Yes, she did. The truth beat in her chest. “John, this summer has beenunusualto say the least. But let’s not mix up our friendship with real love.”
“Being best friends is the perfect start for us. I’m not sure I could even say that about Holland. I want to be with you, Gemma. If our kiss that night in the rain is any indication of our, shall we say,chemistry, I know I can love you like a man should love the woman he married. We’re good together and tonight I saw how well you fit into my world.”
“You’re caught up in a moment, Prince. The lights in the Heart of God, the chimes, the air, the music, and the whatever happened here Monday night. But you’re not ready to get married again. You said so yourself.”
“Because I was grieving and scared. What are you afraid of, Gemma?”
“How much time you got?” She smiled which relieved a bit of the tension. “Look, by this time next year, you’ll have married a gorgeous Lauchten woman with raven hair and ruby lips, who’s a brilliant entrepreneur of some kind and represents the future of your people.” She grabbed a handful of the gown’s skirt—which felt heavier than ever—and stepped toward the curb. “Trust me, I’m not that girl.”
Gone, gone, was the mystery of the Heart of God, the swirl of the light, the fragrance, and the freedom. She was back in the dark pit of her past.
“Gemma.” His voice was stern. “What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing.” From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Gunner who stood off to the side, watching and waiting.
“I know there’s something. Tell me. Is it losing your property? Someone swindled you. It could happen to anyone. But I can help with that, I can. What if we keep a residence in Hearts Bend?”
She held her reply as she walked into the night. Another word and she’d burst into tears.
“Gemma, wait. Gemma.”
Chapter Twenty-five
John
She had a secret. He knew it. But she refused to tell. Brushing his teeth to the solitary chime of one a.m., John tried to imagine what she held close.
If she couldn’t tell him, maybe he’d overestimated their connection. Their friendship. The passion he felt when he kissed her.
As he rinsed his toothbrush, an idea flashed. Her Majesty’s Security Detail had sent over a dossier on Ms. Stone a few weeks ago but he’d been on his way to a walkabout at the time. He tucked it in a drawer for later inspection.
Then, in the course of things, he decided not to look inside. If there was some dark secret she harbored, who was he to ramrod his way through? Wasn’t the news hers to tell when she was ready?
But now, he had to know. Leaving his apartment, he made his way to his office, the footman on duty eyeing him from the other side of the second-floor gallery. Hadn’t he ever seen a man in his pajama bottoms before?
Clicking on the desk lamp, John pulled out the dossier. If there was something, Her Majesty’s Security would find it.
Born in Hearts Bend, Tennessee. Date of birth. Parents’ and grandparents’ names. Salaries. No family criminal record. None. So that wasn’t it. Gemma graduated salutatorian. She never said. Was a cheerleader during football season. Played basketball.
Moved to L.A. fourteen years ago. Spent a year in Las Vegas before coming home. Was in the hospital. For a month. Ah, so that was the source of her limp. But what was so bad she couldn’t tell him?
Returned to Hearts Bend upon release from the hospital. Bought the property, the farm, for a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Boyfriend: Matt Biglow.
Then came driver’s license pictures. Just before turning to the final page, he closed the dossier.
He’d seen enough. If there was more, he didn’t want to know. He’d had enough with the women he admired harboring secrets. If there was something in Gemma’s past she didn’t want him to know, who was he to unearth it?
Perhaps she was right. He was reading too much into their unusual summer. She’d turned him down. Let that be the end of it.
Move on, mate.From now on Gemma was simply be the woman who helped bring him out of his grief.
John tossed the dossier in the rubbish and headed back to apartment A2.
* * *
He awoke to the sound of rain and an urgent-sounding door chime. He rolled over and buried his head under his pillow but he could still hear Shaw.
