on the shower, needing to get ready for brunch at the club with my parents.

Under the stream of warm water, my mind clears in the morning light. I cannot put Roarke in the same category as Todd. That’s completely unfair and he’s given me no real reason to doubt him.

The shower door opens and since Lucy or Nickel don’t have opposable thumbs, I’m not surprised when Roarke’s hands wrap around my waist and his face nuzzles into my neck.

“Sorry I was late last night,” he whispers, stepping into the waterfall of his shower.

“You should sleep. What time did you get in?”

He groans. “Two.”

A plethora of questions run through my mind. I want to know specifically where he was until two. What kind of client needs him to be out that late? My lawyer billed me triple once when I bothered him on a Friday at six.

“Everything is okay?” I ask instead.

I feel his head nod along my neck.

“You can’t tell me?” I ask, digging a little more, but not too much.

“I wish I could.” His lips travel down to my shoulder, sweeping my wet hair out of the way to kiss the back of my neck.

Does he? the devil on my left shoulder asks.

“I promise to make it up to you.” He twists me around to face him and there’s nothing in his eyes but pure regret for leaving me so long last night.

I step into his arms and kiss his chest, wanting him to show me that I really am the only woman for him.

His hands slide down and venture to my ass and his hard erection hits my stomach. When his lips land on mine, my mind hazes and for the moment it’s only us. He pushes me against the glass and pulls one leg