Page 54 of Tempting Devil

“March third of last year,” he responded evenly.

I blinked repeatedly, wracking my brain for a memory of that. If he’d called, that day would have been etched in my mind for the rest of my life.

“Did I answer?”

“Yes.”

I hoped he’d tell me I didn’t. That I’d sent it to voicemail.

But to learn I’d answered? That I’d spoken to him?

“Hearing your voice again, Imogene,” he continued when I remained too stunned by this revelation to formulate a response, “it made everything I suffered worth it.”

“Why don’t I remember that?”

“Because you accused me of being some asshole playing a prank on you. Called me a heartless prick who deserved to have his balls set on fire.”

I clapped a hand over my mouth, remembering that call with clarity now.

Following Samuel’s disappearance, I’d fielded all sorts of phone calls. Most were from reporters hoping to interview me for a story about him, since I was such a close friend.

Unfortunately, there were always a few assholes who thought it would be fun to call pretending to be Samuel, especially since his body had never been found. Everyone told me to ignore them, that it wasn’t healthy to hold on to hope he was still out there.

The one time it was him, I’d chased him off.

“That was you?” I squeaked out.

How different would our lives have been if I hadn’t hung up on him? Would he be the same tortured man standing in front of me? Or would I have been able to help him move on from his past?

“That was me.” He gave me a sad smile. “I thought about calling back. Then I realized you wouldn’t believe me until you looked into my eyes and saw the truth. So I went through the house and found some cash stashed away. I hated stealing, but all I cared about was getting back to Atlanta. Getting back to you.”

“Then why didn’t you?” I asked, blinking back the tears welling in my eyes.

“I did.”

“I would have remembered that. There’s no?—”

“You were with him,” he cut in, his voice laced with contempt.

“Who?” I asked, even though I knew all too well who he was referring to.

“Liam. I saw him pull up in front of your townhouse and help you out of his car. Then I saw him walk you up to the door. And then I saw him kiss you. And then I saw you invite him in.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, guilt festering in my stomach. Liam was a mistake from the beginning. Now I regretted it more than ever. What must Samuel have thought when he saw us together? Especially with everything he just shared.

“I was so fucking angry, Imogene,” he seethed, his jaw clenched and nostrils flaring. “The entire time I was locked up, you got me through it. Yes, the idea of getting out and making Liam and the rest of them pay certainly helped, but when I saw you with the man who shot me? All I thought was that maybe you were part of it, too, especially since I’d been begging you to finally let me tell him about us, and you constantly refused.”

I reached for his hand, gently tracing my fingers over the bandages covering his wounds. “I’m so sorry I made you think…” I sucked in a quivering breath as I met his tortured gaze. “It’s no excuse, but losing you hurt so damn much. And Liam…”

I looked away, unable to meet his eyes as the guilt for my actions festered in my stomach.

“I always regretted it right after, but feeling something for a few minutes was better than the emptiness that had consumed my life since I learned you died. If I knew you were still alive, I never would have?—”

“I know,” he interrupted, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Once I started spending time with you and got to know you again, heard you talk about Samuel, I realized I was wrong.” He held my gaze for another beat before dropping his hold on me and continuing along the path.

“Why didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning?” I asked once I caught up with him. “Why all the lies?”

“At first, I thought you were just as responsible, even if you didn’t pull the trigger. The fact that you invited Liam into your bed?” His voice trembled, as if merely saying the words caused him unimaginable pain. “I felt betrayed, Imogene. I wanted you to hurt like I did, and I didn’t care what it took.”