to get back?”
“No, I don’t think so.” I shook my head. “We should leave now.”
“Are you mad that I got lost?” He gave me what I assumed was his puppy dog face, and I tried not to roll my eyes. Did he think I was stupid? Or that I was interested in him? And wasn’t he gay? Why would he think I’d fall for that?
Because he’s an actor, a voice in my head shouted at me. I wanted to slap myself. How had I been so blind as to everything that was going on around me?
“Do we have time to have a …” Gordon started and his voice trailed off as I gave him my best death stare. I knew that he was slightly confused as to why I was being so cold to him, but I was done with men like him and Wade. Shit, for all I knew they were cut from the same cloth.
“It was great seeing you. Let’s chat soon.” I said as I closed the front door behind me and walked to my car. “Bye.” I got into the car and slammed the door shut. I watched as Gordon got into his car. No way was I going to leave while he was still on the property. Who knew what he would do if I just left?
I started my car as soon as I saw his car driving away from the house and followed him out. As I pulled into the main road, I looked left and then right and was surprised that I couldn’t see the tail of Gordon’s car. He must have been driving fast to have made it out of sight already.
As I drove along the street, I wondered why he would have sped away.
Chapter 5
“Jolene, my darkling!” I bent down as my scrappy little dog came running towards me, tongue out.
“Did you just call her your darkling or your darling?” Lucy followed behind him at a much more leisurely pace. She was carrying two big duffel bags and Jolene’s leash in her hands.
“I meant to say darling, but I called him darkling by mistake.” I laughed as I rubbed the top of her head.
“Called him darkling?” Lucy raised an eyebrow. “Are you distracted or something?”
“Oh, oops.” I kissed Jolene. “I meant her, my beautiful darling girl.” I grinned and then gave Lucy a hug. “I’m so happy to see you. My mind has been all over the place.”
“Thinking about Wade?”
“Who else?” I groaned as we talked towards the car. “I’m so glad you guys are here, though. I’ve missed you both so much. I don’t even know how I’ve survived this long without you both.”
“I don’t know either, darkling.” Lucy giggled and then brought me in for a big hug. “I’ve missed you like, whoa! Also, Jolene may very well be related to the Dark Lord.”
“The Dark Lord?”
“He who shall not be named.” She giggled. “Sometimes I think Jolene was channeling him in the middle of the night when she would start whining to go out to pee.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” I grabbed her bags to walk them the rest of the way to the car. “I owe you big time.”
“I wouldn’t say big time, but I want to know everything. Everything.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me as we got to the Range Rover. “Nice ride.”
“Well, my boss is kind of a big deal.” I giggled as we got into the SUV. “Or at least he has a lot of money.”
“I wouldn’t mind him dropping me off a few stacks.”
“Dropping you off a few stacks?” I raised an eyebrow as I pressed the button to start the engine. “Say what?”
“That’s what all the cool kids say.”
“We’re not cool.”
“I know, but we can try to be.” She sat back in the seat and started messing with the buttons that operated the seat. “Oh shit, this seat has a massager and heats up?” She moaned as she sat back. “Can this be my new home?”
“Oh, Lucy, I’ve missed you.” I laughed as I drove out of the parking lot and made the way back to Hart Manor (as I thought of it in my head). There’s something about being with close friends that can just make your day. It’s comforting and warm, and they make you feel secure and whole. Lucy was that friend for me. No matter how crazy my brain was or how fried my emotions were, when I was with Lucy, I felt a sense of peace and