It was only after Tory had arrived back at her apartment and locked the door behind her did she allow herself to burst into tears. A part of her felt foolish for crying over a man she barely knew, but her heart was too broken to accept that kind of reason.

What had she expected? A happily ever after with a man she had already guessed to be a player? Even Joanne had said as much when they had bumped into each other at The Roast, and Pierce himself had admitted to a colorful past.

But both of them had also told her he had changed, was different. Oh, how she had wanted to believe that, or to fool herself into believing it. Truth was, she had been starting to see a future with Pierce, as hard as that was to admit.

And look where it got me, she thought, stumbling over to her couch and curling up under a comforter.

She never wanted to leave. If only she could just stay on that couch forever, bury her head under the comforter, until she forgot all about Pierce. That was unlikely to happen, though. He had managed to burrow himself into her thoughts, and even into her heart.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Tory repeated in her mind, trying to distract herself from thinking about her feelings for him.

What struck her most was how Pierce had tried to explain himself. How could he even get the words out of his lying mouth? What, did a pair of panties just float in through the open window straight into his bedroom and under his mattress?

The nerve of that asshole.

Heartbreak slowly turned into fear as she replayed their conversation in her head. Anger was a hot, burning, fueling feeling, something she could hold onto to drive her forward. She focused on that fury, because it was easier to deal with than the anguish and sorrow Pierce’s actions had caused her.

Was it possible to fall in love with someone in a matter of days? She wouldn’t have thought so before meeting Pierce. But now, she would never know, would she? It was over. She wasn’t one to be played.

Pierce was a very good player, though, she had to admit. For a moment his surprise and confusion had even seemed genuine. Was it something he had practiced? Was Tory just another idiot in a long line of deceived women?

The text she had gotten earlier now felt like a prediction. She still didn’t know who the message had come from, but she didn’t really care. At the time, she had tried her hardest to dismiss it, choosing to trust in Pierce rather than believe some vague, anonymous warning.

Now, she regretted that choice. There were a lot of choices she regretted, actually. Ever saying ‘yes’ to Pierce when he asked her out was one of them. Ignoring his shady behavior was a close second. And then there was the decision to open her heart to him.

I’ve learned my lesson, she thought bitterly, wiping away her tears.

* * *

Tory knew her eyes were still a little red when she entered The Roast, avoiding James’ gaze as she ordered her regular. But with her tossing and turning all of last night, unable to not think about Pierce despite the way it hurt, she needed the caffeine boost.

When she finally looked up, hot cup in hand, to see if there were any seats open, she almost ran back the way she came. There he was, standing in the middle of the coffee shop, looking straight at her.

Pierce.

Seeing him again was like a kick in the gut. Her fingers dented the coffee cup as her grip around it tightened, and anger swelled in her chest. He rushed to her side before she could turn around and leave, looking tired and disheveled.

“Please, just a minute of your time,” he said in hushed tones.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Tory replied, turning on her heel and marching away.

His footsteps followed her as she walked outside, and now Tory was seriously considering dumping her coffee on him. But that would be taking it a step too far, wouldn’t it?

“Don’t say anything, just listen,” he said, easily keeping pace at her side no matter how fast she walked.

Damn long-legged shifter jerk, Tory fumed.

“I thought about it last night, and there can only be one explanation – Bonnie planted those panties there. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” he said.

Tory scoffed, giving him the biggest eye-roll she could manage.

“Of course,” she slapped her palm against her forehead. “How did I not think of that? What a perfectly logical conclusion,” she said, acid dripping from her tone.

“No, really,” Pierce insisted. “I didn’t tell you everything about our break-up. She keyed my car. Put my name on Craigslist with bogus postings. Showed up everywhere I went. Called me at all hours. And she started calling me again after she saw us together outside the restaurant.”

More than irritated, Tory stopped in her tracks, whirling on Pierce.

“You’re going to blame this on your crazy ex-girlfriend? You had all night to come up with a story, and this is what I get?” she demanded.

“You don’t think I know how this sounds?” he countered, staring right into her eyes. “But humor me, just for a second. Bonnie forgot her phone at my house once, and I was busy at work. So she swung by and I gave her my key so she could go get it. She came back later that day and returned my key, and I thought nothing of it,” he said.

Gritting her teeth, Tory did her best to listen without letting her emotions get the better of her. Hell, why did he have to look so sincere, so desperate to get her to believe him? Those dark eyes burrowed right into her soul, and in a moment of weakness, all she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms.

“I think I know where this is going,” she interjected. “You think she copied your key without you knowing.”

She could tell by his expression that was exactly what he had been getting at.

“And the open window when we got to my place last night,” he added. “Remember, I said it was weird? That was before we ever stepped foot in the bedroom. I think she left it open to air the place out, so I wouldn’t catch her scent and know what was up.”

A small sliver of doubt crept inside Tory’s brain. Was it because he was making some semblance of sense, or did she just want to believe him so badly? She couldn’t tell anymore. Her trust in herself had become too shaky.

“She has to be seriously messed up to do something like this, you realize that, right? Like, needs professional help messed up,” she said.

“I know,” he nodded. “But I also know it’s the only plausible explanation, because Tory… I don’t want anyone but you. And I definitely would never do anything to risk our relationship, least of all cheat on you.”

Blinking up at him, she didn’t know what to say. Did his words hold any weight anymore?

“Do you have any proof of this crazy theory, other than an open window?” she asked.

“No,” Pierce admitted, his face falling. “But what if I can get some?”

Tory had to admit, her curiosity was getting the better of her. The ache in her chest slowly subsided as she studied Pierce, her lips pursed and eyes narrowed.

“Go on,” she said.