Matching Mr. Right(61)
Beth’s lips tilted into a smug grin. “Well it might explain why Nick stopped sleeping with me. He was too busy pretending to be interested in his sister’s competitor. I’ll bet he’ll be knocking on my door tonight now, instead of waiting for our date tomorrow night.” Beth sent Shelby a take-that-loser eyebrow hitch.
“Date tomorrow night? That can’t be . . .” Nick said he had a client in town.
Shelby’s delusional heart broke into a million pieces.
She was a loser.
“He called this morning.” Beth pulled out her phone and scrolled through the call list. She flipped it around. “See?”
A call from Caldwell and Associates.
Proof.
A few hours earlier, Nick had said what they’d shared wasn’t a one-night stand. She’d been an idiot to think he’d changed. That he wanted to have a real relationship. He’d just been using her. To help his sister.
Beth rolled her eyes. “What? Did you really think you were the one who could change a guy like Nick? He’s never going to be the settle-down-and-have-a-family type, Shelby.” Beth stood and swept her hands down her sides. “If this body couldn’t do it, a little pixie like you doesn’t stand a chance, honey.”
With a mean chuckle, Beth turned and left.
When Shelby met Lori’s gaze, pity reflected back. Yeah. Pity for the loser with the scarred legs who was dumb enough to believe anyone as perfect as Nick could ever want to have a serious relationship with her. Beth was right.
Warm tears spilled down her cheeks. She clenched her teeth to stop her chin from trembling. She was embarrassing herself even more in front of Nick’s sister.
She stood to leave.
Lori reached out and grabbed Shelby’s hand. “I didn’t know anything about this, I swear, Shelby.”
Lori’s mouth continued to move, but Shelby couldn’t hear the words with all the blood pounding so loudly in her ears.
There just wasn’t enough air to breathe. She had to go.
Tugging her hand free of Lori’s grip, Shelby headed for the door. Jo called out from behind, but Shelby didn’t stop. She couldn’t, she’d fall completely apart.
She cursed Nick Caldwell for making a fool out of her.
***
Nick crossed the parking lot and headed for the café. Beth’s BMW zipped past him, nearly taking off his toes. Must be late for something.
He hadn’t heard back from his assistant about whether Beth was joining him for Duncan’s dinner. He’d have to ask when he got back.
Tugging the café’s door open, he spotted Shelby headed his way. Behind her, Jo and Lori called out for Shelby to wait, but she didn’t stop. What the heck was wrong?
When Shelby glanced up, he froze. Her cheeks were as pale as they were on the day at the hospital when she’d almost fainted. Tears flowed down her face.
When their eyes met, Shelby’s eyes went stone cold.
His heart sank.
Beth was just here and so was Lori.
Shelby knew about the spying. The anger in Lori’s eyes confirmed it. He called out, “Shelby, I—”
She held up a hand to cut him off as she slipped past him and out the front door.
Shelby had just beeped the locks open on her car when he caught up with her. He slipped a hand around her arm to slow her down. “Please stop, Shelby. I can explain.”
She jerked her elbow from his grasp. “Don’t touch me.”
He took a step back. “Sorry. I just—”
“How could you lie to me like that?” Her chin quivered as she wiped away her tears with both hands. “And then sleep with me on top of it!”
Lori and Jo caught up and stood nearby, as if ready to jump to Shelby’s aid.
“Technically, I never lied to you, Shelby.” When she closed her eyes and shook her head, he immediately wished he could take his words back. His mind scrambled for the right ones. “What I should have said, was—”
“Don’t bother, Nick. I had myself fooled into thinking you’d changed. That you were the right guy for me. Ready to give a real relationship a try. Instead it had all been a lie. You’re no different than your father. A liar and a cheat.”
Her words hit him like a hard slap across the face. “No, Shelby . . .”
“Tell me the truth, Nick. Have you been spying on my business?” Her eyes narrowed with anger again.
He slowly nodded. “Yes, but it was for my—”
She cut him off. “And do you have a dinner date with Beth tomorrow night?”
“Yes, but it’s a business dinner, Shelby.” She was slipping away from him, dammit. He couldn’t lose her. “My client needed a lawyer like Beth. I swear. Nothing more.”