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Turning off the light and shutting Mr Brandon’s doors, and, fighting a nagging sense of uneasiness, I sit down at e interoffice envelope from a drawer I’m about to insert all the docuaze catches on a list of proposed investe fund "Brandon Transportation," I ers Athletics," a coers Those co this particular hedge fund is brokered by Brandon Senior, but I don’t pretend to know if that is a proble all the documents in the folder and stand, onenot to think about Randy’s potential return, I will awaye, I reach for the knob, turn it, and find it locked A sudden roaring sound fro around toward the lobby,with the air conditioner that just kicked in Okay That’s it I’hts, and hesitate in the doorway Wait I never turned on the lights in this part of the offices Did I? No I did not and they weren’t on when Randy left either

Officially freaked out, adrenaline surges through ht switch off, lock the door, and cross to the elevator panel, where I punch the button over and over, until finally a car arrives Stepping inside, I dig outit like the weapon I wish it was, and watch the hallway every second until the doors shut Another thirty seconds that feel like thirty years later I exit into the downstairs corridor I start walking for the front exit, glancing toward the security desk to discover the first Randy at the desk More unease rolls through me, and as much as I want to confir more

A few dozen fast steps, and I atoward the Four Seasons, punching in Shane’s nuoes to voice mail, and in the short two-block walk, I try twiceat the entrance of the hotel, I wave at Tai as he helps another visitor, and enter the lobby to make a beeline for the elevators

Once inside, I key in the security code, and watch the floors tick by, certain this knot in my belly will disappear when I see Shane So much so that I am out of the car thefor his door Once I’ myself to punch the doorbell Seconds tick by and he doesn’t answer, and I finally dig out the key he’d givenfor the lock when the door opens and I co brunette

"Oh," she says "Hello" Her lips curving in a cat-that-ate-the-canary s

My stomach rolls, at the same moment Shane appears in the doorway, his Burberry tie I’d put sowith his jacket "Emily," he says, and before he can utter a lie I don’t want to reing me to him, andand he so ofwith the pain I swore no ain

Several beats pass and if I wanted soet it He releases me, and every warm spot this man ever created inhard, and turning away So, while the cold, hard truth is slowly, but precisely, seeping in and carving out a piece of my heart This isn’t even a betrayal He’d cut ties with ht and I’d simply chosen not to believe it to be true

Reaching the end of the hall that leads to the elevator, I already know he’s not following , I rotate to glance down the path I’ve just traveled to find Shane lingering in his doorway, now in profile, his hand on the jamb, his head tilted forward and low Tormented, it see I don’t pretend to know hi the corner and hts I’ainstin love with him to hurt this badly

I step out of the Four Seasons and onto the street to start the six-block walk toto erupt I will not cry I will not be defined by the actions of one man And the very idea that if Shane had declared that woman’s presence in his home an innocent encounter, I’d have believed hi to his clothes--infuriates me I will not become the fool my mother ith my stepfather, with Shane or any other ray spot inmy relationship with Shane, when I so easily could Instead, I occupy o to places thatsensation onwatched I do not like It quickensme of more than Randy It reminds me of why I’m in Denver, and it is with relief that I reach le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">