Indigo Nights (Nights #3)(63)

Voice mail. Again.

I needed her to pick up, to stick around and let me explain I’d gone to lunch with Alicia to get rid of her. Fuck, I should have had security throw Alicia out. Why had I indulged her?

I wanted Beth, but where was she? My heart was thumping through my chest and my skin itched. I shrugged off my suit jacket, throwing it on the couch.

I typed out a message.

Dylan: Can you pick up? Alicia came by the office and made a scene and refused to leave unless I had lunch with her. She’s a maniac. Please call me. I love you.

I stared at my phone, willing her to call me.

Impatient, I called her.

Voice mail. Again.

Fuck. Would she have gone to her father’s? I was ashamed to say I had no idea where he lived. She didn’t mention him often. To Beth, her family seemed to be all about the people she surrounded herself with in London.

She’d have to come back to collect her luggage before leaving for the airport. I’d just sit and wait, try not to overreact—and keep calling until she either turned up or answered.

Dylan: Where are you? I love you. Pick up.

Maybe she had gone to a meeting—or a bar. My gut twisted at the thought of being the one who had caused her pain. All I wanted to do was make her happy. Why had I been such an idiot?

I’d been avoiding the most obvious phone call I should make. I had to call her brother. This wasn’t just a lover’s tiff. Beth could derail her recovery, and I had to do everything I could to ensure that didn’t happen.

I dialed Marie and got her to call me back with Jake Harrison’s number. It didn’t take her long to find it. It was late in London, but I was pretty sure that Jake wouldn’t mind me calling. He’d kick my ass, but he’d want to know about Beth.

I punched his number into my phone.

“Hello?” Jake answered. “Beth?”

My stomach twisted and I took a deep breath.

“Jake, it’s Dylan James. I’m calling about Beth.”

“I warned you about hurting her.”

“I know and I’m sorry, but it isn’t what she thinks.”

“Don’t call me again, and leave her alone. She deserves better—”

He sounded like he’d punch me if I were in hitting distance. At that moment, I’d be happy to let him. It might help me focus on something other than the pain of not having Beth right beside me. “Can I just explain? It wasn’t what she thought it was—”

“Unless you can tell me that you don’t own Raine Media and didn’t neglect to tell my sister that she was working for you, and that you didn’t have a cozy lunch date with your ex-fiancée, there’s nothing I want to hear from you. Leave my sister alone, you piece of shit *.”

Jake ended the call. I tossed the phone on the stairs next to me and thrust my hands into my hair, waiting for the blood pounding in my ears to lessen.

She’d found out I owned Raine Media.

Why on earth hadn’t I just told her and Raf? Why hadn’t I just let Raf sell the f*cking thing? Then I wouldn’t be in this mess. I had nothing to hide. It was no big deal. Things were just so great between us, and I didn’t want anything to spoil that. I wanted her to know, but there hadn’t been the right time to tell her.

It wasn’t as if I had any influence over the hiring process. They’d contacted her before we met. It shouldn’t be a big deal.

I wondered how she’d found out, and how long she’d known. Had Jake run a background check on me or something?

I jumped when my phone rang. My heart sank when I realized that it was just Marie.

“I’m trying to keep this line free, Marie. Is this urgent?”

“I just think you should take a look at the Sun-Times. There’s an article there about Beth that I can’t imagine she’d be too happy about.”

Jesus, was there a full moon? This day was just getting worse. I grabbed my tablet from the kitchen and brought it back to the stairs. I wanted to be waiting when Beth came back.

I searched the Sun-Times website.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Well at least I knew how she’d found out about my owning Raine Media.

But I should have told her. I’d been an idiot.

I dialed her number again.

Voice mail. Again.

I tapped out a message.

Dylan: I just saw the Sun-Times article. I should have told you. Please come home so I can explain, there’s history to this. I had nothing to do with you getting this job. I love you. I’m sorry.

There was nothing to do but wait.



I loosened my tie as a sense of dread passed over me. I checked the time. It was almost six. She had to be here soon. It had been hours.

My doorbell almost induced a heart attack. I jumped to my feet. Finally, she was here, though I hated she wasn’t using her key.

I threw the door open, but found a man in a chauffeur’s uniform instead of Beth.

“Airport ride for Ms. Harrison.” Shit, it was the car I’d asked Marie to arrange this morning.

I closed my eyes. Was she running late or was she drunk in some bar because I’d been a dick?

Neither option sat well with me.

“Ms. Harrison is running a little late. May I ask you to wait?” If Beth did come back, I wanted her to have a way to get to the airport.