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"Of course not That’s ridiculous I never saw it like th--"
"God Can you even see outside of your privileged bubble? Just because your life is planned and controlled down to the smallest detail, doesn’t mean you can control everyone else with money, too What you did was purely selfish"
Brent watched as she absorbed his words And changed right before his very eyes In a irl he’d spent the night with to the cool, ivory-toelling princess he’d fought with relentlessly for months Warm, chocolate-brown eyes turned shuttered Her posture stiffened Brent wanted to shout at the ceiling as he watched her slip away fro that whatever they’d found in the darkness last night had just been obliterated Ironically, instead of defusing the bomb-like situation, he’d allowed it to explode in his face
Hayden laughed without huht for one second that you could get past the da to end, is it? You think I’ will change that Every ti to be reminded of how very little I know about the real world, about honest work You’ll do it every tiuess what? I’m already sick of it" She took a step toward the door "Count me out"
Brent followed her "You went behindin minutes that should’ve takenbother me?"
"I understand that it bothers you, Brent I understand," she returned "But without giving ht to your knee-jerk response of crucify the rich girl"
He shrugged "If the Italian leather pump fits…"
Fuck That one finally pushed her too far He briefly considered hiding underneath the desk to avoid the inevitable explosion, only he wouldn’t fit Her brsts rose and fell in her fury, fists curled at her sides Jesus, she looked gorgeous when she got worked up "Go ahead and return theto use it to erect a statue in Ti toward Queens"
Brent couldn’t help it He pushed her further His anger outweighed his common sense And his libido crushed theh, dirty sex and he needed the release The distraction The idea of losing himself in her tempted him beyond control "If you need a reer, just ask You don’t have to go building memorials in its honor"
She shook her head slowly "This has all been one huge mistake"
No No, that’s not the reaction he’d wanted He wanted her to throw him on the bed and ride out her te back into her roo? This isn’t over"
"It was over before it began" Brent caught up with her, but she jerked ahen he grabbed her arm Her rejection didn’t deter hi her onto the waist-level dresser, he hs and went to kiss her hard As his mouth descended, her look of undiluted panic confused him and he paused Words escaped hertoI’ll spend that amount on hair product this month alone" She averted her eyes "Get off me When I decided I wanted a kept man, this isn’t what I had in rab her overnight bag and dart out of the room
Chapter Sixteen
Hayden walked slowly down Riverside Drive, grateful to finally be home, but unable to pick up the pace Her li a quick text to Story, she’d taken a cab froata to the Atlantic City Bus Ter in the car with Brent had seeht of what happened She knew her friend was probably a wicked combination of worried and curious, but she didn’t have the energy to think about the inevitable conversation they had coood opportunity to think, if there hadn’t been two teenage girls in front of her discussing cell phone upgrades Or a n they passed out loud, then translating it into French She had, however, ed to come to one rock-solid conclusion Her iven her credit for Obviously, she’d been paying closer attention than Hayden realized She’d even handed the a their last phone call Actually, he’s working two jobs because he helps support his brother’s fae Which is kind of…well, it’s pretty da
What better way to ensure her and Brent’s relationship tanked than hitting ahis hard work Cutting down his pride Her mother’s ploy worked like a char, after she’d opened up to hiht her presue tuition That he could think her capable of such a e
She hadn’t denied it If she could go back and have the confrontation again, she still wouldn’t What did itto convince hi and pointless And it hurt His judg of her lifestyle had done nothing to deter his attraction to her, however He’d nearly taken her one last time on the hotel room dresser Without question, if he’d kissed her, if she’d let his lips reach hers, she would have let hi to him and accept the pleasure She’d had no other option but to deliver a parting shot that would give her enough time to escape, because her attraction to hihtly The nized the attraction went far beyond their a sexual connection She’d been so sure they’d found so past their differences Then he’d thrown it right back in her face
Despite it all, despite everything, she missed him already Still,Lucy Mason’s tuition on the sly and pinning it on her If onethem back to an enelanced across the street toward her parents’ brownstone and pulled up short when she saw her father standing outside, staring up at the structure She waited for traffic to pass then crossed the street, her overnight bag growing heavy at her side
"Dad? Are you locked out or soht His eyes, normally sharp and full of humor, were tired A little dazed "Oh hey, sweetheart No, I’estured limply toward the house "I just never really take the tis, you know We take theranted until…" He trailed off
She studied his face closely, guilt soaring through her Her father’s company, their fa but her sore heart Perhaps Brent was right and she was nothing but an overindulged brat "Dad…I…"