Chapter 23
Sydney
I was in the kitchen baking when Dane came back to the house. It was nearly seven, time for dinner and I had no idea where he had been for the rest of the day. Not like I could ask either, it wasn’t like I had any authority to ask.
Leo was long gone. I had politely insisted that he leave, several times, before he actually got up and left. Not before reminding me that he would check up on my progress with my connections shortly. I was flustered and frustrated with him. Calling James was not something I was considering any more and it seemed like Leo wasn’t prepared to leave me alone either.
When Dane came into the house, he went directly upstairs. I heard the sound of his footsteps up the stairs, surprised that he hadn’t come in to see me. I couldn’t understand if he was upset with me still or just distracted.
I continued to knead the dough, and when Dane had still not come down for the meal, I left the table already set and decided to go upstairs. I was wiping my hands on the apron tied to my waist, as I took the steps up. I could hear him walking around in his room, and I stopped for a few moments in front of the door.
When I knocked, I felt my breath catch in my throat. I hadn’t seen Dane in several hours, I wasn’t sure how my mind would react to seeing him again. He took his time in opening the door, and when he did, he looked at me with his brows crossed. As though he was annoyed that I had interrupted something important that he was doing.
“Yes?” he said, like he was speaking to a member of staff at a hotel. I felt my heart break a little, I wanted him to be gentle and kind to me again, the way he was that afternoon. I could feel the back of my neck burning up.
“I have our dinner ready downstairs. Do you want to come down, or should I wait for you?” I asked, tucking in strands of hair behind my ears. His gaze was strong and burning up my face. He was glaring at me like I had said something unimaginable to him.
“No, please don’t wait for me. I don’t think I’ll have time for dinner,” he said, still looking at me with the same raging stare.
“Oh? Are you going out?” I asked him in a meek voice.
“I’m going,” he said flatly, without missing a beat. I felt a searing pain in my gut. I forced myself to meet his eyes, and hoped that I hadn’t heard him correctly.
“Going where?” I said and Dane’s gaze fell to my lips briefly.
“Going back, I’m leaving,” he said, still in the voice that sounded like he had a heart made of ice. Our eyes met again, and now I felt the tears gushing back into me. He was leaving? Just like that? Just when I chose him. I had chosen him over Leo. I had made my decision that afternoon, and I was going to tell him over dinner that I wasn’t going to call James.
I was desperate to tell him this right then, as he stared at me. But something told me that his decision to leave had nothing to do with me, or my inclination to call James. He had got what he wanted. Sleeping with a stranger while on vacation, and now it was time for him to go back to his normal life.
“Why?” I blurted out, before I could stop myself from asking, and Dane took in a deep breath.
“Work beckons. I’m not suited for vacations. I will make sure that you’re paid for the rest of the week of course, or till such time that you get your next booking,” he said and I shook my head.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said and Dane pursed his lips.
“I insist. My PA will take care of it,” he said and I couldn’t protest further. Not because I wanted his money, but because there was such a huge change in him. I couldn’t understand it.
We had sex in the afternoon, I opened up to him, he gave me advice and it seemed like he genuinely cared for me. Was that all pretense? Just to get me to sleep with him again?
“When are you leaving?” I asked, clasping my hands together.
“In half an hour. I’ve called for a cab,” he said and toyed with the door. Like he was trying to communicate to me that he wanted to shut the door. I got the hint.
“Okay. I hope you have a safe trip,” I said and turned around and walked hurriedly down the hall and the stairs.
In the kitchen I locked the door behind me, taking in deep sharp breaths because I felt like I couldn’t breathe. How could I have been that foolish? To actually think that Dane Forsyth might be different. He was exactly like James. I had fallen into the same trap all over again!
I could feel the tears coming, which I tried to hold back because I couldn’t bear to cry any more. I shouldn’t have slept with a guest. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to be that weak for a man who reminded me of James. My instincts were correct about him. He was just like all the rest. At least now I wouldn’t have to see him ever again. I could finally be free of Dane Forsyth.