CHAPTER 13
Lia
I felt so much lighter the next day as I pulled into the parking garage of Zeke’s penthouse, surprised to see that his Range Rover was already in his parking spot.
I’d knocked off early since my manager was on duty, and I picked up some groceries so I could make Zeke chicken parmesan with pasta, his favorite.
Cooking for him was never a chore since he went out of his way to let me know how much he appreciated it.
Other than the fact that I was afraid that our relationship would eventually end, I was happy.
After my encounter with Stuart, I was moving on. He no longer had any power over me, and I was done being afraid. Maybe I’d have some lingering self-doubt for a while, but I knew it would fade away.
I shut off the engine of my car, and gathered up the grocery bags.
But I hesitated to leave my vehicle as I spotted a familiar figure making her way to her own vehicle.
Angelique.
Here. At Zeke’s apartment building.
My heart squeezed in my chest as I connected her presence with the fact that she was parked in the garage of Zeke’s building.
We’d only met a few times in passing, but she was a woman very few people would forget.
She was always immaculately groomed, and she reminded me of a woman who spent a lot of time on her appearance. Her long, dark hair was always perfect, and she had to be an ethnic mix because she had an exotic look that most men probably found irresistible.
I let go of a shaky breath as she left, but I couldn’t let go of the jealousy that had come to life with a vengeance.
She was here.
She’d obviously been with Zeke.
Was he seeing her again?
I fought the doubts that were creeping in, but as I rode the elevator to the penthouse, I knew I wasn’t totally successful at brushing them aside.
“Lia,” Zeke said hoarsely as he wandered out of the bedroom with only a pair of pajama pants riding low on his hips.
I put the groceries on the counter before he could reach for them.
Zeke didn’t usually hang out in pajama pants unless he’d just gotten out of bed, and the thought of anybody being in his bed except me made me feel defeated.
He was never really mine. I knew that.
But the fact that our relationship was only temporary did soften the blow that Zeke was apparently sleeping with Angelique again.
“I saw Angelique,” I said in a resigned tone. “You could have just told me that you wanted out of this marriage before you found somebody else to screw.”
I started putting the groceries away, but I wanted to just sink onto the floor and weep.
“I don’t know what you’re saying,” he said in a harsh voice.
I turned to face him. “I’m saying that I saw Angelique leaving the building. Are you sleeping with her?”
“No.” His answer was simple.
“Then why was she here?” A glimmer of hope sparked in my soul, but I was too defensive to let it turn into anything else.
I was surprised when he pushed me against the refrigerator, forcing it to close before he pinned me with his body.
“Are you seriously trying to say that you think I was screwing another woman?” he asked harshly.
I looked up at him. “I don’t know what to think. She was here. And you’re dressed…like that. I didn’t even think you’d be home yet.”
He slammed a fist against the stainless-steel fridge above my head. “Jesus, Lia! After the last few weeks, you still don’t fucking believe that I fucking love you. There is no other goddamn woman for me. I know I wasn’t the greatest of friend to you while you were with Stuart, but I’ve tried every fucking thing I know how to do to let you know how damn sorry I was. I know I let you down, but I don’t know how in the hell to convince you that I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll never touch another woman. I can’t. I love you too damn much.”
I lost track of how many curse words he’d managed to put into one declaration, but it didn’t really matter. I was way too focused on three little words he’d never said before.
He’d been staring into my eyes as he’d told me that he loved me, and I felt the truth in what he said deep into my soul.
Zeke never lied to me. And I didn’t think he was capable of it when he was looking into my eyes while he spoke.
“I don’t understand,” I stammered. “She was here, and you’re here with hardly any clothes on.”
“You’re pretty hot when you’re jealous,” he commented softly.
I felt like a little green monster had temporarily taken up residence in my body as I said, “I wonder why Angelique was here.”
“She works here occasionally at the front desk. I saw her when I came in. That’s how we initially met.”
I felt my muscles relax. I was still pinned against the refrigerator by Zeke’s warm body, but I wasn’t trying to get away.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I blurted out. I felt terrible for even thinking that Zeke would betray me. If he’d wanted all this over with, I knew he would have just told me. But I’d gone with a knee-jerk reaction because I loved him so much it hurt.
“It’s okay,” he said he moved back. “I get a little crazy sometimes when it comes to you.”
I finally got a good look at Zeke when he moved away, and I was dismayed when I saw that he was as pale as a ghost. “Are you okay?” I asked as I stepped up to him and put a hand to his face.
He was burning up.
“You have a fever,” I said, worried as I looked him over steadily.
He nodded. “I knew I was coming down with a cold yesterday, but I went to the doc today because I was having a hard time swallowing. He gave me a shot in the ass and sent me home with antibiotics. I have strep.”
“Oh, no,” I said, feeling anxious because I’d made a sick man stand here and justify why he wasn’t cheating on me.
Zeke didn’t get sick. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever seen him anything but healthy.
I put my arm around him as I demanded, “Back to bed.”
“Don’t get too close,” he ordered. “I’m contagious.”
I rolled my eyes. “Move,” I insisted, and I stayed beside him until he finally flopped back into bed. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me right away.”
“I hadn’t planned on even getting close to you,” he admitted glumly. “I don’t want you sick, too.”
My heart skittered as I realized that Zeke’s every thought seemed to revolve around me. I sat down on the bed and stroked his wayward hair back from his forehead. “Get used to me being very close until you’re feeling better.”
He looked like hell, and it scared me. I wasn’t used to seeing him anything but healthy.
He scowled at me. “And if I don’t want you close?”
“Then I’ll call your mom,” I warned. “It’s me or her. And it will pretty much be both of us since I don’t plan on going away.”
I knew the last thing Zeke probably wanted was his mother when he was ill.
“That’s just cruel,” he muttered as he put his arm over his head. “Did you even hear me when I said that I love you?”
“I heard you,” I answered. “And you have no idea how happy that makes me because I love you, too, Zeke. But right now, I just want to get you better.”
“Say it again,” he demanded grumpily.
“I love you,” I said obligingly.
He tried to crack a small smile. “I’m better.”
I shook my head, but a small grin formed on my lips. “You’re not getting out of bed. I’m going to see if I can talk your assistant into bringing me some things I can use to make some soup, and if you’re a good boy, you can have ice cream,” I teased.
He groaned. “It sucks to have the woman I love not see me as her stud.”
“I don’t need a stud,” I argued. “I just need to see you healthy.”
“We could play some naughty nurse thing.”
I laughed at the hopeful look on his face. Even when he was this sick, Zeke was still trying to be upbeat.
“Maybe I’ll find a costume when you’re recovered,” I answered happily.
I started to rise so I could call Zeke’s assistant, but he grabbed my hand. “Lia,” he said, his voice sounding like his throat had been scraped with sandpaper. “I really do love you. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but you have to already know how I feel.”
His expression was so earnest that I felt like a vise was tightening around my heart. God, he was beautiful, even when he was sick as a dog. I leaned forward and kissed him on his heated forehead. “I really do love you, too. Now get some rest while I get some other groceries. I was going to make chicken parmesan, but that’s not going to work right now.”
I had a million questions I wanted to ask him, but I was more concerned about his health.
“If you get sick, I’m going to be really pissed off,” he muttered as his eyes closed.
I smiled as I got to my feet, straightened up the bed, and shot him one last worried look as I left the bedroom.
Zeke had always been there for me. Now it was my turn. And I planned to do everything I could to make sure he got back on his feet again.