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this way. I meant to say something diplomatic, but instead, I wound up saying softly, "So one night was enough for you."
     
    Colin turned and looked at me. His jade eyes were blanketed with a shroud of disinterest and he shrugged. "I have enough people around who don’t care about me and if I just wanted sex, I've got lots of choice."
     
    His words stung and he didn't have to mention that most of his choices were prettier than me, but I knew that was the truth.
     
    I didn't bother to mask my hurt and I said, "I really did care about you, Colin. Until you showed that you were a massive jerk."
     
    "Because I didn't let you break your promise to me and go running back to a girl who doesn't need you around ?"
     
    I narrowed my eyes and jerked up my chin. "You would've been fine without me. I knew you weren't going to get the contract anyway, and Katie needed me."
     
    "Really? And how's she been doing these past few days?"
     
    I hesitated, and Colin knew enough. He snorted derisively. "You're a fool who doesn't understand when people care about her and when they're taking advantage of her. You get th e se two backwards. "
     
    I wanted to protest that Katie never took advantage of me, that I was the one who always smothered her with attention. But maybe he was right - I should stop trying to save everyone around me. They seemed to do fine on their own anyway.
     
    I took a deep breath and tried to be the bigger person . "Look Colin, I don't want to end things like this. I appreciate the opportunity you've given me, and though I think you were unreasonable when you didn't let me leave Manchala early, I think I may have overestimated how badly Katie needed me."
     
    "Really?" Colin wasn't about to accept my half-assed attempt at an apology. "And how about how badly I needed you?"
     
    I tried not to lose my cool. "You didn't need me, Colin! You knew you wouldn't get the project and there was no point for me to be there."
     
    Colin shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you?"
     
    I sighed. We could go on like this forever, in circles that never ended. "I can't apologize for wanting to leave, Colin. You didn't need me, there was no point for me to be there. But I am sorry that you think I didn't care about you. I did. I really did like you and… well, we had fun together. I don't want to argue about this."
     
    Colin nodded, and looked back at his tablet. We were silent for the rest of the flight - there didn't seem to be anything else to say, and there was no point discussing the weather or other nonsensical trivialities.
     
    When we landed at Teterboro Airport , I followed him out to the limo and he dropped me off at home.
     
    " T ake the luggage," he said drily, "I 've got no use for it."
     
    Colin's manner was formal, and his jade eyes were cold and distant . So this was goodbye, I thought. I couldn't help feeling the twinge in my heart. I was sorry that this was how things would end. For a moment I wondered i f I'd been unreasonable when I asked to leave Manchala, but I quickly brushed that thought from my mind.
     
    I knew I'd never see Colin again, and I tried not to think about that. I took a deep breath, leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, savoring the smell of his oceanic scent and the feel of his smooth skin against my lips, one last time, and I stepped out of the limo before I got all emotional and teary. Colin didn't turn around or react when I kissed him, and I knew there was nothing more to say.
     
    I left the luggage and the clothes in the car with Colin - I didn't want to have any reminders of my time with him , and I walked away quickly, trying not to think about how differently things between Colin and I might have been.
     
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    Brian Brito Designs was a small firm, and I reported directly to Brian. He and his partner had a few wealthy clients, and my job was mostly to get coffees and take notes during their meetings.
     
    I tried not to be too disappointed