Their Virgin Secretary (Masters of Ménage #6)(89)

Of course, Kellan would take charge. He usually did. Often, Tate found a deep and grateful comfort in it. Not today. Instead, it was just another way he didn't measure up.

"Do whatever you want." He shouldered his way past Kellan and slammed out the door. Then Tate did what he always did when the world pressed in on him.

He ran.



* * * *



"Do you have any idea what you just did to him?" After the door slammed behind Tate, Eric snapped around and drilled his stare into Belle. He had a point to make to her.

Yeah, he'd have to go after his best friend very soon. Tate wouldn't talk about this argument now. He'd need hours, maybe days, to process it. He might say he planned to take a shower, but he would find his sneakers and run through the streets until he couldn't see straight. Only when he'd pounded out every ounce of his frustration would he come back.

Of course, he also might just run to the airport and leave for good.

Belle shook her head, looking perplexed. "What? I shouldn't be honest? I wasn't trying to hurt him. Damn it, Eric. Did you really expect me to wake up this morning and give up this house? Is one night supposed to make me believe this can work long term?"

"You could have mentioned how you felt last night." Eric forced himself to take a deep breath because he was brutally angry, too.

Of course, he and Tate had already written the fairy-tale ending in their heads without telling her, either. Still, hadn't she felt the magic between them when they'd made love to her? Hadn't it made her rethink staying in New Orleans at least a little?

Kellan pushed the door open and walked in, looking deeply concerned. "What the hell happened to Tate? He took off running. The last time he was that upset, he'd just watched the last Star Wars film."

"No jokes. It's not helping right now." Eric ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He knew Kellan wasn't intentionally being insensitive, but now sure as hell wasn't the time for a ribbing.

Kellan stared, then cut his gaze to their aloof lover. His face lost all amusement. "What happened?" His eyes narrowed. "What did you do, Annabelle?"

She loosed an exasperated huff. "Why do you think I did something?"

"Because there's only one person in the world with the power to crush Tate like that, and I'm looking at her." Kellan set his bag down and prowled toward Belle. "Tell me how you hurt him this morning. I have a suspicion, but I hope you prove me wrong."

Belle opened her mouth. "I-I-"

Eric saved them all the time and her the effort. "She explained that she didn't want anything but sex from us."

Belle would probably choose different words, but he cut to the chase.

The distance she'd forced between them had completely shocked him. While he hadn't thought Belle would immediately begin packing to head back home, he sure as hell hadn't thought she would pronounce that a relationship between them couldn't work.

It had worked pretty fucking well last night.

"Oh my god, I didn't say that-at all," she shot back, tears shining in her eyes. "Tate started talking about me going back to Chicago or him moving in here. I just …  He blindsided me. I tried to explain why that wouldn't work, and Tate took off."



       
         
       
        

"You told him that you weren't interested in a relationship." Tears or not, he refused to let her sugarcoat what had happened.

"No, I told him I didn't necessarily see a future for us."

Kellan shook his head, a tight fury all over his face. "Well, that's perfect. Hey, at least she told him to fuck off before the wedding."

Hurt ripped across Belle's face. "That's not fair!"

With a shrug, Kell turned to him. "Look, man, I should go. I'll do nothing but make this worse. Sorry."

Crap. At the moment, Eric wanted to throw down with both of them. He'd been prepared for Kellan to shy away or bow out. He'd always known that bringing his friend into the relationship after his bitter divorce would be difficult. He'd never imagined Belle would wake up after the best night of his life and declare that they could leave whenever because it didn't matter to her.

Kellan paused, gripping her shoulders and staring into her eyes. "Think about what you're doing, Annabelle. There's a reason you're driving away men who love you. Think hard and fix it. Don't end up like me."

"What does that mean? You said yourself you didn't think it could work," Belle replied.

"I still don't, but then it's occurred to me very recently that I might not be the most optimistic person about love." He withdrew. "Besides, we're not talking about me. Really think this through before you break anything off. Make sure there's not even the smallest part of you doing this for revenge."