“If you were back.” He narrows his eyes at me as he stands.
“Well, you’ve seen. Now you can leave.” I reach for my keys he’s holding in his other hand.
He pulls them out of reach, and his face softens. “Why now?”
“What?”
“She died months ago. Why are you back now?”
“That’s none of your business,” I say with my head held high.
His words come out clipped this time when he says, “This town is my business. Why are you here?”
I’m not about to tellhim,of all people that I couldn’t stand the idea of selling this place without seeing it one last time, or that my heart is in pieces and I was hoping maybe a little of Gran’s magic could help. I’ll never let this man see me broken again. He didn’t deserve it when he was my everything, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve it now.
“I’m just ready to sell the place.”
He frowns. Not a sad frown, more like aI’m not buying itfrown. “So, that’s it? You just leave for six years and then pop up out of the blue?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm.” He stares at me for a beat before pushing past into the house.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I spin around, following him.
“Coming inside.” He whips his head in my direction. “I remember you having better manners the last time I saw you.” He quirks a brow with a cocky smile, examining the place. “Not a damn thing has changed here, huh?”
“I have great manners when guests are welcome. You”—I point at him—“however, are not.”With an exhale, I collect myself before adding, “Look, I don’t know what game you’re trying to play, but I don’t have the time or energy for it, Gabe.”
“Gabe?” He rears back. “I can count on one hand how many times you’ve called me that.” Moseying through the kitchen he says over his shoulder, “And I’m not playing any game. I just wanted to see you.”
His eyes sparkle, and his mouth spreads like the Cheshire cat.
That grin is dangerous. It’s nothing but false promises. The last time I was in this town I left with my heart broken and my sanity hanging by a thread all because of this asshole. But I’m not that girl anymore, and I’m not taking his shit.
I play innocent, batting my lashes. “Yeah, isn’t that what you go by?”
His eyes never leave mine as he sits at the kitchen island. “Not to you.”
He tilts his head back slightly and shoots me a look that probably works on every woman in the world—except me.
I cock my head. “Well, you don’t really know me anymore.”
“I can see that.” He grabs the bottle of wine, filling the glass before bringing it tohis lips.
Crimson liquid sloshes onto the counter as I snatch it away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Still grinning, he throws his hands up. “Catching up with an old friend. What’s it look like I’m doing?”
I slam a hand down. “This isn’t funny, and I’m not your friend.”
“You used to be.”
For a moment my breath hitches because somewhere deep in my subconscious I wish that were true. I wish we could take it all back and things could be different.
But they aren’t.
“You know, I’ve had a long time to think about that, and I don’t think I was.”
