“Watch me, Dad. Watch me. I’m done with you. I’m moving out of here and getting a room at one of the bed and breakfasts. I’ll figure out how to get you removed and then you’re gonna be out of luck. You don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“We’ll see about that, sonny boy. Now get your stuff and get out of my house, turncoat.”
Saluting him, I head upstairs to grab my things and head out. I hope I can find a place to stay.
But my real worry is Fee. Because I can’t stand the thought of her crying. And if she thinks that I hurt her because of whatmy father said…well, I wouldn’t blame her in the slightest if she never wants to talk to me again.
But I swear to god, that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try. I love that woman. More than anything in this whole world.
CHAPTER 11
Fiona
The antique store is still closed. And I haven’t heard from Monroe. Obviously his father was right and now that his plan is out there, he doesn’t have to keep up the front.
He doesn’t have to pretend that he cares for me.
My heart hurts. I didn’t sleep last night until I finally cried myself out.
All I could think about was the other night. The smile on his face. The look in his dark eyes. He looked happy. He looked like he really wanted to be there.
He must be a hell of an actor. That’s all I have to say. I would have sworn that he had the same feelings for me that I had for him.
Unfortunately for me, I love him.
And he toyed with me. Toyed with my heart.
Harper glares over at the other side of the store, at the clear wall. It’s still dark and she huffs, “I guess neither one of those assholes is going to come in today.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. But whatever happens, I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he hurt me. So let’s just stay calm if he does come in here. Either one of them.”
Like I called for him, the elderly man slams his way inside my shop. Gritting my teeth, I get to my feet and wait, watching him warily. “What are you doing in my shop? You’re not allowed over here anymore.”
“It’s a public place. You can’t tell me that I can’t come in.”
Harper growls. “Oh, I beg to differ, old man. We can refuse to wait on anybody that we want to. It’s actually private property. I don’t know where you got your information but you’re so damn wrong that it’s not funny. I bet anything that if you didn’t want somebody in your store, you’d tell them to get out. Same goes.”
“Well, I’m not leaving until we talk about this. I want this property. All of it. So if you don’t want a very uncomfortable life from this point on, I’d suggest that you get on board with my thinking.”
“Go to hell,” Harper growls.
He smirks. “I’ve been there for years.”
“Humph!”
“I’m not giving up this store. It’s been in my family for years..the major portion of this property belongs to my family. Your family was given this small portion as a sop to your wounded pride when my grandmother couldn’t marry your grandfather.”
“Wouldn’t! Wouldn’t marry him!”He snaps, his voice rising.
“Whatever! The point is…this property is mine. You own that small portion and that’s all you’ll ever own.”
“It’s mine!”He raises the cane over his head and the next thing I know he’s smashing it down on a display of beautiful crystal vases we’ve got in for Valentine’s orders. The cane slams into one of the most beautiful ones and it shatters into two large pieces. Screaming, I rush forward and try and grab his cane and he wrestles with me, panting, wild with anger.
He pushes me aside and the cane comes down again on another vase and the delicate crystal shatters.
Covering my ears, I scream as he rages and breaks more of them, then his cane slams into one of my floral arrangements for the day and he swings the cane, knocking it on the floor.
“That’s enough!” A roar brings my head up and I groan when I see Monroe in the door, his chest heaving, his dark eyes bright with anger. “What the hell are you doing, Dad?”
