Page 42 of Tangled in Temptation

It was the receptionist.

“Can you connect me to Catherine Jacobsen’s room, please?” I asked with frustration. This was not the time for incompetence.

“I’m sorry, sir, but it seems Ms. Jacobsen has checked out.”

My heart sank. Checked out? Without talking to me? Anger and frustration boiled within me as I hung up the phone, the reality of the situation crashing down on me. I needed to find her.

Fueled by frustration and needing someone to lash out at, I decided to confront Regina. She picked up on the second ring. “Timothy, I knew you’d call,” she said in a seductive voice.

I couldn’t contain my rage. “What the hell did you say to Catherine?”

Regina chuckled, a sound that grated on my nerves. “I told her the truth, Timothy. A man of your stature doesn’t belong with someone like her. She’s so, well, just no. She’s not your type. That woman doesn’t even know how to dress, let alone be the woman on your arm. What kind of image would you present with Betty the Builder in her work boots and grubby clothes?”

My fists clenched at my sides. “Stop calling her that,” I hissed.

“She’s trash,” she said again.

“You don’t even know her. You’re the one that cares about pedigrees and all that shit. Catherine is different, and that’s why she’s so much better than you.”

Regina laughed, the sound dripping with disdain. “She’s not better than me. She’s a Plain Jane. I only told her what she needed to know. If she’s smart, she’ll stay away from a man like you. And you’ll stay away from that trash if you want to keep your reputation.”

My patience wore thin. “What do you want, Regina? Why are you doing this? What will it take for you to leave me the hell alone?”

There was a pause, and then Regina spoke, her voice low and dangerous. “I want to be part of your world again, Timothy. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

My jaw tightened. “You’ll never be part of my world again. I’m cutting you off, Regina. You’ll never get another penny from me.”

“If you do that, you’ll lose Paisley for good. I have the power to make sure she stays with me. You know that. Do you really want to watch Paisley disappear from your life? I’ll have a no contact order put in place, and you won’t even get to see her graduate.”

My blood boiled. “What do you want, Regina? Tell me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make you go away.”

Regina’s laughter echoed through the phone.

The call ended, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I had made a deal with the devil, sacrificing my own desires to protect the one person who mattered most to me.

Chapter Nineteen

Catherine

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THE TRAIN RIDE BACK to Sleepy Hollow felt like a blur. The sound of the wheels beneath me lulled me into a light sleep. It was just enough to give me some distance from the pain of another heartache caused by Timothy. I had shut my phone off after he called me the first time. I was not going to be pulled back into that world. The things Regina had said were very hurtful. They played on all my insecurities. I could never allow myself to take that kind of abuse on a regular basis. If I was with Timothy, I would be dealing with her day in and day out. If Regina thought I had anything to do with Paisley, she would go full psycho.

By the time I made it back to Sleepy Hollow, I was emotionally exhausted. I took an Uber home and dragged myself inside. I dropped my suitcase in the middle of the living room. I didn’t have the energy to deal with it just then. I went to the kitchen and got a glass of water, but what I actually wanted was a really, really strong drink.

I settled for the water and popped a pot pie into the oven. Because I was apparently a glutton for punishment, I turned on my phone. I half-expected to see a voicemail or a text from Timothy. However, the screen remained disappointingly blank. There was nothing from him since the last text. The silence spoke volumes. I had allowed myself to become entangled in a messy situation.

My father’s warnings about getting involved with someone like Timothy were echoing through my head. I hated to admit he was right, but he had the benefit of wisdom. He knew people better than I did. My world was wood and saws and stains. I had never been a very good people person. I lacked the skill to read people.

Deciding the water wasn’t enough, I rummaged through the kitchen and found an old bottle of rum Amber and I had used to make some killer margaritas a while ago. I looked in the fridge and found a single Diet Coke. I mixed myself a strong drink and went back to sit on the couch.

I groaned, remembering the sex with Timothy on my couch. I was never going to be completely rid of him. How had I let myself get so caught up with him? Time after time he had proven I wasn’t going to fall back under his spell. But every time he looked at me, kissed me, or made love to me, I fell head over heels for him. Was I just a temporary distraction for him, a mere convenience when he needed solace or company? The realization stung. Stung wasn’t the right word. It cut deep. It felt like someone was slicing right through my heart.

I was a fucking booty call. I had managed to make it through most of my twenties without getting used for sex. I was so much smarter than that. I never let a man manipulate me and then bam. He had to be some kind of a sorcerer.

Needing someone to talk me down from the grief, I called Amber. “Hey,” I said when she picked up.

“Hey,” she replied. “Your last text was kind of cryptic. Are you still in Manhattan?”