of the bracelet that he had secured around my wrist earlier. When the heavy weight fell into my hand, I clenched my palm around it, then threw it at him.
“You know what, Zach? This time I’m going to go before you throw me out. Hear this, and hear it loud and clear.
I’m done.”
***
It was getting to be a bad habit, sitting at my desk at work, trying to hold it together after an emotional showdown with Zach.
This time, there was one big difference, however. I was strong enough to know that this mess, this entire clusterfuck—this had nothing to do with me. I had tried. I had given everything, had given things that I hadn’t even known were mine to give.
Though I was in a lot of pain, I found some comfort in that.
“You look great today, Devon.” I looked up to find Tony giving me the once-over, stark admiration in his eyes. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he shrugged sheepishly. “We’re not allowed to date, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed, though I felt somewhat buoyed by the comment, a lifesaver in a dark-water kind of day.
“I brought you a coffee. It’s on your desk.” Tony looked over to where the paper cup sat in front of his computer, then smiled back at me at the gesture. A tendril of pleasure wove its way through my misery.
I had deliberately done my best to look good that morning. The new Devon, the one who had stepped all the way out of her shell and would never go back in, refused to hide in black clothing and shyness anymore.
Today, I wore a turquoise blouse that actually fit, rather than hanging loosely over my frame in an attempt to hide my figure. My slacks were the color of a mocha latte, and my shoes matched, with a heel significantly higher than I was normally comfortable in.
I was dying inside, but no one needed to know that but me.
As I waited for my computer to boot up, I reached down for the purse that I had secured under my desk. My mouth was sore from Zach’s assault on it the night before, and I was desperate for a good dose of medicated lip balm.
When I again straightened, he was there, his expensive black suit fitted to him in ways that made my body jealous.
“You’re here.” His voice was full of surprise. I narrowed my eyes, taking no little satisfaction in the fact that the normally unflappable Zachariah St. Brenton looked like a mess, apart from the suit.
His skin was pale, and dark shadows bruised the skin beneath his eyes. He didn’t look as though he had slept for even a minute, and his hair stood on end.
“Of course I’m here.” I fought hard to keep the waspish tone out of my voice. I had already given this man everything. I wasn’t going to let him know that he had my grief, as well. “I work here. Why are
you
here? And by ‘here’ I mean at my desk, keeping me from doing my work.”
His eyes widened, and he actually looked taken aback. I didn’t care if he was about to get mad from my lack of respect, or whatever else he could come up with to get his panties in a twist about.
His emotions were no longer my problem. I had learned that much.
“I can’t believe you stayed.” He cocked his head, studying me intently. I stared right back. I thought I detected a hint of astonishment in his eyes, but it was gone as fast as it had appeared.
“Am I not supposed to be here?” If he was about to try to fire me because I’d been screwing the boss, then I wasn’t going to go down easy. “I like it here. I’m staying. With or without you.”
“No, no. Of course you’re supposed to be here. I just . . . I’m surprised.” In my peripheral vision I could see that we were beginning to attract nearly as much attention as we had the other day. I shifted uncomfortably at the realization.
I truly did like my job. If we weren’t together, then these little visits from Zach were going to have to stop.
Otherwise, my life at work was going to become a living hell. I would forever be the woman who had had an