Secret Heir Seduction. Reese Ryan

Sophie said.

      Audra halted at the mention of Darius, but feigned indifference. “It was, but what was even more bizarre is that when I went for a swim last night, I discovered he’s staying at the house next door while he’s in town.”

      “Wait…why is he staying there?”

      “He’s in Royal on business with your former stepmother. She owns the property now, right? I guess she’s putting him up there while he’s in town.”

      “I see.” Sophie frowned. “I wonder what kind of business they have together.”

      Audra didn’t answer. It wasn’t her place to reveal what Darius had shared with her about his potential deal with Miranda.

      “What was it like seeing him again after all these years?” Sophie asked.

      “Weird, I guess, is the best way to describe it.” Audra shrugged, though emotion welled in her chest. “He broke my heart, but we didn’t part on bad terms. He simply made the choice to walk away.”

      “Did he leave you for someone else?”

      “That’s just it, I don’t believe he did.” Audra lifted the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder. “He just didn’t want to be with me anymore. Honestly? It hurt like hell, but I get it. It’s the same reason I broke it off with my recent ex. He’s a perfectly good guy. He just isn’t the one I want to spend a lifetime with.”

      “But Darius was. Wasn’t he?” Sophie placed a comforting hand on Audra’s arm.

      Something about the younger woman’s offer of comfort moved Audra. Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them away. “I thought so at the time, but later I learned that he hadn’t been honest with me about something important.”

      “Like?” Sophie asked tentatively.

      They weren’t friends. Sophie was her client. But Audra had a compelling need to talk to someone about this.

      “He told me his parents were dead. A few years later, I read a magazine article where he said he had an estranged relationship with his mother and stepfather. But they were very much alive.” Audra dragged her fingers through her hair and sighed. “What kind of man would lie about something like that?”

      “That is curious.” Sophie frowned. “But perhaps he had a good reason. Did you confront him about it?”

      “It was over between us, and I hadn’t seen him in years by then.” Audra shrugged. “What would be the point?”

      “He obviously meant a lot to you,” Sophie said in a hushed tone as Nigel approached. “Now that you’ve reconnected—”

      “We haven’t reconnected,” Audra corrected her.

      “Okay. Now that you two are neighbors and on friendly terms…” Sophie shrugged. “If it was me, I’d want to know.”

       Of course I want to know why Darius lied to me about his parents.

      But demanding an explanation from him now would only make him believe she still cared. Which she didn’t. Because she was definitely over him.

      “I’d better be going. Thank you both for a lovely lunch.” Audra smiled politely but didn’t acknowledge Sophie’s comment.

      Audra focused on the short drive back to her rental house in the same community of Pine Valley. A small part of her was envious of Sophie and Nigel. She didn’t begrudge them their happiness. She just wanted a little of that bliss for herself.