The Uber ride back to her car was probably the most mortifying experience of Hayden’s life. Somehow, while she’d gotten dressed, ordered the car, murmured a soft goodbye to Brody, she’d managed to rein in her emotions. But the second she slid into the back seat and watched Brody’s beautiful house disappear in the rearview mirror, she’d burst into tears.
Looking stunned, the driver handed her a small packet of tissues then promptly ignored her. Despite the tears fogging her vision, she noticed the man shooting her strange looks in the mirror. Apparently, it wasn’t every day that a brokenhearted woman in tears rode in his back seat.
And brokenhearted was the only word she could come up with to describe how she felt right now. Although she’d told Brody the breakup was for the best, her heart ached so badly it felt like someone had scraped it with a razor blade. All she wanted to do was go back to the penthouse, crawl under the covers and cry.
The driver dropped her at the arena, where she got into her rental car and swiped at her wet eyes, taking a few calming breaths.
Fifteen excruciatingly long minutes later, she was walking into the hotel, hoping nobody noticed her blotchy face. In the lobby, the clerk behind the check-in desk gestured at her.
Hayden reluctantly headed over and was surprised when he said, “There’s a man waiting for you in the bar.”
Hope and happiness soared inside her.
Brody.
It had to be. And he would’ve definitely had time to get here before her, since she’d had to pick up her car. Maybe he realized how foolish it was to end things because of something a reporter had written.
She hurried across the marble floor toward the large oak doors leading into the hotel bar. Only a few patrons were inside, but when she searched for Brody’s massive shoulders and unruly dark hair, she came up empty-handed.
Disappointment crashed into her. Of course he wasn’t here. He’d made it clear back at his place that he couldn’t risk his career by being seen with her.
She glanced around again, then faltered when her gaze landed on a man she’d dismissed during her first inspection.
Doug.
Oh, God. What was he doing here?
“Hayden!” He rose from his seat and walked toward her with a timid smile.
She stared at him, taking in the familiar sight of his blond hair, arranged in a no-nonsense haircut. His pale blue eyes, serious as always. That lean, trim body he kept in shape at the university gym. He wore a pair of starched tan slacks and a crisp, white button-down shirt, and the attire kind of irked her. Everything about Doug was neat and orderly and unbelievably tedious. She found herself longing for even the tiniest bit of disorder. An undone button. A coffee stain. A patch of stubble he’d missed while shaving.
But there was nothing disorderly about this man. He was like a perfectly wrapped gift that only used three efficient pieces of tape and featured a little bow with the same length tails. The kind of gift you hesitated to open because you’d feel like an ass messing it up.
Brody, on the other hand… He was a gift you tore open the second you got it—the exterior didn’t matter because you knew what it contained was a million times better anyway.
Tears stung her eyes at the thought.
“Hi,” Doug said gently. “It’s good to see you.”
She wanted to tell him it was good to see him, too, but the words refused to come out. They stared at each other for a moment, and then he was pulling her into an awkward embrace. She half-heartedly hugged him back, noticing that the feel of his arms around her had no effect on her whatsoever.
“I know I shouldn’t have come,” Doug said, releasing her. “But after the way we left things… I thought we needed to talk. In person.”
“You’re right.” She swallowed. “Do you want to come up?”
He nodded.
Without a word, they walked out of the bar and headed for the elevator. Silence stretched between them as they rode the car up to the penthouse. Hayden wanted to apologize to him again, and yet she wasn’t sure she felt apologetic anymore. She and Doug had been on a break when she’d started seeing Brody, and though she regretted hurting him, she couldn’t will up any regret about what she felt for Brody.
“I was shocked when you told me that you were seeing someone else,” Doug began when they stepped into the suite.
“I know.” Guilt tugged at her gut. “I’m sorry I just dropped it on you like that, and over the phone, but I had to be honest.”
“I’m glad you were.” He stepped closer, his eyes glimmering with something she couldn’t put a finger on. “And it was the kick in the ass I needed. It made me realize how much I don’t want to lose you.”
He reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek.
Discomfort crept up her spine.
“I love you, Hayden,” Doug said earnestly. “I should have said it a long time ago, but I wanted to go slow. I guess I was going too slow. I’m sorry.” He moved closer, but he didn’t touch her again, or try to kiss her. He just offered an affectionate smile. “I decided we’ve waited long enough. I want us to cross that bridge. I want us to make love.”
Oh, God, not the intimacy bridge.
Hysterical laughter bubbled inside her throat. “Doug—”
“It’s finally the right time.”
Maybe it’s the right time for you, she wanted to say. But for her, that perfect moment she might’ve shared with Doug had slipped away the second Brody Croft had walked into her life.
He reached out for her again, but she moved back, guilty when she saw the hurt in his eyes.
“It’s not the right time,” she said quietly. “And I think there’s a reason we never reached this point before. I think…it wasn’t meant to be.”
He went still. “I see,” he said, his voice stiff.
She took hold of his hand, squeezing his fingers tightly. “You know I’m right. Would you honestly be saying all of this now, if I hadn’t met someone else?”
“Yes.” But his voice lacked conviction.
“I think we got together because it was comfortable. We were friends, colleagues, two people who liked each other well enough…but we’re not soulmates, Doug.”
Pain circled her heart. She hated saying these words to him, but there was no other choice.
Being with Brody had made her realize that she wasn’t going to settle for a man just because he happened to be nice and dependable. As wild and sexy and unpredictable as Brody was, he was also honest and tender. More intelligent than he gave himself credit for. Strong, funny, generous. There was so much to love about him, so many things to—
Wait, had she fallen in love with him?
No, she couldn’t have. Brody was just a fling. He might have some wonderful traits, but his career would constantly keep him away from her. She wanted someone safe, someone solid. Not someone who was bold and arrogant and passionate and temporary and—fuck.
She did love him. And wasn’t it ironic that she’d only figured it out the day he broke up with her.
“Hayden? Please don’t cry, honey.”
She glanced up to see Doug’s worried expression, then touched her cheeks and felt the tears. She quickly wiped them away. “Doug… I’m sorry,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say.
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry, too.” He tilted his head, looking a bit confused. “But I don’t see what’s so wrong with comfortable.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. But I want more than comfort. I want love and passion and…” She swallowed. “I want earth-shattering.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “I don’t have much experience in shattering a woman’s world, I’m afraid.”
No, but Brody did.
Unfortunately, he also had plenty of experience in shattering a woman’s heart.
