Chapter24
Peter unlockedthe door to his home. Caro, the maid, ran away like she was frightened, despite the fact she'd been here in the house since she was a baby. Silence greeted his ears, but he smelled Chanel perfume. Now he understood. He narrowed his eyes, as he went towardhis bar to fix himself a cocktail. Belle's wordshauntedhim.
Then he heard a high heel click on the floor. His skin had no reaction, and the air was filled with Jennifer'sperfume.
He grinded his teeth and called out, "Jennifer."
His eyes widened as she stepped out from the next room in black lingerie that showed off her ample cleavage. He held the empty glass firmly in hishand as he asked, "What are youdoinghere?"
"Imissedyou."
She sashayed over to him, and the flowery perfume curled his nose. He didn't budge or soften any of his muscles. She came over and wrapped her armsaroundhim.
Her breasts pushed against his chest as she hugged him. "I made a huge mistake when webrokeup."
He put the cup down and stepped out of her arms.Then he wiped his shirt like she might have put her makeup alloverhim.
Once clear of her, he said, "Jennifer, I'm notstupid."
She flinched, but then opened her eyes like she saw through him. Even her makeup was expertly done for thismoment.
His body tensed as she said, "I never thoughtyouwere."
Once again Jennifer had gone too far, but this time it wasn't otherpeople's lives. It was his. He cracked his knuckles, but then stepped away from her. Belle deserved better than thisbitterness.
"Did you honestly think I didn't know about your vindictive streak and how you set out to stop Belleandme?"
Her lips parted as she batted her eyes. Jennifer was like a teenage girl who had never grown up, and she had no idea. Life wasn't like one of hertelenovelas. She stepped forward and brushed her cleavage againsthisarm.
He tugged his hand away as she said, "Is it so wrong I'm not over you? I have told you before, even in high school, you had my heart and soul. We’re goodtogether."
Nothing she did was okay. He'd start at the beginning. There would be no more her coming over here or interfering with his life. Security wouldalert him from now on, but he'dtellher.
He swallowed. "Months ago, you were hostile to Alice for simply coming to my father'sfuneral."
"Alice and I are friends now." She covered her lips and shook her head as if her denial mattered. "Peter—"
Her words didn't matter. He interrupted. "Then with Colt you were stuck up and derided my sister'schoice."
She rubbed herthroat and then put her hands on her hips like she had anything to argue with him about. "Your sister had just come back into our lives. She was my best friend, and she wanted to move to Homestead, Florida. Youunderstood."
He understood. He let her break up with him, so she'd go away without this conversation. Clearly she hadn'tmovedon.
He glared at her as he said in a low voice,"Jennifer, we don't suit eachother."
Again she pushed her body into his as if sex would solve all problems. She pushed him toward the bar. He placed his hands on her hips and spun her around to freehimself.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Peter, you and I always understood eachother."
This delusion had hurt Belle. Somehow she mattered to him more than he had thought.He stayed close to Jennifer and coldness inched up his spine as he held her. "No, I dated you because you were here, and I didn't have to go look for anyone. Not because I had some great feelings for you one way or the other. I am sorry if thathurtsyou."
"Never apologize to me." His fingers were like ice, but she didn't budge out of his arms. "You're upsetrightnow."
That wasit. His muscles were sore, but he held slow, steady breaths so she'd understand everything. "Do you know why my father liked you,Jennifer?"
Her eyes widened as he stepped out of her arms and poured himself a drink. He kept the one glass and refused to make her one. She was notstaying.
She placed her fingers on his hand. "Mitch was a horrible human being, but he had goodtaste."
