Why...????

"Change my name?" she asks incredulously. "What the fuck?"

"I don't want you to have it anymore. I'll make the arrangements; you'll just have to sign the papers."

He's making her change her name!

"Is this about that blonde tramp you've been fucking?"

And… that's it.

I turn the corner so I can get a look into the room, and I'm transported back to Nate's office last month. Audrey is perched on his desk, he's scowling up at her, and she's about to run her perfectly manicured hand down his face.

"Touch him and see how fast I have you on the ground," I warn quietly.

Both of them whip their heads toward me in surprise. Nate's face registers shock, hope, and then wariness as he realizes what I've just witnessed.

Audrey grins and lets the palm of her hand make contact with his face.

I grin back. Nate backs out of Audrey's touch and stands quickly.

"Goddamn it, Audrey…"

"I warned you," I murmur as I stalk toward her. She hops off the desk and faces me head on,

her brown eyes glaring at me.

"I'm not afraid of you."

I smile and cock my head to the side. "You should be."

Her eyes go wide for a moment and then she glares at me again. "Nate doesn't want you. You left him, remember?"

I slide my eyes over to Nate just as he balls his hands into fists, his molten gray eyes on mine, and I know.

"Audrey, Goddamn it, shut the fuck up…"

I pivot on my heel before he can finish the sentence and stalk out to the living area.

"Julianne!" Nate's voice is panicked as he follows me but I ignore him. I hear Audrey's heels click on the hardwood as she follows after Nate.

I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. Chocolate cheesecake and lobster are staring back at me along with my favorite champagne. I turn around and take in the room, the flowers, the fire, and I look into Nate's gray eyes for a long minute.

Audrey is fuming, shooting daggers at me, then gazing longingly at Nate, and I almost feel sorry for her.

"I understand." I tell her calmly. "I understand how easy he is to love, Audrey."

Nate swears under his breath and pushes a hand through his hair. Audrey's lip quivers.

"But none of this," I wave my hand at the room, "is for you. He isn't yours. I suggest you take whatever he offered you and run with it, because it's all you're going to get."

Her eyes narrow and she smiles slyly. "He just offered me his cock, like always."

"What the fuck, Audrey!"

I walk casually over to her and look her straight in the eye. "If you ever touch him again, I'll rip your tongue out of your pretty little head."

Audrey looks over at Nate. "This is who you want?"

"With every breath I take. Get the fuck out of our home, Audrey."

The breath leaves me as I stare at him. Our home? He stares back at me, his jaw clenched, his gray eyes burning with need and love.

Audrey looks at us both and sneers at me. "At least I got you fired."

"Get the fuck out, Audrey!" Nate yells and she jumps. She snatches up her purse and jacket and stomps moodily to the door, slamming it behind her.

I can't move. I just feast on him with my eyes. He's in his jeans and black t-shirt, showing off his beautiful tattoo. His hair is loose. His hands are in fists at his side and every muscle in his gorgeous body is tight.

"Are you really here?" he whispers.

"I'm here," I whisper back.

"Why?"

Why?