Her hand stilled, and he could feel her eyes on him in the dark. “What? No! Of course not. I was the one who left him. I mean, he said some things tonight that were surprising, and I’m flattered that he wants us to see a marriage counselor together—but it’s too late.”

Mark wondered if she was aware that the last part of her sentence sounded more like a question than a statement. So what did he do? Instead of being understanding and giving her the support that she no doubt needed after what she’d been through, he pushed her away and stood. Without saying a word, he made his way back through the dark apartment to the living room where their clothes were still lying in a pile. He dressed quickly and turned to find her standing just inches away. “I need to get home,” he forced out. He was angry with her, and he had no right to be. He was being a complete and utter asshole, and he knew it.

He wanted her to say something snide to justify him stomping off, but she simply said, “All right.” The part of him that wasn’t a bastard had him walking to her and dropping a kiss on her mouth. And that was it. He’d made the trip across town, had amazing sex, and then turned his back when things got complicated. It was his MO and what he did best. He got what he wanted and didn’t spare a thought for the woman afterward. Though as he got into his car and drove away, he knew that was no longer true. This time he’d taken off because he was shaken by the two things that were choking him—jealousy and fear.

For the first time in his life, he had something to lose. Why was he so scared to lose something that wasn’t his to begin with?

Chapter Thirteen

“He treated you like a booty call,” Mia snarled as soon as she had heard. “I don’t care how hot he is, the man is a dickhead.”

Gwen nodded solemnly, before taking a bite of her pizza. “I agree,” she managed to say around the food in her mouth.

Crystal grimaced and chanced a look at her boss, Lydia, across the table. She hadn’t intended to get into her night with Mark when she’d invited Lydia to lunch with them, but Mia as always had picked right up on her glum expression. “Maybe he’s one of those guys who can only sleep in his own bed,” Mia offered hopefully.

The truth was, she was beyond depressed over Mark’s hasty exit from her bedroom and her apartment. He’d run out as if his ass were on fire. And, even more strange, he’d seemed pissed. She could understand if he was angry on her behalf at her mother’s deception, but that wasn’t what it was. She’d felt like his anger was directed at her, and she couldn’t figure out why.

Lydia looked intrigued. Crystal had a feeling this was like a real-life soap opera playing out in front of her boss. “So who is this guy? You haven’t mentioned that you were seeing anyone.”

“It’s Mark DeStudo—er . . . DeSanto,” Mia blurted out before Crystal could stop her.

“Nooo!” Lydia gaped. “Not Mr. Big!”

“Mr. Big?” Gwen asked as she finished her pizza and laid a hand on her baby bump.

Lydia giggled, fanning herself. “That’s what I call him. I swear, he reminds me of Mr. Big from Sex and the City. You know, in the first episodes when Chris Noth was younger. He’s all tall, dark, brooding, and he flipping rocks those power suits.” Then her eyes widened as she asked reverently, “Oh, my God, have you really slept with him?”

Crystal’s mind was still stuck on how accurate the Mr. Big analogy was when Mia elbowed her. “The woman asked you a question, Crys, and since I’ve already let the cat out of the bag once, I’ll let you take this one.” She had managed to tell Mia, Gwen, and, of course, Ella, about her first sexual encounter with Mark, but that was the extent of it. Even though she was friends with Lydia, she’d been hesitant about sharing it with her. She hadn’t wanted to upset the other woman since she was still mourning the loss of her fiancé. Now it looked like she didn’t have a choice.

“Um—yeah, I have. I mean it’s not serious between us or anything. Actually, I don’t know what it is,” she admitted.

Lydia propped her head in her hands and gave her a sappy smile. “Was it good?” Before Crystal could answer, Lydia slapped her forehead dramatically. “What am I saying? Of course it was! That man is like a walking G-spot stimulator.”

Mia started cackling so loud, Crystal was afraid she was going to pass out. Her face turned an alarming shade of red before she finally managed to take a breath. “You’re my new best friend, Lydia,” she managed to wheeze out. “That was brilliant!”

Lydia looked tickled with the compliment and did a fist bump with her new BFF. “Honey, I just call ’em like I see ’em. There’s so much testosterone around Danvers that my hoo-ha is quivering some days.” Pointing at Gwen, she shook her head before adding, “And your man and his band of G.I. Joes are prime panty-melting material. I don’t know how you normally function because I’d be resorting to humping his leg or something during the workday.”

Instead of looking offended, Gwen raised her glass of tea in a salute and chimed in with “Hear, hear. Don’t I know it. You should try to live with a man who looks the way he does naked. I’m in perpetual heat.”

Crystal could only gawk at her boss. Here she’d been avoiding talking about men in front of her out of respect for her feelings, and she was now finding out that the woman was something of a pervert. It was the best news she’d had all day! Deciding to test her theory, she asked, “So, Lydia . . . if you had to pick a favorite from the hot men of Danvers, who would it be? Don’t be shy—Gwen won’t beat you up if it’s Dominic, and I’ll certainly understand if it’s Mr. Big.”