I almost expect him to put up more of a fight, but his gaze is locked on my business cards.
“You took his last name,” he says.
The change of subject startles me. “What?”
He picks up a card. “Lucy Taylor.”
“That’s what happens when you get married.”
He jerks his head up and stares into my eyes. “You said you would never take a man’s name. You would never take my name.”
Oh shit. I did say that. Pain radiates from him, and I almost feel bad.
“That was before. By the time I married Joseph, I didn’t want anything to do with the Gardiner name.”
“Why?”
“No.” I point at him. My momentary sympathy gone. “You lost the right to ask questions when you left.”
He winces. Damn, why did I bring that up? Seeing him opens old wounds. Wounds I thought were buried.
I’ve always wondered why he left. Did he want the chance to live his life not tied down to one woman? We were so young when we promised each other we’d be together forever.
The idea of him with anyone else made me nauseous for months—hell, for over a year, if I’m being honest. Until Connie helped me get my head out of my ass and move on with my life.
If I hadn’t shared a dorm room with her our freshman year, I might have dropped out of school completely.
“I’m sorry about that.” He swallows, and his eyes shift to take in the walls of my office.
I’ve hung a couple pieces of art I picked up online. I missed the ones hanging in my old bedroom at my parents’ house, but there was no way I could afford anything like those.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
My eyes snap to his. Why is he asking this? “That’s none of your business.”
He nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
I glance to his left hand. It’s tan, but there's no ring. “Are you married?”
He shakes his head. “No. Never been.”
“How long are you going to be here?”
He stares into my eyes. “As long as it takes.”
And now I’m not sure if he’s talking about the security job or me. I shiver.
Can I give Cody another chance? I dismiss the thought. He left me. If he wanted me, he would have come back long before this. And it’s only a coincidence I’m seeing him now.
I can’t forget that.
“Who is coming after Joseph?” I ask. “Another bookie?”
Cody straightens. “A bookie? Joseph has a gambling problem?”
I laugh. “You have no idea. He ruined my life with it. I found out about it around the same time I found out he’d used up his monthly trust fund payment and dove into our savings.”
“He has a trust fund? And his dad lets him stay in a house?”
