“Marriage depends on the people,” he said. “You and me, we’re right for each other. We can make it work.”
She trembled. She wanted to believe him so badly. She had never wanted anything more than to marry Lincoln Cain.
But what if it didn’t work out? What if in a few years, or even months, he left her? She couldn’t bear it. She loved him too much. She wouldn’t be able to stand that kind of pain.
And what if they had kids? She didn’t want to raise a child by herself. She knew what it felt like to live that way.
But what if it could work? What if they really had a chance to be happy?
“I just . . . I need some time. I never expected you to ask me. I-I need to be sure it’s the right thing to do, the right thing for both of us.”
Linc straightened, his powerful shoulders going back. “You don’t need time, Carly. It’s an easy question. Either you love me and you want to marry me or you don’t. A simple yes or no is enough.”
She thought of Joe, thought of Linc and the beauty queen he’d married before, thought of Garth Hunter and Carter Benson, men who had said they loved her.
“It . . . it isn’t that simple.”
His jaw went tight. “Actually it is.”
Turning away from her, he walked to the door. “You can stay here as long as you want. Just phone Millie when you leave and let her know you’re gone.”
“Linc, please . . .”
Reaching into the pocket of his slacks, he pulled out a blue velvet box and set it on the dresser. “Sell it. Use the money to pay off part of your loan.” Turning, he strode out of the bedroom.
“Linc!” Carly ran after him. “Linc, wait!” Racing behind him down the hall, she called his name again and again, but Linc just kept walking, storming out the front door toward his truck. He slid in behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Linc! Wait! Please don’t go!”
Gravel spun out from beneath the tires as he shifted into gear and pulled the truck onto the dirt road. Her heart was aching, throbbing like a wound inside her chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Linc . . .” she whispered as the truck disappeared down the long dirt road. “I love you so much.”
A keening sound tore from her throat as fresh pain sliced through her, ripping her apart, making her ache all over.
What have I done?she thought.What have I done?
It never occurred to her to go after him. There was nothing she could say to make things right between them, no way to make him understand.
No way to tell him she was afraid to marry him because she was terrified of losing him. More afraid than she had ever been in her life.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Beau Reese strode out of the elevator onto the executive floor of the Tex/Am Enterprises building. Passing the reception desk, he waved but didn’t head for his office. Instead, he went in search of Millie Whitelaw, Linc’s personal assistant.
He stopped when he reached her desk. “Where is he?”
Millie’s dark head came up from behind the computer screen. The worried look on her face told him what he’d already figured out, that something was very wrong.
“I know he’s in Dallas,” Beau said. “I talked to the pilot who choppered him in—but he isn’t at his apartment. He isn’t answering his cell. What the hell’s going on?”
Millie rose from her desk and led him a few feet away where none of the staff could overhear. “He’s in his suite, Beau. He’s been there two full days.”
“What the hell?”
“It’s Carly. He asked her to marry him and she said no.”
Beau shook his head. “I don’t believe it. I’ve seen them together. She’s crazy about him.”
