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who’d called it off months ago when things got too heavy. However, this weekend had brought them much closer than she’d expected. She couldn’t deny the strong emotion any longer. She loved them both, with all her heart and soul, she’d discovered, but she’d never admit to it. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love, not with them. After all, they were players, and could have any woman—she knew that.
    “Pffft,” she spat, rising from the sofa, and flinging the checks to the floor. “Love!” she sputtered, as though the word sickened her. Never in her life had she believed in the word. It was bad enough falling in love with one man, but two? What the hell had she gotten herself into now? She went against her better judgment and slept with the fools. Why didn’t she follow her original instincts?
    The undeniable ache in her chest wouldn’t go away so soon; undoubtedly it would take time. These were the same feelings she’d experienced before deciding to call off their relationship, but much more intense. She swore she thought a hole was being ripped through her chest.
    She jumped slightly when the phone rung. She didn’t have to look at the caller ID to know who was on the other end. She didn’t want to speak with anyone right now. Unplugging the cord of the phone, she retreated to the bedroom and prepared for her shower.
    She needed to wash everything away.
     

Chapter Four
    Monday morning approached like an impending storm, giving her just cause to contemplate calling out. Turning to her side, her gut clenched, because she knew the bastards would be there today.
     
    Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she bowed her head for a few blessed moments. No way—she couldn’t let those clunk heads control her. After all, her job was her main source of income, plus she needed the healthcare benefits. “Shit, fuck ’em both,” she cussed beneath her breath, as she stumbled off to the showers.
     
    While preparing for the office, she wondered what the big deal was in keeping the checks. She should deposit them during her lunch break, just for the hell of it. But the money really didn’t matter. There was something much more valuable at stake.
     
    She’d hold her head up high if it killed her, she thought before barging in. No man should have this much control over her, she told herself, as she strolled over to her cubicle and turned her computer on. As soon as she gained that flash of self-confidence, the conference room door opened and Nick popped out. Dammit!
    She wasn’t expecting them to be here this early. Since he was here, she knew Pete wasn’t too far behind.
     
    “What are you doing here?” she snapped, suddenly feeling her temper rise.
     
    He looked at her with piercing green eyes. “Pete and I are holding a meeting with our teams,” he replied while looking around. “Listen—about Saturday, um, we—”
     
    “Save it, jerk,” Melanie sneered. “I don’t want to hear it.”
    Suddenly, a few guys from Conklin’s team arrived and Pete emerged from the conference room. “We need to talk,” he demanded in a quiet voice.
     
    “Go away!” she whispered as she logged into her computer.
     
    “Pete.” Nick tapped his old friend on the shoulder and shook his head. “Now’s not the time,” he insisted.
    “We
    will talk later on, I promise you that,” Pete mumbled before leaving the lobby. “You didn’t have to storm out the way you did,” he added. “We called your cell and your landline, but you never picked up. That was a pretty rotten stunt you pulled,” he growled.
     
    “Well, it was a pretty rotten stunt you both pulled on me!” she shot back, suddenly uncaring of what anyone thought.
     
    She didn’t blink twice when Leslie Jenkins, one of the district service managers, strolled past and arched a brow. “Everything okay here?” she asked them. “We’ve got customers coming in soon, so please take this to a guest office or something,” she added before exiting the