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After Toni had time to think, she decided she’d overreacted. Drake had every right to protect himself. He should have disclosed his identity before they’d had sex but maybe if she was in his position she would have hesitated to reveal such important information too.
She read tabloids and visited the social sites following celebrities as much as the next person. It was interesting in a train wreck sort of way to know about the inner workings of the rich and famous. She’d never seen pictures of the Drake Winston having no interest in the financial business world but she heard things. His company was too huge for her to be oblivious.
Which brought her back to an undeniable fact. He could have any gorgeous woman he wanted and probably had. Toni pushed at her hair and yanked the length into a pony tail. But that wasn’t the Drake she knew. At no point did he ever make Toni feel less during their chats and in the last few days he’d made her feel beautiful. Desirable.
All of that pointed to at least listening to his explanation. The possibility of something more developing between them might no longer be an option but she wouldn’t throw away their friendship so quickly. Thinking about it made her breath catch in her throat. This trip had been needed for many reasons but none more important than meeting her wicked gamer in person for the first time. Toni swallowed. In some ways he was everything she’d imagined. Her phone buzzed before she became too maudlin.
She didn’t recognize the number on the screen of her phone but decided to answer anyway. “Hello?”
Static followed a prolonged silence. She paused and checked the screen to make sure the call was still connected. “Drake?”
Nothing and then the call died. Next a text from the same number flashed.
‘Something’s wrong with my phone. I wanted to meet and talk. Please.’
She didn’t have his number since they always chatted through a message program. Her shoulders eased and her thumbs flew as she responded. ‘I didn’t recognize the number, Drake. Why didn’t you use our chat window?’
‘Can you meet me in the lobby?’
She frowned, not expecting the abrupt response. ‘Is this your way of apologizing?’
The curser blinked and Toni waited with baited breath. What was taking him so long? One word popped up.
‘Yes.’
She chewed her bottom lip then after a slight hesitation responded. ‘Okay.’
‘I’ll be there in 15.’
Toni made it downstairs in ten, fully prepared to hear him out. Her initial outrage had faded and now she wanted to talk it out and salvage their friendship. She sent Chrissy a text while she waited and received a frowny face emoticon.
Antonia sat in the lobby wearing denim capri pants that made her calves look athletic. Her multicolored four inch heels added a pop of color and the scooped neck top in white completed the casual but cute look she was going for. Patrons walked in and out but Drake never showed for their meet.
He had stood her up.
She tried not to let it bother her. Maybe something came up. Maybe he got distracted by his work but she checked her phone and didn’t have any cancellation messages from him. He was online though. The blinking name in the corner of the chat window showed that wicked gamer was plugged in.
Toni considered sending a teasing message in case he’d forgotten but something held her back. Twenty minutes passed, then thirty.
“Are you waiting for someone, dear?”
Toni looked up into a kind face. She’d been waiting for an hour. Her eyes burned and she had to swallow twice to get past the lump in her throat when the woman with a darling little girl asked the question.
“No. No, I’m fine, thanks.”
Humiliated and sick at heart, Antonia made her way back to her room. She came up with a dozen excuses and reasons for why Drake didn’t show. The town wasn’t exactly a big place and they were staying in the same inn but pride kept her from pushing or searching for his room. Her thoughts churned. She’d been a fool to think someone like Drake would actually want to spend time with someone like her.
He was a high powered businessman and she was a lowly University employee. He lived in New York and she lived in Florida. They were worlds apart. And he’d gotten what he wanted. Sex. But why did he text to meet and talk?
Toni thought back over their dinner, the shared lunch. He’d taken her to meet his friends. He was the one who pushed for each of their times together. He knew she was going to Maverick for a two week vacation. Drake stated he was going too. She’d instigated the initial invite thinking of nothing more than meeting. Antonia had been excited. Thrilled.
Of course seeing her in person was a lot different. Maybe he asked her out because he’d felt guilty. In his mind had he envisioned her as a sexy slip of a woman who wore suits to work and sipped wine over meals? If so, she didn’t live up to the image. Toni loved jeans and a good glass of iced tea.
Then there was the sex. He’d pursued her. Could he fake the passion between them? She couldn’t, wouldn’t accept that. Her phone chimed and Toni realized she gripped the device tightly between her fingers. Hoping for a message from Drake? A quick glance dispelled the notion.
“Hey, Chrissy,” she said.
Music blared in the background before cutting off abruptly. “I can’t stand it any longer, tell me everything. How did it go? Did he beg your forgiveness and get naked to wrestle you to the bed?”
Toni’s chuckle broke on a sob in the middle. “N-no.”
“Toni, what happened? Do you need me to come out?”
And that was the sign of a real friend. Chrissy didn’t have the money for airfare but she’d charge a ticket to her credit card so fast if she thought Toni needed her.
Swiping a hand beneath her tearing eyes, Toni kicked off her stunning shoes from a clearance sale and sat on the edge of the bed. “No. Just got a little weepy because Drake didn’t show after saying he wanted to talk about everything. Nothing to make a big deal over really.”
Although, Toni was making a very big deal over it.
“It is a big deal. He lied to you, Toni. I know you liked him but sometimes these things don’t work out. People pretend to be one way online and then you meet them and they’re total douches.”
Toni snickered and flopped back on the bed. “It’s my fault anyway. I think I built him up in my head to be some heroic figure. I liked him a lot and when we met and things clicked it was as if all my dreams came true.”
The amazing sex didn’t hurt either. Too bad her feelings seemed to be one sided.
“Well, at least you’re away from creepy Tommy.”
Toni groaned. She’d forgotten about him. “Thomas. He likes to be called Thomas.”
“Who cares what he likes? The guy’s a freak. Who stalks a girl after three dates?”
Toni bit her bottom lip. All true. She didn’t want to think about Thomas though. Only Drake and his failure to show occupied her mind. “You’d think I’d be used to it.”
“What, honey? Use to what? You’re officially worrying me,” Chrissy said, her voice rising.
“Being stood up. I mean it happened a lot in college and even when I did those online dating services. Sometimes guys just didn’t show but...but I didn’t expect that from Drake. I thought we were friends,” Toni blubbered as she broke down.
“You’re beautiful, Toni and he’s a jerk if he can’t tell.” Chrissy’s panic translated through the line but her use of the same compliment as Drake made Toni cry harder.
The wretched tears lasted another five minutes as Toni acknowledged a deep seated truth. She’d wanted Drake to like her when they met. She’d hoped he’d be as taken with her as she was with him. Having sex with him and the powerful attraction they couldn’t deny had been the icing on a very sweet cake to her. Then she’d discovered his lies and been willing to forgive him only to have him prove to be even more of a liar. How could she have been so wrong about someone?
“Thanks for listening, Chrissy.” Toni sniffed and pulled herself together. “I think I’m going to soak in the tub, have a glass of wine or three and then go to sleep.”
***
Drake returned to the inn feeling better and more secure about keeping Antonia safe if he had to return to New York. After his last minute visit to Kale, his friend promised to use his considerable resources and see if any of Drake’s business competitors were using magical means to come after him. In return, all he had to do was perform a small binding spell on Carolyn to join her lifeline to Kale’s after he got his magic straight. The spell would ensure a longer life expectancy for her since she was human. A small price to pay if it got him the help he needed to protect Antonia.
Between Ben, Kent and Kale whoever thought to sneak up on him would be very surprised. Drake’s steps slowed as he neared Antonia’s door. Their rooms were located around the corner from one another which he’d discovered when they slept together the first time. He raised his hand to knock and paused. It was late. What if she was asleep? The driving need to see her and fix whatever misconception she had about them decided him. He knocked on the door and waited.
Footsteps from inside whispered across the floor and her voice came to him crystal clear on the other side of the wood barrier. “Hello?”
At least she didn’t open it without checking. “Antonia, it’s me. We need to talk.”
“Go away, Drake.”
His brows lowered. Her voice sounded scratchy and hoarse. “Antonia, let me explain.”
“You don’t have to. I get it. This was all a lark for you. Go away for a week and pretend to be someone else. Have sex with a stranger from the internet.”
“You’re not a stranger to me.” A sniffle followed. If she was crying again, he was going to kick the door down. Drake let his forehead hit the panel and pressed his palm flat on the frame. “That’s not it at all. Open the door and let me talk to you. I’ll tell you everything. Anything you want to know about boring Drake Winston, CEO of Winston Enterprises.”
He hoped to get a smile or chuckle out of her but instead it sounded as if she muffled a sob. Drake straightened and banged on the door. Enough was enough. “Open it now, Antonia and let me in or I’ll come through it.”
He waited, lungs pumping until the lock clicked. The door cracked open, leaving Drake to push it all the way and step inside. Antonia had her back to him, shoulders sagging in a white fluffy robe that covered her from shoulders all the way to her ankles. He reached out to grasp her arm and turned her lightly.
Red cheeks and tear stained eyes met his gaze and his stomach dropped. Her pain carved a hole in his chest. Drake didn’t think twice about pulling her into his arms. “Please don’t cry. It’s killing me.”
“I didn’t think corporate big shots had hearts,” she muttered into his chest.
Drake lowered his head to rest on the top of her hair. “Apparently, if the woman they care about is crying, a lot of things outside the norm happen. Including growing a heart.”
“Very funny. Let me go. Haven’t you done enough?” She jerked and tried to pull away from his hold but Drake only tightened his arms.
“I’m sorry for not telling you who I am. I’m sorry you had to find out however you did and I’m really sorry it hurt you to think I didn’t trust you with the truth.”
Her head lifted, revealing her misery. “I feel like I don’t know who you are any more. Everything I thought seems like a big lie.”
“I never lied to you, Antonia.” Her lips pinched and Drake forestalled what she was about to say. “I didn’t go about it the right way but everything I shared was the truth about me.”
He thought of the last secret he needed to tell her. The biggest one in his opinion but he could only hope she accepted it along with the knowledge of his professional half. He had no idea how her human sensibilities would react to his heritage.
“I want to believe you, Drake. I really do.” She managed to work herself out of his arms and Drake let her go. “Give me something to explain this afternoon.”
“This afternoon?” He had no idea what she was talking about.
“You told me to meet you in the lobby. I thought you were going to apologize then but you left me there. You never showed!”
The last was said with such hurt Drake had no doubt she believed what she was saying. “Antonia, I didn’t plan to meet you downstairs. I went to see Kale.”
Disbelief and pain gathered like a storm in her gaze. “How do you explain the text messages?”
When she held up her phone, he still didn’t understand. He read the messages and a chill swept down his spine. “That’s not my number.”
“Whatever! What else are you going to tell me? More lies?”
“I’m crazy about you.” Her eyes widened and she stumbled back. Drake didn’t deal in nerves but confessing his feelings seemed like the right thing to do and it scared him that Antonia might push away. If he had to bare his soul to change her mind and prevent her from leaving him, he would.