Foreign Affair (21 page)

“No, don’t—damn it.” She slammed the phone down after the woman hung up on her.

She glanced around the living room of her parents’ house and groaned.

She’d only been back in the States for a few hours, and jet lag pummeled her body without mercy. Thankfully she’d had enough sense to insist that Keith drop her off here. She had no intention of stepping back into that house as long as Keith lived there.

Sighing, she pressed a hand against her forehead. There had to be another way to find him. Maybe she could Google him and find the company he worked for. He might have his name on a website somewhere.

Her cell phone rang, and she dug frantically in her purse for it. Her heart sank a bit. Stephanie.

What, you expected Tyler?

She flipped it open. “Hey.”

“What happened? I need details, and I need them now.”

“I can’t.” Lena fell back onto the sofa and swiped at the tears that had gathered in her eyes. “I screwed up so bad, Steph. And now he’s gone.”

“Who, Keith?”

“No. I can’t get
rid
of
him
. Tyler,” she choked. “God, I’m such an idiot. I should have told him, and I kept putting it off. And then it all came back to bite me in the ass. I had him…and then I lost him.”

She couldn’t hear any words Stephanie might have said in response, because she was crying so loud.

Stephanie’s firm voice cut through her tears. “Hello-oooo. Leeeena…blow your nose, honey. Blow your nose and listen to me.”

Lena grabbed a tissue off the coffee table and blew her nose.

“Have you called him?” Stephanie asked.

“I don’t have his number. I tried information, I tried looking him up online, I—”

“I have his business card—”

“Tried to locate his—you what?”

“He gave it to me outside the coffee shop the first day we met him, remember?”

“I love you.
I love you.
Give me his number.” She leapt off the couch, knocking the used tissue onto the floor as she scavenged for a pen and paper.

“Hold on, let me get my purse.” There was a brief silence and then the sound of the phone being picked up again. “Okay, got a pen? Here goes.”

Lena jotted down the number and took a deep breath “It’s going to be all right now. It has to be. I’ll call him, explain everything, and then let you know how it goes.”

“You’d better. I’ll be waiting by the phone.”

She hung up and stared at the number. The thought of calling him terrified her so much, her fingers shook as she dialed the phone.

It started to ring. Once. God, what if the number was wrong? Twice. What if he didn’t answer? Three—

“Tyler Bentz.”

Her fingers clenched around the phone, and she closed her eyes. The sound of his voice brought tears to her eyes and made her stomach flip.

“Hello, can I help you?” His tone sharpened.

“It’s Lena.”

Silence met her announcement.

Oh God, this was not going to be easy. “I…um…know what you must be thinking. But it was all just a big mistake. Give me a chance to—”

“Exactly, it was a mistake. This is my work number. Please don’t call it again. Actually, I’m going to ask that you don’t make any more efforts to contact me.”

“But if you’d only—”

“Look, Lena.” His voice turned harsh. “I don’t want to hear it. You wanted a fling, well, you got it. Now let it go.”

A fling
. Her stomach clenched as if he’d hit her.

“Tyler…” But she spoke to dead air. He’d already hung up.

Her body numb, she set the phone down, but missed the charger and it fell to the floor.

She sank down to pick it up, and crumpled into a ball on the rug. Choking on a sob, she pressed her fist against her mouth.

It was too late. She’d already blown it. He wanted nothing to do with her.

Tyler stared at the phone, his mouth drawn taut.

The blood pounded in his veins and his throat had gone dry.
She called me
. He hadn’t been back at work for more than an hour, and
she’d called.

He hadn’t expected to hear from her again—hadn’t wanted to. Not after the shit she’d pulled. Engaged. Their entire time in Europe they’d been living life as a happy couple falling in love, and she’d just been using him for sex.

Which is what she told you was all she wanted from the beginning.

His chest tightened, and he dragged in a ragged breath. Damn, she’d played him for the biggest fool. And apparently he’d only been all too willing.

That phone call though… That phone call had just shattered any progress he’d made on moving on. Not that he’d moved on. Jesus, it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours.

Maybe he hadn’t handled her too well on the phone. But yesterday morning he’d been ready to declare his love for her. His lips twisted in a bitter travesty of a smile.

And yet, call it morbid curiosity, but he
wanted
to know what explanation she could possibly offer. If there was an explanation, it probably would have just been a half-assed apology loaded with weeping, and “poor me” excuses, but it all came down to the same thing. He’d just been the pawn in her game of revenge.

He stood up from his desk and turned to glance over the city. She’d made him look like an idiot. It went far beyond wounded pride. He’d fallen hard for her, had been willing to give up his life in New York for her.

Unfortunately, he’d made the mistake of assuming she felt the same.

“Don’t hang up the phone again. Please, won’t you just have lunch with me?”

Lena groaned and stretched out on a couch at her parents’ house. She pressed her fingertips to her temple. “No, Keith.”

She wanted to hate him for everything he’d done. He’d cheated on her and then screwed up any chance she’d had at making a life with the man she’d fallen in love with. Her throat tightened at the thought of Tyler, and she blinked back tears.

Yes, she wanted to hate him, but couldn’t. That emotion would take too much energy. If anything, she was just indifferent.

“Please, just hear me out.”

Lena sighed. This had to be getting embarrassing for him. This unwavering persistence at getting her back.

“There would be no point. It’s over. If just talking to you pisses me off, how on earth could you think I’d still want to marry you?”

“I’m not saying we need to get engaged again, baby,” Keith coaxed. “But if we could sit down and have lunch…talk about things. All your stuff is still at the house. Even if you are determined not to listen and consider working things out, we need to at least discuss what to do about the house and all that’s in it.”

He had a point, Lena thought. She’d been staying at her parents’ house for a month now. They were, once again, traveling. She missed having her own space though.

Yes, the lavender-painted room of her childhood offered a certain security. With all her awards and trophies, she knew this to be a loving environment. But she was a grown woman.

And the more she thought about it, the more she leaned toward buying her own place.

Maybe if she met with Keith she could convince him to sell the house, or at least buy out her share.

“All right, Keith. Are you free Friday?”

“You look beautiful.”

Ok, he’s going to make this awkward
. Lena took a deep breath.

“Thanks, Keith. Look—”

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you, Lena.” He reached across the table to grab her hands, which she promptly pulled back into her lap. His expression darkened, but he continued. “You’ve changed. You know that?”

“Well, I did get my nails done.” Lena cleared her throat. “Listen, about the house. I think we should—”

“Oh, hold on.” Keith snapped his fingers in the air to flag down a waiter. “Could you get us a bottle of champagne?”

“Certainly, sir.” The waiter gave him a brief smile. “And your preference?”

“Whatever’s cheap.” Keith turned his focus back to Lena. “Yes, about the house. I think we should sell it.”

Relief washed through her. “Me too. I’m so glad that you—”

“It’s much too small. We’ll need a bigger one for the kids.”

“Kids?” She gaped at him. “Keith, hold on, if you’re back on the marriage highway, then you better get off at the next exit. Let it go. It’s not going to happen. Here’s what I was going to say. I want to sell the house and split the profit.”

“Lena.” He looked pained. “I can’t imagine not spending my life with you. Please, don’t be so quick to throw away everything we have.”

“And what did we have?” she asked quietly after a moment. “Was it really that special? So special that you had to go and sleep with someone else?”

“I know I made a stupid choice. I won’t lie and deny it.” He nodded, looking properly chastised. “I swear I haven’t touched her since. In fact, I’m trying to transfer her to another office.”

“Oh, how gallant of you.” Lena smiled without humor. Why couldn’t he accept that things were over? Even if she’d believed him, which she didn’t, she wouldn’t go back to him. Her heart belonged to someone else.

“Here we are.” The waiter arrived at the table with a smirk. “One bottle of our cheapest champagne.”

“I’ve gone about this wrong,” Keith stated as the waiter filled their glasses. “I won’t pressure you any more today. I just wish you wouldn’t be so hasty in kicking me out of your life. We have too much history, Lena, baby.”

Lena took a sip of the champagne and winced. She set the glass back down with no intention of ever picking it up again. “Keith—”

“Promise me you’ll just think about things for a while.”

“I’ve had a month to think about things.” She sighed, knowing her feelings would never change. Jeez, he was like a dog with a bone.

“I love you, Lena.” This time he succeeded in grabbing her hand, his intent gaze focused on her. “Just give it a while to think it over. I’ll wait for you.”

She met his gaze with skepticism. “You’ll wait for me?”

“There’s no one else for me,” he insisted. “I’d do anything for you. Promise me? Just
think
about it?”

I ought to tell him to shove his cheap champagne up his tight ass.

Another idea hit her.

“I’ll think about it, Keith. For one week. But if I decide that it’s just not going to work, I want you to agree that you’ll sell the house.”

His lips tightened, an indication he wasn’t happy with her terms. But then he nodded. “I know that won’t be an issue, but I agree.”

Chapter Seventeen

“I am so damn hungry,” Stephanie complained as she slid her mirrored sunglasses back over her eyes.

Lena settled herself in the car and prayed her hair would stay somewhat in place with the roof down on the convertible. She sighed and looked out the window. This weekend away in Seattle with Stephanie would be a nice little break.

“Can we stop and get some food somewhere?” Stephanie asked. “Before we head up to Seattle? I don’t think I can make the drive without getting something to eat.”

“Yeah, that’s fine with me.” Lena tucked her backpack under her feet. “There’s a Mexican restaurant right down the road. Great place.”

“Works for me. Hey, don’t let me forget to tell you about this amazingly built guy I met in the Bahamas. We’re still in touch.” Stephanie grinned. “We’re talking an ass like granite.”

Lena laughed and turned to look at her friend. “I’ve missed you. We have got to stop going three months without seeing each other. It’s just not healthy.”

“Damn right.” Stephanie glanced over. “Your hair’s growing out. Are you going long again?”

“I’m thinking about it. Besides, I got sick of looking like a guy.”

“Do you actually think anyone could mistake you for a guy with your curves?” Stephanie grimaced. “I’d kill to have your body.”

“
My
body?” Lena burst into laughter. “Do you have any idea how much I envy
you
? You’re gorgeous.”

Stephanie snorted. “I’m nothing exciting. Excuse me while I yawn, but tall and skinny is dull. You’re cute. Men want to protect you. To take you home and cuddle with you.”

Lena snorted. “Yeah, I’m a cocker spaniel with breasts, gotcha. There’s the restaurant.”

Stephanie whipped the car into the parking lot, and they climbed out and made their way inside.

They ordered food and got drinks, then Stephanie gave her a pensive look.

“What?” Lena shifted. “Do I have something in my teeth?”

Stephanie shook her head. “So how are things going?”

“Things? Things are great, I guess.”
Liar. Everything has been shit for
the last three months.
How bad was it that she couldn’t even admit that to
her best friend?

Stephanie accepted her margarita from the waiter, and then flicked her tongue over the glass to lick off the salt.

“Are you still thinking about taking Keith back?”

“Not really. I just need to tell him. It’s been a week.”

“Hmm. Do you ever talk to Tyler?”

Lena choked on the beer she’d just sipped. Her hand shook as she tried to sound casual. “Tyler? Why would I? That’s been over for months now.”

Stephanie’s mouth tightened, and she glanced away. “This whole situation is just ridiculous.”

“What situation? We had a fling, and it ended.” She forced the words out.

“I don’t understand you.” Stephanie turned back to her, her gaze accusing. “Don’t you have any idea what you and Tyler had together? I don’t know why either of you won’t even acknowledge it.”

“Because there is nothing to acknowl—what do you mean
either of
us
?” Lena’s heart pounded, her palms grew damp.

Stephanie didn’t reply right away, and Lena leaned forward, gripping her friend’s hand.

“Have you spoken to him, Steph?”

Stephanie pulled away and eyed her. “Yes, I spoke to Tyler. I had to find out what happened after you got back to the States, because you sure weren’t telling me.” She took another sip of her drink. “I was in New York for a couple of days, and I still had his business card, so I figured I’d appease my curiosity.”

“You actually went and saw him? Tell me you aren’t serious?” Her voice shook. “
Steph
.”

Stephanie lifted an eyebrow and then shrugged. “Hey, if you’re so over him, then why are you freaking out?”