A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(58)

We’re all standing in a small circle, including Nick, when Ben looks up and says with a scowl, “Who the hell invited her?”

I follow the direction of his gaze and see a gorgeous blond headed our way. She’s wearing a short black skirt, stilettos, and a top that bares her midriff. She makes a beeline straight for Ben, wraps her arms around his neck, and says, “Hello, honey. Didn’t you miss your fiancée?”





If I’ve ever felt like a deer in headlights, it’s now. What is Karen doing here? Why the f*ck does she think she’s my fiancée? Is she completely delusional? I pry her arms from around my neck as Samantha stands there like she’s seen a ghost, her eyes large and confused.

“Ben, I’ve missed you. Now I understand—you were pushing me away. You were planning a proposal. I’m so stupid. But it makes sense you haven’t been seeing anyone.”

Snapping out of my stunned stupor, I step back, putting space between us. “I’m not sure why you’re here, but I never planned to propose to you.”

Her high frequency smile falters as she glances around. “That can’t be. I got a call from someone at your office saying you wondered why I hadn’t come to the client meeting earlier. I hadn’t thought you wanted to see me, so I didn’t. I was told by the caller you specifically asked about me.”

Gears churn in my head as I wonder who at the office made that call. Maybe someone contacted her because she’s a client, and Karen read more into it.

“I can assure you, I never asked for you.” I pull Sam over. She stumbles towards me, taken off guard by my sudden need to tuck her against my side, apparently as stunned by Karen’s appearance as I am. “I don’t think my girlfriend would like that.”

Karen’s eyes bug out before she takes a stumbling step back. “Girlfriend!” she shrieks, garnering the attention of everyone around us. “You told me … I thought you didn’t do relationships.”

“Things change.”

Her eyes narrow as she assesses Sam.

“You’re finally over your best friend’s death and you pick the first girl to cross your path. She’s not even your type.”

And how would Karen know what my type is? Sam is exactly what I want. True, she’s different than the others. Her beauty is subtle, natural, and not in your face. She isn’t plastic and doesn’t need gobs of shit on her face to look stunning. More importantly, she’s just as genuine on the inside as she is on the outside.

“Not exactly.” I don’t clarify because that answer is true for both her statements. “But she’s the right girl, and she doesn’t compare herself to my best friend.”

She fish mouths a few unspoken words before she spins on her heels and swiftly walks away.

“That was Karen?” Sam asks glancing up at me.

I nod.

“That was interesting. I guess I should go find her,” Jenna sighs before she turns and strides off.

But it’s Cate’s face that has gone pale that has me concerned as she walks away and stands against the wall as if she needs it to help her remain uptight.

“Sam, I need to go check on Cate.”

She pats my forearm. “Sure, I have some things I need to check on anyway.”

I weave my way over to Cate.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

She glances up as though she hadn’t noticed me walk over.

“I can’t stay here.”

I search around to locate Sam needing to tell her I have to leave. “Sure, I’ll take you home,” I say absently to Cate.

“It’s not that, Ben. I need to leave Charleston. I can’t stay in South Carolina. I feel Drew everywhere I go, which should be a good thing. Instead, I feel like crying all the time. I need to move so that maybe I can get past this melancholy I feel.”

“Cate.” But what can I say? “I feel it too.” I haven’t been doing my job as her protector very well as of late. “I was at my parents’ the other day and outside I could picture Drew and me as kids. God, Cate, it hurts like a dagger in my chest knowing I can’t call because he’s not here and never will be again. I almost hate going to my parents’ for that reason.”

She clings to me and I draw her into a hug. I think back to so many days we’d ended up in this very position hiding our suffering from Drew. We didn’t want him to see our pain as he faded away into nothingness. Our grief has tied us together in a way that only the two of us can share. For that reason, I want to beg her to stay because I selfishly need her. Something I would do, except Drew counted on me. And I can’t let him down because I have no way of explaining to him my shortcomings. He would want me to let her go so she can live her life.

When we pull back, her eyes shimmer with tears. “I’ve been offered a position in Washington, DC, and I think I’m going to take it. It will be a fresh start.”

“I don’t want you to go, but I get it. And know I’ll be here whenever you need me.” She nods and I help her to a chair where she sits. I’m not sure a drink will cut it, but I say it anyway. “Stay here. Let me get you a drink.”

As I make my way over to the cash bar, I see Horace heading my way and we meet near where my sister stands with Kenneth. I scan the room and Karen is nowhere in sight, which is a good thing.