Page 72 of Harder Betrayal

“Really? I thought I looked angry.”

“I’ve always thought you look beautiful when you’re angry.” A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

I marched past him to the car. “Let’s get this over with.”

He drove to the restaurant and tossed the keys to the valet before we headed inside. A table was waiting for him, a lone white candle in the center. The wine was poured, and the bread was placed between us.

Then we were alone together.

I couldn’t believe I was there, across from Cauldron, like our lives hadn’t changed.

He opened his menu and looked at the selections.

I just stared at him, wanting to dig the butter knife into the back of his palm.

“What are you having?” he asked, his eyes down.

“Something with lots of garlic and onions…”

A subtle laugh escaped his lips as he continued to read. “Not enough garlic and onions in the world, baby.”

“Don’t call me that.”

His eyes lifted, his smile gone. “I can call you whatever I want.” He held my gaze for a moment before he looked at the menu again.

“Assholes…”

He acted like he didn’t hear me.

I browsed the menu but didn’t crave anything since I had no appetite.

When the waitress came over to take our order, I decided on a salad. He got the steak—typical.

Then we sat there in silence. Heavy silence. Uncomfortable silence. He stared at me with one arm resting on the table, looking at me the way he used to, during better times, when I’d pictured the two of us together forever. I wished I could see my own expression because it was probably ice-cold.

It didn’t deter him. “How are you liking your apartment?”

I ignored the question.

“I noticed your fireplace. It’s nice.”

I looked away and pretended he didn’t exist entirely.

“Would you prefer to spend the evening in complete silence?”

My eyes shifted back to him.

“Because that’s not going to change anything. You can ignore me and eat all the onions and garlic you want…won’t change anything.”

Last night, I’d been at a gallery auction with Bartholomew, actually being useful in ways beyond sex. And now, I was stuck here…with a man who’d broken my heart. “Remember when you pulled that gun on me and pulled the trigger?”

He stayed quiet.

“That’s when I should have known.”

“Known what?” he asked quietly.

“That you were truly heartless.”