Wicked Heart Read Online Free Page B

it?”
    This conversation is veering off into uncomfortable areas. “Mr. Quinn—”
    “Mr. Quinn is my father.”
    “Your agent requested we address both yourself and Miss Bell in a formal way.”
    “My agent likes to make people think we’re more important than we are. That’s his job. Don’t listen to him about anything. Especially not about me and Angel.”
    God, just hearing him say that phrase ties my stomach in knots. “Me and Angel.”
    “Liss, about Angel—”
    “If you’re concerned that our past will cause you any discomfort, in either a professional or personal capacity, I’d like to assure you that I’m going to do everything in
my power to make this experience as stress-free as possible. For both you and your . . . fiancée.”
    I nearly choke on the word. Finding out he was engaged didn’t snuff out the tiny flame of hope that we’d somehow be together one day. It just stifled it, in the most painful way.
“I realize this situation isn’t ideal,” I continue. “And if you tell me your concerns, I’ll be sure to address them.”
    “Jesus Christ.” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Could you
please
stop talking to me like you’re my bank manager? Like we don’t even know each
other?”
    “I don’t know you anymore.”
    “You’re the
only one
who’s
ever
known me. Fuck, Liss—”
    “I’d rather you call me Elissa.” He’s the only person in the world who calls me Liss, and it feels way too intimate for our current situation.
    He walks forward, and I have no room left to retreat. He stands so close, I can smell him. The entire space fills with an intense energy that makes my heart pound erratically against my rib
cage.
    “Elissa, I’m sorry. That day . . . the last time I saw you. I hurt you, and I hate that.”
    I can’t cope with him being so close, but I clench my jaw and force myself to sound calmer than I feel. “There were faults on both sides. We weren’t even in a
relationship.”
    “We both know that’s not true. What we shared—”
    “Was a long time ago. We were young and stupid. Everything seems epic at that age, and we got carried away. I knew it at the time, and I know it now. I’m over it.”
    His eyes bore into me. “It?”
    I straighten my spine. “You.” He blinks a few times, and I ignore his conflicted expression. “Now you’re engaged to one of the most beautiful women in the world, and I .
. .”
Come on, Elissa, say it. Even if you don’t mean it.
“I couldn’t be happier for you.”
    If I were Pinocchio, my nose would be poking his eye out right about now. Well, okay, I’m too short for the eye, but his chest would be getting a bruising. “No matter how it
happened, I’m glad you two found each other. It’s obvious you love her.” I risk looking at his face. “Right?”
    As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them. Do I seriously expect him to say “no” and take me in his arms? As usual, my unrealistic romantic expectations are way off.
    “Yes, I love her,” he says quietly. “I’m lucky to be marrying my best friend. Not everyone gets that chance.”
    A knot of tension coils in my stomach. I really wasn’t prepared for how much those words would hurt.
    “And what about you?” he asks, his voice quiet. “Are you . . . with anyone?”
    It sounds like he’s asking if I have a terminal illness. I guess if stubborn singleness were a disease, I could be said to have a chronic case.
    What do I tell him? That since our time together, I never go out with a man for more than a couple of weeks? In general, men disappoint me. Yet another thing for which I blame Liam Quinn.
    “I’ve been seeing someone,” I say.
Several someones, really. None worth mentioning.
    His stare is intense. Like he’s trying to see straight into my soul. “Does he treat you well?”
    I almost cave and tell him the truth, but my pride takes over my mouth. “Like a queen.”
    The tension in him gives way to something else. Relief,