I slammed out of the apartment, stomped down to the basement—for a change I wasn’t intimidated by the size and the shadows—and got those boxes. They would do for a start.
His office was neat, not a thing out of place. Even if he hadn’t been away for Four. Fucking. Weeks, it wouldn’t have looked much different. One of my regulars had once told me he never trusted a man who was neater than he was. Looked like he had a point.
I put a box on the desk I’d bought Wills, but before I could begin filling it with the books and DVDs that lined the shelves, I spotted the photo on his desk, the one from our Key West vacation, where he’d looked at me with such love in his eyes.
I picked it up and slammed it down on the corner of the desk, shattering the glass and mangling the frame. “You goddamned liar! Why did you make me believe you loved me?”
My hands shaking, I tossed it into the wastebasket beneath the desk. Goddammit, he could pack for himself. I stormed through the connecting bathroom and back into my own office.
He’d been singing that Carpenters’ song this morning…I ran the heels of my hands over my cheeks. It was only this morning.
The son of a bitch wanted the Carpenters? I’d fucking give him the Carpenters. I dug out a CD and put it in the player. “Goodbye to Love.” Yeah, that was the one. I set it to repeat.
The sound wav that notified me when I had e-mail interrupted my bitter thoughts. It was from Victor/Victoria, when Toddy and Victoria both agreed they could love King Marchand. Wills had suggested it, smiling deep into my eyes.
Oh, God. I would have been better off choosing the wav from The Magnificent Seven accepting that I’d lose, I’d always lose.
I dashed my palm over my face again, wincing as the salty tears stung the scratches from the thorns, and sat down in front of my computer. The e-mail was from Tim. “I’ll meet you at the United terminal.”
I e-mailed him back. “I’m on my way, bringing Miss Su.” He knew about my kitten. I’d sent everyone a few pictures. Well, maybe more than a few.
My cell phone rang, and my heart started pounding in my chest. I fumbled and nearly dropped it in my rush to see who was calling, but it wasn’t Wills, the son of a bitch. I should have realized that when the ringtone didn’t play “Temptation.” I didn’t recognize the number and let it go to voicemail. I turned off the phone and dug my rolling carry-on out of the closet in my office.
Wheeling it along behind me, I strode into the bedroom, stepped on the denuded stems and shredded petals, crossed the squishy patch of carpet that had gotten soaked, and swung my carry-on onto the bed. Jeans, shirts, shorts, socks. I paused to dry my cheeks and blow my nose. Handkerchiefs. I threw in a double handful.
I’d have to pack some things for Miss Su too. I could get a litter pan and a bag of litter after we arrived in Savannah, but there were other things she’d need. I retrieved her bowls and some cans of food from the kitchen and put them into the carry-on.
“Mrrow?” Miss Su stood in the doorway, uncertain of my temper, and I felt like a shit. That was Wills’s fault too.
“Come on, puss. We’re leaving. Maybe Mr. Cheater Matheson will buy a clue and be out of here before we—” My voice hitched as a lonely future stared back at me. “—before we come home.”
I stroked her head, then put her in her Sherpa bag with her blanket and catnip mouse. At the door, I remembered the dinner I was going to make. I returned to the kitchen to turn the oven down to warm. Not that I cared if the Cornish game hens were edible or not, I assured myself.
I just didn’t want my house to burn down.
Tim was waiting for me in the United terminal, as he’d promised. At least he kept his promises.
He hugged me. “It’s good to see you, Sweets.”
I didn’t correct him, as Wills might have done. Wills probably wouldn’t have said anything now anyway. Did he even care anymore? Well, it didn’t matter. At this moment he was…he was less than nothing to me.
Tim took a pair of sunglasses from his breast pocket and handed them to me. “Your eyes are kind of red and swollen.”
Shit. No wonder why I’d been getting odd looks. I’d closed myself in the lavatory at the back of the plane a few times during the flight, but I’d avoided my reflection in the mirror. All I would have seen was a fool who’d left himself open to having his heart torn out and tangoed upon.
“Thanks.” I put the glasses on.
“You’re welcome. Did you check any bags?”
“No. I just have this.” I nodded toward the carry-on I’d been wheeling along behind me. “And Miss Su’s bag.”
“Oh?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I should have brought more stuff? I’m not letting that bastard keep me out of my own home!”
“Hey! Take it easy, babe. I’m on your side.”
I flushed. “I’m sorry.” My outburst had drawn attention to us.