Everything She Never Wanted

Chapter 19

19

Henry finished getting ready for his date with Cynthia and left his room. He didn’t want another run-in with Zach, but he braced for one just in case his cousin was home. What he didn’t expect was his brother in the kitchen with Zach, and neither of them looking happy.

“I didn’t know you were coming by,” Henry said to Ryan.

Ryan glanced at Zach, and Henry immediately went on edge.

“We wanted to talk you out of seeing Cynthia again.”

“Are you f*****g kidding me?”

“Look, I know you think you know her but-”

“But what, Zach? Did you dig up some dirt on her? Find some article online or some police report or something that tells me how horrible she is?”

Zach and Ryan exchanged a glance. “Well, no.”

“Then what proof do you have that she’s not who I think she is?”

“We don’t have any,” Zach said. “But we know she’s not right for you.”

“Listen, I know you guys care. I know you’re trying to protect me. But you don’t know who she really is. Yeah, it hurt when she told me she didn’t love me. It killed me to know she had no feelings for me whatsoever. But I wasn’t in the right either. I never should have sprung it on her like I did. I never should have tried to change who she was.”

“Like you’re doing now?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re sleeping with her, but pretending you’re not in love with her. You’re saying you know she’s leaving and you’re okay with it. But you’re taking her to local places. You’re showing her how great Bereton is. You’re trying to get her to stay.”

“You’re wrong, Ry. I’m not doing that.”

“Where are you going tonight?”

Henry sighed. “Viti di Vita.”

“And after? Are you going to bring her back here? Show her life on the vineyard? What it would be like if she woke up every morning with you? s*x in the shower, s*x all night long?”

“Shut up,” Henry growled.

“We won’t shut up,” Zach growled right back. “Because we’re right. You’re getting in over your head. You’re getting sucked into her vortex again. And we’re going to lose you, maybe for good this time, when she leaves. You know she’s going to leave, but you don’t want to admit it.”

“I admit it. I know it. And I don’t care. It’s s*x. Great s*x, but just s*x. I already told you that, Zach.

“We don’t want to see you hurt,” Ryan said, his tone pleading.

“I know,” Henry said softly. “If she hurts me this time, it’ll be my fault. I get what you’re saying, I do, but when I’m with her, I forget that Dad just died. That it hurts all the time. Maybe I’m setting myself up for pain down the road, but I’ll deal with that when it comes.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“What? That I’m burying myself in her to get over losing Dad?”

“Yeah,” Zach said. “It makes a little more sense.”

“Thank you.”

“That doesn’t mean I think you’re making a smart decision.”

“Seriously?” Henry asked, his anger spiking again. “You know what, Zach? You have no idea what I’m going through right now. You’ve never dealt with any of the s**t on me. So back the f**k off.”

Henry stormed out before either of them could argue anymore. He threw his jacket on as he stumbled outside in untied, barely on boots. He stopped next to his Jeep and tied his boots, then slammed the door when he was inside. He tore out of there, knowing his cousin and brother weren’t coming after him, but mad that they’d ganged up on him.

Who the f**k did they think they were?

He arrived at Cynthia’s house in record time, but barely remembered the drive there. He took a few minutes to calm himself before he went to the door. Her mom was gone, at a late board meeting for the library. Henry thought about losing himself in her before dinner, but that wasn’t fair to Cynthia.

The restaurant was busier than he expected for a Wednesday night. He told the hostess his name and she said it would be about ten minutes before a table opened up.

“Can we go to the bar?”

The hostess nodded. “Of course.”

Henry guided Cynthia to the bar off to the side of the restaurant and found a single stool available. He stood beside her as she jumped up into it, bumping the man behind her.

Henry’s night went from s**t to s**t storm when the man turned around.

“Cynthia Hill? Damn?”

“Yes,” she said tentatively. She realized who it was and her lips curled up into a grin Henry thought looked forced. “Oh, wow. Easton Keen.”

He embraced her like they were long-lost friends. His fingers dipped a little lower on her waist than Henry was comfortable with, but it wasn’t like he had any claim on her. Or on who touched her. He was sleeping with her, but she made it clear from the beginning it was just s*x.

“How have you been?” Easton asked, keeping his f*****g hand on her hip. “I didn’t realize you moved back to town.”

“Oh, I’m only here for a little while. I got downsized and am just hanging out here until I can find something new.”

“You should check out the Gazette.”

She nodded. “I’m actually working there while I look. It’s been a lot of fun to see how a small town newspaper operates.”

“I imagine it’s pretty different than those big city papers you worked at. Who are you here with?”

Easton’s eyes finally left Cynthia and found Henry. Instead of looking surprised or annoyed, Easton simply looked amused.

“Henry Wilson. Why am I not surprised you’re the one holding her purse?”

Henry looked down, wanting to slap Easton when he realized he was indeed holding Cynthia’s purse. He took it when she was climbing the stool and stood there like an i***t holding it.

“Well, she is my date for the evening.”

“Good for you. Finally got her to say yes. It figures every other man would have to be unaware of her presence in town for you to get her to agree to a date.”

Henry’s blood boiled. Nothing would make him happier than to punch that fucker in his nose, but he was above that. Stooping to his level would not do anyone any good.

Especially Henry.

“Yes, well, not all of us are born with chiseled good looks and a charming personality.”

Easton’s grin widened. “Cynthia, you might want to come with me, sweetheart. I think your date has more interest in me than he does in you.”

Easton gripped Cynthia’s waist, pulling her toward him. She wriggled in his arms, trying to break free. Henry reached for her, tugging her out of Easton’s reach. “She’s here with me.”

Easton threw his hands up and chuckled. “Sorry, caveman. I didn’t realize she couldn’t make her own decision about who she had dinner with.”

“She did make her choice. And she chose me, Keen.”

Easton nodded slowly. “Well, she knows where to find me when she gets bored with the fat kid she never wanted to f**k in high school. You can try to bulk up and all, but everyone knows she’ll never really want you.”

“f**k off, Easton,” Cynthia said, finally saying something. “Henry is twice the man you’ll ever be.”

Easton’s eyes flipped to her, then back to Henry. His grin widened as he took Henry in. “Well, he used to be twice the man I am, but it looks like he dropped a few hundred pounds. Maybe now he can f**k you without crushing you. Then again, you were a fan of being on top.”

Henry heard the c***k of the slap before he realized what Cynthia was going to do. Easton’s hand went to his cheek, his eyes blazing with shock and anger.

He moved forward, as though he was going to hit her back, and Henry stepped between them.

“Get the f**k out of the way, Wilson.”

“Go. Now. Just f*****g leave. And don’t ever speak to her again.”

That evil grin curled his lips again. “That’s fine. The little w***e wasn’t that good of a f**k anyway. You can have her.”

Henry was about a breath from beating the bastard into a b****y pulp when he turned and left. Henry waited until he saw him walk out the front door before he turned to Cynthia.

“Are you okay?” he asked, cupping her jaw and pulling her in close.

She nodded.

“Do you want to go somewhere else?”

She shook her head.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not letting that prick steal anything else from me. He can go f**k himself.”

Henry crushed her mouth to his, devouring her with his need. Her arms circled his waist and pulled him in tight. They both needed that closeness, that connection, at that moment. When he finally eased back from their kiss, he pulled in a deep breath.

“Wilson? Party of two.”

“You ready?”

Cynthia nodded and they went back to the hostess stand.

Henry ordered a bottle of wine, Amavita wine, and gorgonzola bread to start with. When the waiter left, he reached for Cynthia’s hand.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “He wasn’t that nasty when we were together. Of course, he cheated on me, so maybe he was and I just never saw it.”

“He cheated on you?”

“Yeah. Didn’t I ever tell you that?”

Henry shook his head, anger filling him all over again.

“It was a long time ago. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“He’s a f*****g asshole.”

Cynthia grinned. “You’ll get no argument from me.”

Henry brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. He kept their fingers intwined as they looked over the menu. After they ordered and their wine and appetizer arrived, he lifted his glass.

“To new beginnings.”

Cynthia smiled and clinked her glass to his.

“Beviamo,” Henry said.

“We drink,” Cynthia replied, translating his family’s favorite Italian saying.

They sipped the wine and talked about safer topics than her ex and his family. He asked her about new prospective jobs, trying to remind himself that she was leaving.

“I haven’t heard anything. I’ve applied to tons of jobs, but a lot of papers don’t want to pay relocation. It’s hard for me to move across the country on my own dime. I’m already running out of my savings.”

“But you’re working now. That should help your savings, right?”

She nodded. “It does. I dipped into my savings to live the first few months after I lost my job. I thought I’d find something in Philadelphia. When I realized I’d been blackballed-”

“Blackballed? What are you talking about? I thought you were downsized. Why would that mean you were blackballed?”

Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

Cynthia couldn’t believe she said that. She knew Henry was never going to believe whatever lie she cooked up. She’d gone with the downsizing story for months. She had no idea why any part of the truth snuck out.

Maybe that meant it was time to tell him everything.

“I wasn’t really downsized, but that was the story they told everyone.”

“What happened?”

“I was dating someone from work. He wasn’t my direct boss, but he was above me. When he moved to Philadelphia, he was separated and told me he was just waiting for his divorce to be finalized.”

“Okay,” Henry drew out, clearly not expecting her to tell him the whole story.

“We started seeing each other a few months after he came to Philadelphia. He swept me off my feet. Fancy dinners, overnights in New York, Broadway shows and trips to museums. I never questioned why he would have two weekends a month that we couldn’t see each other or why he never answered his phone in front of me or why he never wanted me to spend the night at his place. I thought we were in love.”

“What happened?” Henry choked out.

“His ex wasn’t exactly an ex. They worked things out, and he just ‘forgot’ to tell me. When she moved to Philadelphia, she took over for my boss and found out about us. Apparently, I wasn’t the first to fall for his game, but it didn’t matter. She fired me and then blackballed me from every paper in the city. She has pull all over the country and I know that’s part of why I’m having so much trouble finding a job.”

“You have a job here.”

Cynthia nodded. “I do. And I love it.”

“But you want to be in a city,” he said with resignation.

She wanted to tell him she wanted to be with him. That she wanted him to ask her to stay, but she knew he’d say anything she wanted to hear, whether he meant it or not.

“Why did you get involved with him in the first place?” Henry asked.

She shrugged. “He was everything I thought I wanted. He was kind and attractive and older. He made me feel safe and loved. He could give me anything I wanted, and as selfish as it makes me sound, I liked that. I’d never had that. It was nice to have nice things.”

“Did you love him?”

Cynthia shrugged. “I thought I did.”

“How long has it been?”

“A few months.”

“Do you miss him?”

She shook her head emphatically. “Definitely not.”

“Good.” He paused and sipped his wine. “What would you do if the paper called and said they wanted you back?”

“I don’t even think I’d answer the phone.”

Henry chuckled. “I don’t blame you a bit.” He cleared his throat and sipped his wine. “What are you working on for the Gazette now?”

Cynthia launched into her latest spiel. She was enjoying her low-key job a lot more than she thought she would. She could almost see herself working at a smaller paper like the Gazette long-term. The slower pace made it possible to have a life outside work. One that might include the sexy man across the table from her if things went her way.

“Do you think they’ll accept the article?”

Cynthia shrugged. “Probably. They accept just about anything I pitch right now. I’m sure there will come a time when they’ll say no, but for now, it’s going well.”

Henry nodded. “That’s so great. And even better, you’ll have lots of pieces to add to your portfolio when the interviews start rolling in.”

Nothing like salt in an open wound. Cynthia smiled through the pain, wondering if Henry had another woman waiting in the wings for after she left. It wouldn’t surprise her to find out he was with someone right away. She wasn’t blind, and she wasn’t a fool. She saw the way the women in the restaurant looked at Henry. There wasn’t a woman over the age of twenty that hadn’t checked him out.

Of course, then their eyes went to her. She hated to see the shock on their faces when they saw the extra-curvy woman sitting across the table from Henry. They looked at him again, likely deciding she was his sister or some other relative, and studied him again.

A part of Cynthia wanted to crawl into his lap and kiss him like he was the very breath in her lungs, but she knew that wasn’t a good idea.

Instead, she simply glared at any woman whose eye she managed to catch.

“What are you doing?” Henry asked, a laugh in his voice.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Henry shifted in his seat to see the latest woman Cynthia was glaring at. A redhead in a skintight blue dress that was so short Cynthia thought she might have seen a whole lot more than she bargained for.

“Why are you glaring at that woman? Do you know her?”

Cynthia lifted an eyebrow. “No. Do you?”

Henry looked again and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, she wants to get to know you.”

“What are you-” Henry stopped abruptly then threw his head back and laughed.

Ms. Blue Dress smiled when she looked at his back, her eyes dipping to his butt before moving back up. She gave Cynthia a challenging look, one that said she was game for a competition.

Cynthia growled.

Henry stopped laughing, choking it out and trying to calm himself. “Did you just growl at me?”

Cynthia shook her head. “No. I growled at the b***h who won’t stop staring at your ass.”

Henry leaned back in his chair. He studied her until she grew uncomfortable with his eyes on her.

“What?”

Henry shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you jealous before.”

“Jealous? I’m not jealous. I just don’t think that woman should be checking you out when she’s on a date with another man.”

“Oh, is that it?”

“Yeah,” she lied. “Of course.”

Henry shrugged. “Okay. Then I guess you won’t mind if I go ask her for her number? If she’s so disinterested in her date, he’s clearly not getting a second one.”

Cynthia ground her teeth together and forced a grin. “Of course not. Like you said, we’re only together until I get a job and leave. If you don’t want to wait that long, that’s your choice. We can end things now.”

Henry leaned back in his chair and studied her. Again, it made her uncomfortable, wondering what he saw. If he saw through her curtain of lies.

Finally he shook his head. “I’m not ready to end things, but I won’t force you to keep seeing me either.”

Cynthia paused, her glass halfway to her lips. She set it back down carefully and met his gaze. “I’m not done either.”

“Good. Then we can finish our dinner without worrying about other women or other men.”

“What other men?” she scoffed.

“The men who’ve been checking you out the entire time we’ve been here.”

“Yeah, okay,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “You’re full of shit.”

“Turn around. Right now. Blue shirt, no tie, dark hair.”

Cynthia was confused, her eyebrows tugging together. Henry nodded over her shoulder. She spun in her seat and found the man Henry was talking about. He was cute, in a boy-next-door kind of way. Not as hot as Henry, but definitely not unattractive. When he realized she was looking at him, his cheeks pinked, but he grinned. He had a nice smile, one she returned before she spun back in her seat to face Henry.

“One guy. That doesn’t prove anything.”

Henry leaned forward. “Over your left shoulder. Brown jacket, tan shirt, dark hair. To your right. Black shirt, blonde hair. Over my right shoulder. Blue shirt, striped tie, light brown hair. Would you like me to keep going?”

Cynthia met the eyes of every man Henry mentioned. They were all checking her out. Some were more subtle than others, but they were definitely looking at her.

“Would you like to get any of their numbers?”

Cynthia shook her head.

“Good. I prefer it the way it is with us. We go out, sometimes eat at home. Then I get to f**k you senseless.”

His words, delivered in a calm voice, sent a shiver down her spine and a dampness into her panties. His dark blue eyes were the only thing that gave away just how turned on he was.

“Do you like it when I slide my c**k into you, Cynthia?”

She nodded.

“How about when I lick your c**t? Do you like that?”

Another nod.

“And what about when I play with your a*s. Do you like that, too?”

Cynthia stifled a groan and nodded. She licked her lips, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t sure she’d survive dinner with Henry. Not if he kept talking the way he was.

“Before I touch you again, Cynthia, I need you to understand one thing about me.”

“What?” she croaked, her voice cracking. “What’s that?” she tried again, her throat allowing the words through.

“I need you to know that I don’t f**k more than one woman at a time. As long as I’m with you, there are no other women in the world for me. I won’t look at them, talk to them, flirt with them. I won’t sleep with another woman, kiss another woman, touch another woman. And I expect the same from you. I know we never talked about it, but I don’t believe in sleeping with multiple people at once.”

Cynthia shook her head. “Neither do I.”

“Good. Now let’s enjoy dinner so I can take you home and have you for dessert.”