“I’ll admit that seeing him with you has been killing me. I realized I’d never considered how I’d feel if you left town or found someone else and made a life with them that should have been ours.” He shook his head. “I want things back like they were.”
She looked at her feet, then up at him. “Back like they were,” she repeated. “That’s not going to happen. I want more than that.”
“With Donovan Cole,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Why not?”
“He’s involved in whatever is going on over at the café, I’m sure of it.”
She raised a brow. “Then arrest him.”
Max groaned. “I have to catch the bunch of them in the act. Look, I don’t blame you for not believing anything I tell you. But believe this. I didn’t want to ruin your life. I felt, given my past and what might come up in my future, you were better off without me. A part of me still does, but I can’t let you—”
She shook her head and met his gaze with one that sent a chill through him. “That’s just it, Max. You’re no longer a part of my life so you have no say in what I do or don’t do.” She sighed. “Or what I’ve done.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “I don’t care about what’s been going on between you and Donovan.”
“That’s good because you lost the right to care about anything in my life.” Goldie looked as if she might burst into tears. Clearly, she’d been crying earlier. “I did it all, selling the café, Donovan, all because of you.” She met his gaze and nodded sadly. He could see anger fighting to hide the hurt. “I hired him to make you jealous. Of course you’ve figured that out. You must think I’m pathetic, doing all this to give you one more chance to change your mind.”
“No, I admire you for not being afraid to go after what you want,” he said quickly. “You’re the bravest, strongest woman I’ve ever known. And you were right. What you did made me realize what a fool I’ve been. I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through.”
“I’m glad you think my desperate attempts were worth it. I wish I felt the same way. I’ve lost my café and my self-respect only to realize that you can’t give me what I want.”
Max’s throat closed on anything he might have said for a moment, the ache in his chest excruciating. He couldn’t blameher for being so disappointed in him. “I thought I was protecting you. But the truth is I was protecting myself. Cordell says I got our mother’s stubborn outlook on life. He’s right. Like her, I don’t believe I deserve to be happy.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry. Having to face the pain of my past, I couldn’t believe anyone could love me, even you, Goldie.”
“You’re wrong about that.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice although there was no one around. “I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time I met you.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
“All that you’ve done to force me to admit that…” He met her gaze. “I never wanted you to lose your café. How, after everything, can you still love me?”
Goldie shook her head. “I’ve asked myself that same question. I do still love you, Max. But I want more than you’ve been able to give me. I’m no longer willing to hang around waiting for you.”
“I know. I promise—”
She touched a finger to his lips and shook her head. “Don’t make me any promises you can’t keep. You were right. They’re all involved with Mandeville—Donovan too.”
He felt his eyes widen in surprise at the change of subject, even more surprise at her words. Donovan. It felt as if he couldn’t breathe at the thought of her with that man. Or any man. “Now that you know, you can’t—”
Her cell phone rang. “It’s Donovan.”
“Goldie—”
Her phone rang again. “I have to take this.” She stepped away, her back to him. He couldn’t hear the conversation, only the tone of her voice, which hurt enough. No matter what she’d said, she’d gotten close to this dangerous man.
When she disconnected and turned to look at him, he said, “You can’t trust him.” She didn’t have to reply. He could see theanswer in her face. He tried to swallow around the lump in his throat.
Her next words were spoken quickly and quietly, but they shook the earth under him. “You’re right about Mandeville.” She glanced down the street at the sound of a revved engine. A moment later, Donovan’s red sports car came into view. “They’re all in on it, whatever it is. That should make you happy.”
“How do you know that?”
She looked away for a moment. “Come by late tonight.” Her gaze met his. “You know how to get in, and I’ll give you what I have. Don’t follow me.” With that, she walked away from him as Donovan pulled up in front of the hotel and she hurried off to meet him.
As badly as he wanted to go after her, he couldn’t. He was too shocked by what she’d said, even if she hadn’t made it clear that she didn’t want him to follow her.
He was right about Mandeville. She said she’d give him what she had. Evidence? They were all in on it together? Including Donovan, the man waiting for her?
