Foreign Affair (22 page)

Lena ignored her question. “What was he like when you saw him?”

“Does it matter?”

“Answer the damn question.”

Stephanie paused and looked away. “He was hurting. I could see it in the way he looked at me. I was an obvious reminder of you. He wouldn’t even let me stay, kicked me out after two minutes.”

Lena’s breath caught, and hope bloomed the tiniest bit in her heart. She quickly pushed the threatening emotion away and took a sip of her beer. “Well, he acted like a jerk when I called him. So maybe it serves him right.”

The words were complete crap, and just speaking them sent regret through her. Apparently, Stephanie wasn’t too thrilled either by the way her eyes narrowed.

“Okay. You
both
suck. You’re acting like teenagers.”

“Look, Tyler was a fling. It just hit me a little hard coming home.” Lena shrugged, pushing back the ache in her heart that had become second nature by now.

Their food arrived, saving them from further discussion. When they had finished eating and were waiting at the register to pay, there was a sudden commotion toward the back of the restaurant.

Hearing a woman’s voice raised in obvious hysteria, Lena turned to investigate.

The water hit her smack in the face. She sputtered, raising the sleeve of her shirt to wipe away the water.

“Oh, she did
not
just do that.” Stephanie lurched toward Lena’s attacker, but Lena grasped her arm, holding her back from the woman in front of them.

Although the term woman seemed almost inappropriate. The girl may have been twenty at the most. She was pale, with blonde hair and a waif-like body. She stood trembling in front of them, clutching the now-empty glass of water.

The girl’s friend stood to her right, looking mortified as she tried to pull the girl away from Stephanie and Lena.

“Do you know where Keith was last night?” the girl asked, her blue eyes full of tears and blatant hatred. “Do you even know who I am?”

Lena blinked in dismay.
Ugh, I have a pretty good idea
.

“He was with me. He came back to me,
again
.” The girl’s voice rose. “Do you realize I have to look at your picture on his desk every day? I go to bed with him at night, knowing he’s sleeping with me but trying to get you back.”

Lena blinked. Should she pity this girl or want to smack her? Pity won out in the end.

“Look, kid, you can have him. I don’t want him,” she replied with a terse smile. “And, please, give him that message for me.”

“You might want to stop sleeping with other women’s men,” Stephanie advised and slapped down the bills on the counter to cover their check. “But don’t worry. I’m sure Keith would never cheat on
you.
”

Leaving the girl staring at them in shock, Stephanie grasped Lena’s arm and steered her out of the restaurant.

Lena glanced over her shoulder to see the girl’s friend usher her toward the bathroom.

“Stephanie, that was just mean.”

“She’s a little tramp. Stop being so nice.” Stephanie glared at the restaurant and started the car.

“She’s just a kid,” Lena protested. “I bet she’s barely in college.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass if she’s twelve. She knows right from wrong.” Stephanie swerved into traffic. “Stop being so damn nice.”

“You know what’s really funny?” Lena asked. “Keith said he would wait for me. He said he wouldn’t be with anyone else until I gave in and came back to him. He is such a dick.”

“I’m glad you’re not marrying him. I couldn’t believe you were even giving him hope.”

“I already told you I wasn’t going to marry him.” Lena glanced out the window, thinking about the younger woman.

Now that had been a girl in love. A girl who’d been in such anguish, she hadn’t known what to do with herself.

Kind of like how she was with Tyler. Her stomach flipped and an idea took root in her head.

“Did he really seem unhappy, Steph?”

Stephanie glanced at her and lifted an eyebrow. “Are we talking about Tyler again? Yes. He did.”

Lena took a deep breath. It was time she took a risk. Time to try and get Tyler back. Why keep denying how she felt for him? By the end of their time in Europe, she had been completely and hopelessly in love with him. The feeling hadn’t faded with time.

She calculated the amount of sick days she still had left and then bit her lip.

“Stephanie, I think I’m going to search for a cheap flight from Seattle to New York.”

Lena zipped up her backpack and then glared at the ringing phone. The entire weekend she’d stayed at Stephanie’s apartment, the phone had rung at least once an hour.

“I’m so sorry, Steph.”

Stephanie sat on the bed watching television, channel surfing with the remote.

“Stop apologizing for the fact that your ex is an asshole.” Her friend shook her head.

“I don’t think it quite sunk in when I told him I would hire a lawyer if he didn’t agree to sell the house. He told me to call him when my PMS went away.”

“Pathetic.” Stephanie shook her head. “I’m so glad you’re going to New York.”

“Me too.” Lena pulled off her shirt and grabbed the dress that hung over a chair. She pulled it on and looked in the mirror. It had cost her a pretty penny, but it had been worth it. It was a sleeveless, pale blue dress that flared out at the knees. The square neckline hinted at her cleavage, and a darker blue belt accented her waist.

“Good thing this fabric doesn’t wrinkle easily. I’m going to nap on the plane.” She took a deep breath in. “Will you zip me?”

Stephanie came over to pull the zipper up. “This is cute. It’s a great color on you, and very spring. I don’t think I could pull it off. Too cutesy. But you do it justice.”

Lena frowned. “Cutesy?”

“You know, I can’t see Tyler turning you away. That man was hooked on you, from what I could see. Besides the fact that there was enough chemistry between you both to blow up China.”

Lena gave a nervous laugh and smoothed a hand over the dress. “Well, hopefully the fuse is still lit. You didn’t hear how angry he was when I called him.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes. “That’s just his pride. I’m sure he’ll melt when he sees you face to face.”

“Lord, I hope so.”

“So. Are you going to be okay?” Stephanie bit her lip and gave her a probing look. “Going out to New York all by yourself to confront him alone?”

“It’s a roundtrip ticket.” Lena shrugged, wishing she were just a little more confident. “Worst case scenario I’m on a plane home tonight after I see him.”

“That won’t happen. Think positive. And you’d better call me the minute you get back.”

“You know I will.” Lena glanced one last time in the mirror.
You
can do this
. “Okay, let’s go.”

Lena sat on the stool at the bar, staring down into the clear liquid. Vodka. Liquid courage. She swished the tiny glass around, eyeing it as if it were the devil’s brew.

Damn, I hate vodka
. But it would work fast.

“Why did you order a shot if you’re just going to stare at it, lady?” The bartender leaned over the bar, watching her with open curiosity. The bar was near empty, being still early in the day.

She glanced back up at him and grimaced. “It’s not something I normally drink, but today I’m feeling the need to make an exception.”

“Yeah?” He wiped a glass dry with his towel. “So where are you from?”

“Oregon.” She took a deep breath and slammed the shot down. The liquid burned her throat and had her eyes burning with tears. She coughed and pressed her hand against her chest.

“So, whatcha doing in New York? You come to see the Yanks?”

“Yanks?” Lena asked as she pulled her hair back into two small ponytails to keep them out of her face. With how fast it had grown, she wasn’t used to having it flowing around her face. “Is that basketball?”

The man’s bushy eyebrows drew together.

Apparently not. “Sorry, I don’t follow sports. I’m more of a ballet
girl. Besides, I’m just here on business.”

The bartender grunted. “The ballet, huh? You look like the type.”

“The type?” Lena frowned. “And what type is that?”

“Oh, you know, you’ve just got that look. Little naïve. Cutesy. Yuppyish?”

“Okay, I’m just going to focus on the cute part and ignore the naïve and yuppy.”

“It’s just the dress, I’m sure.” He winked. “What business brought you to New York?”

“Well…” She paused, still a little annoyed he’d called her a yuppie. “I have to make a business proposition to an old friend.”

“You a stockbroker?”

Lena gave him a thoughtful glance. Did she look like a stockbroker? “No, I’m not a stockbroker. Hey, what time is it?”

“Ah, let me check.” He glanced at his watch. “About four thirty.”

“Oh no.” she squeaked and leapt off the chair. Time difference—she’d almost forgotten the time difference. She’d planned on slipping into Tyler’s office just before he left for the day.

“I’ve got to go.”

“Well, good luck, lady. I hope your deal goes through all right.”

Me too, she thought, and rushed out the door into the streets of New York. The sun was hot, the air humid, but the city thrived despite the heat. Taxi horns blared and throngs of people strode down the street after a long workday.

Lena adjusted her purse over her shoulder and set off down the street, using her hand to shade the glare from her eyes. After a few moments, she found herself standing at the base of a skyscraper.

She clutched the tiny piece of paper in her hand, then gave another nervous glance at the double glass mirrored doors.
Shit, I should have had
two shots.

She was crazy. She had to be insane to be here. Lena cursed to herself as she stepped into the building and went to the directory on the wall.

“Tyler Bentz.” Her heart slammed against her chest as she fingered the gold lettering. Making her way to the elevator, she quickly pressed the button that would take her to the forty-eighth floor.

A few moments later, the door slid open. She took a step out of the elevator, and then hesitated.

No. You’ve come this far
.
Walk your stupid butt into that office and see what happens, you pansy.

She took a deep breath and approached the door, gripping the handle tight before swinging it open.

Her gaze landed on a tall, lanky man, dressed in a very expensive-looking suit, behind a reception desk. His expression turned curious as he watched her enter.

“Hello there.” The man smiled, his gaze ran over her dress, and she could have sworn she saw amusement in his eyes.

“Hi.” She swallowed hard. “I’m here to see…”

“Yes? Who are you here to see?”

“Uh…” Tyler. Who could step on her heart as if it were a bug and leave her an emotional wreck.
I can’t do this
. “No one. I think I have the wrong office actually.”

The man frowned. “Why don’t you tell me who you’re looking for, and maybe I can help.”

“T—”
You’re a pansy. Just say Tyler’s name.
“Ty—omas.”

“Thomas?” The man gave her a puzzled look. “You know, you look a little pale. Why don’t you sit down a moment, and I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Lena shook her head and backed toward the door. “No,
really. I have the wrong office. Thank you for your help.”

She turned to flee and slammed into something hard. Her hands reached out to keep herself from falling. She stared at the crisp blue shirt and felt the ridges under it—familiar ridges. She jerked her eyes up to meet Tyler’s stunned gaze.

Her heart thudded in her chest.
Shit
. Why had she ever thought this a good idea?

“Lena?” Tyler’s expression became guarded. “What are you doing in New York?”

“New York?” She gave a weak laugh. “Is that where I am, New York?”

“You’re a long ways from Kansas, Dorothy,” the receptionist muttered not quite under his breath.

She shot him an irritated glance and
then glanced back at Tyler, licking her lips. “I shouldn’t be here. I think I’d better go.”

“Hold on.” Tyler grasped her arm as she made to move past him. Tingles spread through her entire body at his touch, and she bit back a gasp.

“Are you sure this isn’t the Thomas you were looking for?” The receptionist asked innocently.

What the hell kind of receptionist was he? Lena shot him a vicious look.

“Why don’t you come into my office for a second?” Tyler’s grip on her arm tightened, and he urged her into a corner office.

Lena licked her lips again, took a deep breath, and then went inside.

Tyler watched Lena step into his office and then followed her in, shutting the door behind him. God, she was actually here.

The roar of blood in his veins sounded in his head, and his gaze devoured her from head to toe. She was just as beautiful now as she had been in Europe. It was apparent, even in those silly little ponytails, that her hair had grown out some, and it looked as if she’d lost weight.

After their conversation on the phone, he never thought he’d see her again. Didn’t think she’d have the guts to show her face.

And yet here she was.
Lena had come to New York
. His chest tightened, and he clenched his fists so he wouldn’t drag her into his arms. He watched as she walked to the window and glanced out over the city.

“You have a beautiful view.”

“Thank you.” He didn’t want to talk about the fucking view. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“Sure.” She glanced back, wringing her hands. She appeared a bit skittish. “Thank you.”

Tyler picked up his phone and pressed a few buttons. “Could you please bring us two coffees, Danny? Thanks.”

He replaced the receiver and stared at her. Their gazes locked, and the air almost crackled with tension. She took a ragged breath in and then jerked her gaze away.

“What are you doing in New York?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral.

“Visiting.” She turned to look out the window again.

The urge to cross the room and touch her hit strong, but he forced himself to keep his distance. “I didn’t realize you knew anyone in New York. Who are you visiting?”