“Damn, dude. He got you good.” Riley winces as he looks at Callan’s swollen nose and shredded hands.
“The prick hit me the second I opened the bloody door.”
“Incoming!” Jessie shouts, rounding the hood of Travis’s truck. She pulls me into a warm hug, squeezing me tight beforereleasing me. “I heard what happened,” she whispers, taking my hands. “Are you doing okay?”
“I actually am. It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, which I guess means I didn’t love him as much as I thought I did.” Now that I reflect on it, I think Seán dazzled me with romantic trips and fairy-tale promises that were never going to be my reality. I think he meant it at the time, but he wouldn’t have been able to follow through because the family business means more to him, and I don’t think he was ready for marriage. I wasn’t either. I’ll always be grateful to him for helping me to learn to trust again, and I did love him, but not enough to have ever agreed to marry him.
I think we’ve both had a lucky escape.
“Onwards and upwards, babe.” She loops her arm in mine as we walk toward the front door. “It’s not like you don’t have other, better options.” A mischievous glint flashes in her eye as she casts a glance in Callan’s direction.
“I’m not ready for another relationship,” I say as I open the door and turn off the alarm. “I’ve got to sort out the rest of my life before I even consider anything else.”
Everyone helps me to pack up my stuff, and an hour later, we have loaded up the van with my belongings. I leave my house key and the car key on the hall table before resetting the alarm and pulling the door shut after me.
“Where to, boss?” Riley asks.
“Never your boss, and I got fired too, remember?”
“He’s an asshole.”
“We’ve already determined that,” Travis says.
“Could you hold on to my things for the moment?” I ask Callan. “And drop me off at the car rental place in town? I need to organize my own rental, head to the hotel to get my stuff there, and then I’ll check into the Ryemont Inn. They have vacancies.”
“You don’t have to stay at a hotel.” Callan leans back against the van. “You can stay with me.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I haven’t had time to process a single thing yet, and I need some space to work through everything in my own time.
“Take the guesthouse. The cottage has its own entrance, and you don’t have to see us unless you want to.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Jessie says. “And way more comfortable than the inn. You are also welcome to stay with us.”
“Absolutely,” Travis says. “Me casa, you casa.”
Jessie rolls her eyes and pokes her husband in the side. “You’re such a goofball.”
“You’re all really kind, but the inn is fine for now.”
“Astrid, please.” Callan beseeches me with those pretty eyes. “Don’t stay at the inn when I have an empty house by the lake that you love. You’ll have privacy and solitude, and it’ll set my mind at ease knowing you’re close by and protected.”
“Do I have reason to worry?”
“She’s behind bars, and she can’t hurt you, but my need to protect you won’t ever go away.”
My heart melts at the look on his face. I meant what I told Jessie earlier. I can’t start up something with Callan after just ending my engagement, and not until I work through all my feelings. However, staying at the lake holds huge appeal. “Okay. I’ll stay at Whispering Cottage but only if you let me pay rent.”
“You don’t have to pay me rent, Astrid. I don’t have a mortgage, and you’re out of a job.”
“I am.” Noémie confirmed she’s firmly in The Devlin Group’s pocket by sending me an email fifteen minutes after Seán left telling me my contract was terminated for some bullshit reason. If I didn’t want to draw a line under New York, I’d sue her through the courts, but I want to put it all behind me, and I have plans. Exciting plans I can’t wait to implement. So, Iplan to threaten her with legal action to get a decent payout and a written reference confirming I left on good terms, and no one will bad-mouth me. Design is all word of mouth and reputation, and I don’t want anyone believing I left under shady circumstances.
“But I’m fine for money. I’ve been saving for years to start my own business, and I barely spent any of my salary this past year because Seán insisted on paying for everything. Plus, I plan to get a payout from my employer, and I’m going to sell every single thing he ever gave me.” He might have taken back his ring, but I have other pieces of expensive jewelry and designer bags and gowns I no longer want. It’ll give me the seed capital to set up my interior design consultancy, and the cash in my bank account will support me until I’m earning a living wage.
“I’m not taking rent off you, Astrid.”
“You might need it now you’re short a lucrative contract.”
“Our lawyers will ensure we get paid the money we’re due, and we don’t need their business,” Travis says. “We just signed two new clients off the back of the work we’ve done for The Devlin Group. Both are multimillion-dollar deals that will roll out over the next five years. We also have other projects and repeat-business clients. Our business is secure enough to withstand any bullshit Devlin might throw around. We’ll survive any temporary reputational damage. Our work speaks for itself.”
