The End of Faking It. Natalie Anderson

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ he liked, and the short time frame saved them from any possible messiness. He just had to ensure she understood the benefits—and the boundaries.

      In the privacy of the stairwell he opened the card still attached to the flowers.

       Hoping to see you again tonight—Aaron.

      Carter’s muscles tightened. Had she seen him last night? Maybe she had had a hot date after meeting up with the women. Had she gone to this Aaron with the taste of Carter still on her? Because he could still taste her—hot, fresh, hungry.

      He wasn’t in the least surprised to think she’d go to another guy having just blown hot for him; he was well used to women who manipulated, playing one man off against another. His ex had done exactly that—trying to force him into making a commitment by making him jealous. It hadn’t worked. And he sure as hell wasn’t feeling jealous now. The aggro sharpening his body this minute was because of the threat to Mason. Not Penny.

      He stalked out to Reception and put the flowers on the counter. ‘I think a courier company is coming to pick these up.’

      The receptionist grinned as she looked at them. ‘Penny sent them down?’ She shook her head. ‘That’s the third bunch this week. She’s mad not to want them.’

      The third this week? It was only Tuesday. Yeah, she would like holding the interest of multiple men. His long-held cynicism surged higher—there was no doubt Penny was as greedy and needy as every other woman he’d known.

      It was almost an hour before Carter reappeared, a piece of paper in his hand and a frown creasing his brow. ‘Penny, I need you to—’

      He broke off as her phone started ringing.

      She shrugged an apology and answered it. ‘Nicholls Finance, Penny speaking.’

      ‘Did you get the flowers?’

      ‘Aaron,’ she whispered, inwardly groaning. She darted a look at Carter, then turned away on her chair so he wouldn’t see the flush rising in her cheeks. She already knew he was rude enough to stay and listen. Her best option was to end the call asap. ‘It really isn’t convenient to talk right now—’

      ‘Did you get them?’

      ‘Yes, I’m sorry, I should have called but it’s been a busy morning.’ And she could hardly let him down without some privacy. ‘Can I call you back?’

      ‘The roses reminded me of you. Stunningly beautiful but with some dangerous prickles.’

      Yes, she’d encountered one of those real prickles. She shrank more into her chair. ‘Look, it was lovely of you but—’

      ‘Dinner tonight. No excuses.’

      She breathed in and tried to stay calm. ‘That’s a nice idea but—’

      ‘I’ve already made the reservations. It’s my only night off this week and I want to spend it all with you.’

      ‘Aaron, I’m sorry but—’

      The phone was taken out of her hand.

      ‘Look, mate, don’t bother. She has a new boyfriend and she’s allergic to flowers. She’s already sent them on to the hospice down the road.’

      Penny stared as Carter leaned across her desk. She couldn’t hear what Aaron said in response—she could hardly process what Carter had just said so complacently.

      ‘Yeah, I know. Save your dough. It isn’t going to happen.’ Carter hung up the phone and then looked at her coolly. ‘So, I was saying I need you to track down some files for me.’

      For a moment she was too shocked to fully feel the rising fury. But then it truck-slammed into her. ‘What did you just do?’

      Carter met her gaze with inhuman calm. ‘Solved your problem. He won’t bother you again.’

      ‘How could you do that?’

      ‘Easily. And you should have done it sooner already. Your body language said one thing, your mouth another. You looked like you wanted to hide under your desk for fear he’d appear, but you were brushing him off too gentle. A guy like that doesn’t get subtle, Penny. You need the sledgehammer approach.’

      ‘I didn’t need you to be the sledgehammer.’ She shook her head. ‘That was bully behaviour.’

      ‘It was man talking to man,’ he argued with an eye-roll for added effect. ‘And more honest than the drivel coming out of your mouth.’

      ‘I was handling him,’ she said defensively.

      ‘You were playing with him.’ Now he didn’t sound so calm. Now he sounded that little bit nasty.

      Her hands shook as she brushed her hair behind her ear. She hadn’t been playing with Aaron, she’d been trying to be nice.

      ‘Three bunches of flowers this week already, isn’t it, Penny? You’re not even honest enough to tell him you don’t want them, let alone that you don’t want him.’

      Because she didn’t want to be rude. She never wanted to hurt anyone. Never. Horrified tears prickled her eyes as she panicked over Aaron’s reaction to Carter’s heavy-handedness.

      ‘Why are you so upset?’ He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. ‘Oh, I get it. You liked to leave him hanging? Was it good for your ego? You like getting all the flowers and attention? You’re a tease.’

      ‘I’m not.’ She jerked up out of her chair, beyond hurt at the words he’d just used.

      ‘You are,’ he argued. ‘Why else wouldn’t you cut him free sooner?’

      ‘I tried.’ She snatched the paper off him and marched to the filing cabinet, hauling the drawer open with a loud bang.

      ‘That wasn’t trying.’ He followed and faced her as she rummaged through the files. ‘You’re not stupid, Penny. You could have flicked him off much sooner.’

      ‘Maybe I’m not as arrogant or as rude as you are.’ She slapped files on the top of the steel. ‘I don’t like trampling on people’s feelings.’

      ‘You don’t think it’s worse to string him along so your ego can be inflated some more?’

      ‘That wasn’t what I was doing.’ She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

      ‘Oh, don’t tell me you really liked him?’ He looked stunned. ‘Were you just making life hell for him? Playing with him so he’d do anything you ask him to?’

      ‘Of course not!’ She clenched her teeth. ‘I was trying to make it clear that nothing was going to happen. I thought I had already. But he didn’t deserve your kind of in-your-face humiliation.’

      ‘What he doesn’t deserve is you screwing him up and spitting him out only when you’re sick of chewing him over.’

      Breathing hard, she glared at him as fury burned along her veins. ‘Wow, you think СКАЧАТЬ