She woke up and immediately felt the effects of too much alcohol. Brushing a hand through her hair she tightly closed her eyes. Opening them slowly, she looked at the clock. She had about 2 hours to work out, get ready to go skiing, and to make sure Justin was there.

“And the trouble begins,” she muttered to as she pushed herself in an upright position. Literally dragging herself out of bed she made her way to her dresser. Blindly she pulled out sweats and a sports bra.

She made her way down to the Inn’s gym and put her headphones on to just let the music wake her up. She nodded towards Kenny, her security, as she pushed through the doors to get to the gym itself. Once inside she put her towel and water bottle down. She checked her watch again, noting she only had 45 minutes to get a good work out.

She stretched and thought about the previous night. She’d had such a great time. She knew the stories that would come out because of Justin and her actions were going to be huge. It was laughable really, how easily it was to orchestrate such stories. Justin had assured that his significant other was well aware of what was going on. They’d laughed how Jules would either love the spin they took, or they would both receive a phone call the moment the story broke.

Mike hit the treadmill and was maybe 20 minutes into a hard sprint when the gym’s doors opened. She didn’t bother to look up, mostly because she wasn’t really paying attention. It wasn’t until the intruder stepped in front of the machine that she realized she wasn’t alone.

As soon as she looked straight into his eyes she stumbled. Nearly falling, his strong arms grabbed her and pulled her off the machine. Being in such close proximity did nothing to help her already adrenaline pumping heart.

“Mike,” he breathed her name. His hands were wrapped tightly around her biceps. “We need to talk.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath and released herself from his grip. Walking over towards her towel she reached for her water. “Sure, what’s up?” 

“What’s up?” He asked incredulously. “That’s exactly what I want to know. I saw you last night.”

She turned slowly and looked directly at him. “You were at Sable? How come you didn’t come over and say hello?”

He looked away and shook his head. “You looked a little busy.”

Her eyes widened, there was no way. “I’m never too busy, and I wasn’t last night. I was just having a good time.”

“Yeah, I find that a little hypocritical,” he spat out, his anger getting the best of him.

“Exactly what’s hypocritical?” She asked with her hand on her hip and eyebrow raised.

“You’re all fine being all over him, and yet he has a girlfriend.” 

“Don’t,” she said seething, “don’t say something that’s going to make me hate you.”

He ran a hand through his curly locks, “what do you want me to say Mike… I couldn’t stand watching you and not knowing what the fuck is going on. Dom tells us you have a special friend over, implying well, the worst. You wouldn’t come out with us and then there you are, all over him.”

“He is an extremely good friend and quite frankly I don’t think it’s particularly your business to know ‘what the fuck is going on’.” She gave up on her work out and reached for her towel. “Frankly, I don’t think anything that has to do with me is your business.”

She made her way towards the door, but he stopped her. “Mike, don’t….don’t leave.”

It was a plea, she heard it loud and clear. She battled within herself with what she should do. Slowly, she turned, “what do you want, Orlando?”

He looked at her, just stared, and the silence was deafening. “I don’t know what to do, Mike. I’m so lost.”

And he sounded it too. She didn’t know what do either. Did she walk to him and wrap her arms around him, comfort him, love him? Did she walk out the door now and let this game continue later on? Did she walk out the door and just get the hell on a plane and let it all end now?

“I saw you last night, and I went crazy with jealously. Jealously, I should have no business feeling. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m really, so fucking confused, Mike. I know Kate being here has been hard for you. Hell, if it’s anything like what I’ve been feeling since last night I’d get down on my knees now and beg forgiveness.” He ran his fingers over his mouth and immediately drew her gaze there. “When I’m with you…God, Mike, it’s indescribable.”

She moved to sit down in a nearby chair. The look in his eyes was devastating to her. To see him just as confused as her was comforting and disconcerting all the same time.

“Tell me it’s the same for you. Tell me I’m not just making this up. I can’t sleep at night. I know what you think, but I haven’t made love to her. I can’t.” His eyes shone with a glossy expression that warned her he was moments away from tears.

“Orli, I don’t know what to do either.” She hesitated for a moment, “Justin is really just a good friend. He’s staying in the inn like twenty minutes from here. He’s nothing more than a good friend who was trying to help me get through this.” She looked up, trying to gather her thoughts so she said everything the way she wanted to, there were a million things running through her mind. “I wanted to leave, I wanted to just go back home. I didn’t, obviously, but I really wanted to. I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s not the time now, it might not ever be. We just need to forget this. There’s just too much wrong about all of this.” She stood up and looked at him sadly, “I can’t handle getting my heart broken again.”

He looked at her almost helplessly, but still made his way over to her. Wordlessly he pulled her into his arms. “I can’t let this go. I can’t pretend this isn’t happening. I understand you, more than you think I do. Every way I look at the situation I’m the bad guy…I’m a bastard…because what it comes down to is I can’t let you go.” 

She closed her eyes and fought down the emotion. Her arms wrapped around him and calm came over her. She held him tightly, as he did her. They were silent as they did so. His hand ran up and down her back causing chills and comfort to overcome her. She pulled back a little so she could look him in the eye. Those chocolate brown eyes that made her drown in him. 

She let a hand slip from around him to cup his face. Tenderly she ran her fingertips over his eyebrows, to his cheek bones, and finally to his lips. His lips parted at her touch. She could hear and feel his heartbeat accelerating.

Licking her lips, she whispered “forgive me.”

With that said she pulled his face closer to hers and let her lips gently brush across his. Her fingers slipped in his hair and tugged him closer again, as her other hand gently caressed the nape of his neck. It took only a moment for him to respond and his response knocked her whole world off its axis.

Chapter 13
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