Let It Be Me Read online

  Kicking the blankets off of me, I get out of bed and head for the shower with a little pep to my step. After showering, I get dressed in a pair of nice black slacks and a light blue, long sleeved, wrapped shirt that show just a hint of cleavage. I usually don’t wear this shirt but I want to today. It’s nice and used to be one of my favorite shirts. I blow dry my hair before curling the ends and making sure my blonde curls fall nicely down my shoulders. After spending a little longer on my makeup than I usually do, I smile at the final product.

  It’s not every day that I think I’m pretty, but looking at myself, my blue eyes shining, I can’t help the well of confidence today. Tears rush to my eyes but I hold them back. I can’t let them go, I’ve polished myself up to find this girl and I can’t let her go, not yet. As my eyes travel over my rosy cheeks, my sweet nose and beautifully done up lips, I can’t help but ask myself, where did this girl run off to? Why has she been hiding and when did I stop caring about the way I look?

  Sliding into my only pair of heels, I head into the kitchen for some cereal. Sitting down with my bowl, I’m about to dig in when the door opens.

  Oh shit.

  Rob looks tired and irritated, looking every one of his thirty-six years. My heart instantly speeds up as my palms go all clammy and I can’t seem to swallow around the lump in my throat. What the hell is he doing home already? I usually don’t see him in the morning, since I leave before he gets home and I sure as hell don’t want to see him this morning. Not this one. I need this one to start off well, and dealing with Rob Moore causes one thing.

  Hell.

  When he turns to look at me, it’s only for a second before he looks away. But, just as quickly, he looks right back, his brows knotting together as his head cocks to the side.

  I’m busted.

  I never get dressed up, hardly ever wear makeup or heels. I expect him to say something but he doesn’t as he storms into the kitchen, his eyes raking up and down my body. I don’t dare look him in the eyes. Will he suspect something? Will he know that I’m dressing up to impress a man that I’ll never have the chance to touch or kiss?

  “Where you going?”

  I shrug. “To work.”

  “Like that?”

  I look down at my outfit and then nod. “Yeah, what’s wrong?”

  “You look like a painted whore. Go change and wash your face.”

  I shake my head, still not looking at him as I say, “I do not. I look nice. I’m the manager of the office, Rob. I have a meeting today and I have to look nice.”

  I feel his eyes on me as I stand. I’ve lost my appetite and I need to get out of here. I don’t trust him and I’m not changing or washing my face. I look amazing, I know I do. Moving past him to the sink, I feel his eyes still on me, and for a split second I think I’m going to get away but just as fast as the thought came, his hand latches around my arm, squeezing it before he pulls me back toward him, causing the milk from my bowl to slosh onto the floor and all over his pants.

  Ah, crap.

  His face turns red. My heart starts to pound and I want to run.

  “Fuck!”

  “I’m sorry, I wasn’t holding the bowl right,” I say quickly, moving away and grabbing a towel.

  He snatches it from me and wipes his legs before sneering up at me. “I told you, you look like a slut. Go fucking wash your face.”

  “And I said I don’t,” I automatically say. “Please, let me be Rob. I have to get to work. I have a big meeting today.”

  His eyes narrow as he holds my gaze. I wish that the guy that I fell in love with would look back at me. That Rob would never tell me I looked like a slut. He was controlling but he was always thought I was beautiful. What happened? What had I done to change him into this monster?

  “I don’t like you working there.”

  I try to move away but he’s holding me hostage with his dark eyes. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything and finally will my legs to move. Reaching for my bag and purse off the couch, I go to the door, but his words stop me.

  “What has gotten into you?”

  I turn and look at him. His face is set in a sneer. His body is taut, his fists balled up at his sides. My chest tightens with fear of what he might do next. I might not make it out of this house unscathed if I don’t play this right.

  Fidgeting with the strap to my purse, I ask, “What do you mean?”

  “You are deliberately ignoring what I told you to do and I don’t fucking like it.”

  I want to say is ‘fuck off’ but I know that won’t go over well, plus I don’t have the guts to ever say that. If I did, I’d more than likely be reapplying makeup since I’d have a black eye to cover up. Looking up at him, I meet his eyes. I hate the way he looks at me, as if I’m covered in skunks. Like the sight of me actually hurts him or something. I feel horrible and my confidence falters as I slowly take in a breath. Maybe I’m not as beautiful as I felt twenty minutes ago.

  “I’m sorry, it’s only for the meeting. I’ll wash it off once I’m done. I just want to look nice.”

  Rob eyes me before running his hand through his hair. I hate being under his gaze like this. It makes my heart beat so hard and loud that I’m sure it’s cracking ribs, ready to explode from my chest. I fear that he’s going to start screaming, maybe grab for me again, and force me to wash my face and change. I should have just kept going, shut the door and run to my car, but then again, knowing him, he’d chase me down.

  Swallowing loudly, I squeeze the straps to my bag, preparing myself for the worst when he says, “You’re lucky I’m tired or this would have ended differently.”

  I don’t doubt that one bit, but I’m not telling him that.

  Reaching for the door, I leave without even saying goodbye. Once in my car and on my way to the office, my eyes suddenly fill with tears. I don’t want to go to work, or better yet, the meeting with Tucker. I want to run inside and wash my face, change into something that covers every inch of me. I want to run and hide.

  But, more than that, I want to feel like I did when I saw the gorgeous girl I miss more than anything staring back at me in my bathroom mirror. I fear that in that short ten-minute interaction with Rob, she may be lost again.

  I spend most of the day in my office. Usually, I go out and mingle with my co-workers, make sure they’re doing well, but today I want to be alone. Every time I look at the clock on my computer, I cringe. It seems that the day is flying by, something that never happens when I want it too, and soon, it will be time for my meeting with Tucker. I’m dreading it. I washed my face once I got here, and even safety pinned my shirt closed more. I can’t believe I did it either, but I did, and I feel even worse than I did when I left my house.

  Moving my hands through my hair, I pull it up into a bun before reaching for the file for the case I’m working on. I’m well into my work when a knock comes at my door.

  Tucker stands in the doorway and my breathing picks up at the sight of him. The yellow button-up shirt, tie hanging loosely at his neck, is a stark contrast to his tan, and the fitted khakis don’t leave much to the imagination. One hand holds files, while the other holds a white bag. His grin is unstoppable, and his eyes are on me as he enters my office.

  Tearing my eyes away from his gorgeous body, I glance at the time and I can’t believe that my day is gone and it’s time for this meeting. How did this happen? I didn’t even have time to freshen up or anything. Just fucking great.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  I shake my head before saying, “No, sorry, I lost track of time.”

  “No worries. I’ll set up our food while you get what you need,” he says.

  I shake my head again. “Actually, I’m not hungry. Can we just do the meeting?”

  As much as I want to eat with him, I know it’s a bad idea. I’m lusting after a man I can’t have, or better yet, one that has no interest in me. I need to stop feeling like this. I had no right to get all jazzed up this morning. Not on