"The reason I don't want to flaunt our relationship."
I stared. "Who said anything about flaunting?"
"Fine." Her chin lifted. "Going public or whatever."
I barked a laugh. "What, you think I want to issue a press release?"
But Tessa wasn't laughing. "I knew you'd be mad."
"Yeah, but it didn't stop you."
"You're right. It didn't. And you wanna know why?"
"Why?"
"Because IthoughtI'd have the chance to explain. And just maybe I figured that once I did, you'd actually get it." Her voice trailed to a low whisper. "But I guess not."
I knew what the script called for. I was supposed to cajole her into telling me whatever she thought I was missing. But the truth was, I didn't want to hear it. WhatIwanted was the whole world to know she wasn't standing alone.
When I said nothing, Tessa turned and gave the newly installed door a long, defeated look. Softly, she said, "I guess I should pay you for half."
If I wanted to be a dick, I'd tell her she couldn't afford it. Forget the door itself. Getting a crew to the island on nearly no notice had cost more than the materials alone. Plus, I didn't want her money.
I wantedher.
With a shake of my head, I told her, "No deal."
"But why?"
"I broke it. I bought it. End of story."
She gave me a weary smile. "Thanks. I owe you one, okay?"
"Forget it," I said. "You don't owe me anything."
She hesitated. "Actually, I do. So just hear me out."
From the look on her face, I wasn't sure I wanted to. But I nodded, anyway, bracing myself for a list of reasons why keeping things private made sense.
She swallowed hard before saying, "What I asked earlier, I guess…well…I was being really unfair. And I'm sorry."
This wasn't what I expected, and I felt some of my tension ease. "Hey, don't be." I smiled. "I'm just glad you rethought it."
She didn't even try to smile back. "That's not what I meant."
It wasn't?I gave her a confused look. "So, what am I missing?"
She blew out a long, ragged breath. "What I'mtryingto say is, I don't blame you."
"For what?"
"For being mad. I wouldn't like someone askingmeto stay in the shadows. I shouldn't have asked you in the first place."
I studied her face. "What exactly are you getting at?"
Her gaze slid away, and then returned, steadier than before. "I just think that…well, it might be better if we took a little break."
What the hell?"Better for who?"
