The door shook next to her shoulder and he pulled back, breaking the kiss.
“What’s going on in there?”
Charlize blinked and looked at Connor. The pleading look on his face told her not to let go. Her feet slid to the floor.
“Open up,” Alicia called.
A lump rose in her throat, made it impossible to swallow. She pushed on Connor’s chest and slid out from between him and the wall. His hot cum seeped from between her thighs, moistened her panties and the edges of her torn stockings. She tugged her dress down. The muscles between her ribs felt squashed, as if a belt cinched across her torso.
Nothing had changed. It didn’t matter how much you wanted someone if they were prepared to lie to you—betray you. No matter how much you wanted to believe in the excuse. What happened—that was just goodbye.
She reached a shaky hand for the door handle and glanced at Connor. He leaned against a rack, rubbed his hands over his scalp. She flicked the latch and the door flew open.
Alicia scowled in at her. “Charlize? What the—?” She stopped, her face contracting as she gazed at Charlize. “Are you all right?”
Charlize rubbed her arms, stepped around Alicia then ran as fast as stilettos allowed. Jason waited at the door. He had her bag at his feet. She’d forgotten she’d just left it abandoned in the hallway when Connor caught her off guard.
Jason took one look at her and stepped forward. She shook her head and walked straight out the doors toward his car. Jason rushed ahead and opened the door and placed her bag on the floor. She slid inside and buckled the seatbelt.
She covered her face with her palms and rested her head against the headrest. What had she done? This mistake would haunt her for all time. She dropped her hands, reached shaking fingers for her bag and pulled out her compact.
The reflection she saw made her flinch. Swollen lips surrounded by faded, smudged lipstick that hadn’t stood a chance against the kind of making out she’d just put it through. Mascara left dirty streaks down her cheeks. She looked like the morning after a bad night—she looked as if she’d been used…hard.
Not far from the truth.
That invisible belt around her middle seemed to squeeze its way to the next notch. The evidence of what they’d done still coated her thighs. She touched up her makeup as best she could with powder and fresh lipstick. Then she called Lia, told her she’d be late to work. She put her phone back into her bag and leaned into the seat.
“Jason, there’s somewhere I need to go before work.”
“Of course, Ms. Halifax.”
Jason’s gaze flicked to the mirror when she gave him the address but he made no comment. Good thing… She wasn’t asking for approval.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlize crossed her leg over her knee and waited for the detective to close the door. Mark walked around her, lowered himself cautiously into a worn leather chair and linked his fingers on the laminate surface of his desk.
“I must admit I’m a little surprised to see you after our conversation yesterday. Is everything all right, Ms. Halifax?”
She ran her gaze over him and noticed what she hadn’t the last time she’d seen him, when she’d been too overwhelmed to pay attention—he wasn’t too hard on the eyes. Maybe a little older than Connor and generally softer. Scruffy brown hair and warm brown eyes. Not bad… No Connor Crowe but a nice-looking guy. Another good-looking, lying bastard.
Aren’t they all?
“I thought it was time we had a talk.” She felt her lips thin, knew her smile must look as if it were cut from glass. “I want to know what your relationship is with Connor Crowe and why you’ve withheld details of my case from me at his request.”
Mark’s right cheek pulled in, as if he was chewing on it, then he released a long, deep breath. “Ms. Halifax, I have not withheld information pertaining to your attack or our progress—”
She held up her hand. “Please—I know about Gregory’s history and I know you think he followed me—I’m done being treated like a child. I want the truth.” She hooked her hands over her knee and leaned forward. “Now.”
Mark held her gaze and cleared his throat. “Connor and I were partners. I’m sorry. I should’ve disclosed that relationship to you. And yes Connor mentioned you had a lot to deal with and it affected the way I handled your questions. But I meant what I said about not worrying about your safety—with Connor protecting you I absolutely believe you’re safe.”
Charlize stroked her thumb over the hem of her dress where the material rested on her knee. “Connor won’t be protecting me anymore.” Her gaze flicked out the window. She couldn’t see him but she knew Jason waited for her outside. She hadn’t allowed him to escort her into the building. “Well not personally anyway.”