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Stepping intothehall,heturned togobacktohisbedroom,butthetoneof Gigi’svoicecoming fromthe directionof theliving roomimmediatelysetoff his internal alarms.
“Max,there’sa woman heretoseeyou,”shecalled,her wordscold and clipped.Hefrowned. The onlywomen whoknewwherehelivedwerehismother and Evangeline. Hewalked downthehall, emerging in thekitchen and intohisownpersonal hell.
“Chelsea?Whatthefuckareyou doing here?”hesnapped,hishand grabbing forthe edgeofthe towel and holding itprotectivelyagainst his body.
“Whois she,Max?”Gigiasked.
“WhoamI?”Chelseachimed in. “I’mhis wife.Didn’thetellyou hewasmarried?”
Gigi’salready paleskin seemedtolosemorecolor. “Wife?”shewhispered.
“That’sright,”Chelsea purred,stepping forwardand dragging her hand downMax’schestand stomach. Hetensed fromthecontact,hismusclesbunching and twitching in irritation.
“Oh,”Gigi said quietly.“I guessI’ll just getwhatIneed and getreadyatmyapartment.”
“Gigi,wait,”hecalled.
“Now,where’sthatcockI’vebeenmissing?” Chelseaasked. With one ofher longnails,she unhooked Max’stowel andletit droptothefloor. Shewrapped herfingersaround hisshaftand pulled roughly. Helookeddown,thankful thathisdickhad nointention ofrisingtotheoccasion.
With a tightjaw,hepickedup thetowel and stepped away,making hiswaydownthehall. He nudged open Gigi’sbedroomdoorwith hisbarefoot.“Gigi?”Hefound herangrilystuffing clothes and booksintohersuitcase. Hestepped fullyintotheroom.“Whatare you doing?”hedemanded.
Shelooked up,perhapsnoticing himfor thefirsttime.Her eyeshadtearsin them,butbeneath themwasanger. Itshonemorebrightlythan hertears,and hewasdamn sureitwould lastlonger than themtoo.“Youtoldme your wifewasdead.”
Heran a hand through hishair. “Sheisto me.”
“Calling yourselfa widowerand actuallybeingonearetwo differentthings,”shespat. “You’re still married.”
“You don’t understand,”hesaid,wanting towrap hisarmsaround herand stopher frompacking up her things. “Sheleft me.”
“HowamI supposed tobelieve you after you lied aboutsomething sohuge?”Her demandwas madewith awaveof her armtoindicatetheother roomand theshit-stormthat had arrivedon his doorstep.
“I knowitlooksbad,butyou haveto believeme,Gigi.I nevermeantto hurtyou.I nevermeant for—”
“Your wifeandmistresstomeet?”shevolleyed back.Shesnorted,derision coating thesound. “No,I don’tsupposeyou did. Areyou even fromLA,orwasthata lietoo?”
Maxwantedtolashoutather,butheheld histongue. Shehad everyrighttobeangry. “I am fromLA.”
“And thewholeleaving in a fewmonthsthing?Wasthatwhenyou had toget backto your supermodelwife?”Sheslammed hersuitcaseshut,jerking thezip halfwayaround beforeitgot stuck. Shebegan swearingunder her breath,tryingtogetthething shut.
“Here,let mehelpyou.”
“No!”sheyelled,glaring athim. “Ican dothismyself.” Shestruggled for anotherfewminutes beforeshegaveupcompletely.Tugging on the handle,thebag dropped tothefloor,booksand clothesspilling outtheside. Gigi ignored them,dragging thebag behind heron thewaytothefront door. Chelseawassittingon thecouch,looking self-righteous.
“Troublein paradise,Max?”sheasked smugly.
Heshot her akeep-the-fuck-out-of-thislookand continued after Gigi. Shewas out the door and almostatthe elevator.“Gigi,justwait.”
Shespun around,jabbing afinger into his chest.“Waitforwhat?Morelies?More heartache?” Thefightdrainedoutof her,and her gazefixedon somethingover hisshoulder.In a whisper,she said, “I quit.”
The elevatorcar arrived, swallowing Gigi up and making her disappear before hiseyes. Whenhe turned back,Chelseawaslounging againstthedoorjamb in her designeroutfitand Louboutin heels.
Hefelthisshouldersslump. “Howdid you findme?”HeknewSamhadn’tblabbed. Hehopedthat hismother hadn’t.
“Evangeline,”shesaid.“Yes,your bosswassurprisedtohearthatIdidn’tknowwheremy husband was.”
Hecouldn’t beupsetthatEvangelinehad sentthebitch hisway;shewasignorantofthe situation.“What did you tell her?”
Chelsea stared ather false nails,pulling a face.“I brokea nail,”she pouted,holding her hand out for himtosee. Hearched abrowatherand crossed hisarms.Howhad heever been attracted to this woman?Shewassovacuouslyclichéd.“I told herI’d been awayon anextended vacation and had comehomeearlytosurpriseyouonlytofindmyapartmentpacked up,andmy husband missing.”
