She shrugged off his hand and pushed away from the line.
Marcus’s voice chased after her, low and muttered.“Ungrateful… Hawk is too good for…”
She threw herself out the doors and into the brisk evening air.The faire center was an empty, desolate thing.Thank god, because Lilian couldn’t keep the tears at bay for a moment longer.They fell in fat droplets.Her lip quivered as she fell apart.
Behind her, the music drowned out her cries.Only a few feet away, everyone was basking in their joy while she broke down.
“Lilian?”
She froze at the sound of Hawk’s voice.She didn’t want him to see her like this; she didn’t want to see him period.Not now.But it was too late.He’d already heard her sniffling, and in a few short strides, he was in front of her, looking so worried it broke her heart all over again.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” she said automatically.
“I know you better than that.What happened?You didn’t come back to the table, and now you’re crying.”
She took a gulp of air, trying to control her sobs.“Your dad talked to me.”
His demeanor changed immediately.Even in the darkness, she could see the deep narrowing of his brows.“What did he say?”
“He said I’m not welcome back next year.”
“What?”The news looked like it actually surprised him.And that brought her some form of comfort.He didn’t know.He hadn’t been keeping it from her.But it didn’t completely absolve him either.
“That bastard.”It was a low dangerous growl, a noise she’d never heard from him before.Not even on Viking Weekend.“I’m going to go talk to him right now.He doesn’t have the right to make that decision.”
“Yes, he does, Hawk,” she bit out.“He owns the faire.And he said you told him that my business wasn’t profitable.”
The man in front of her tensed.There was no immediate denial, and that was all she needed to confirm her worst fear.It was true.
“I spoke to him about it at the very beginning of the season.”
Her insides twisted at the admission.“So, you did say it.”
“It was true at the time.”His response was calm.Cold even in the matter-of-fact way that he spoke.It was like a slap in the face.
“And now?”She could feel the wet tears in the words.It took every ounce of strength not to fall apart again.But the conversation was physically hurting her.She’d thought she was making progress.Thought Hawk believed in her.
His face shuttered at the sight of her tears.The concern sealed away.All of a sudden, he wasn’t her Hawk anymore.He was the cold businessman she’d met on that first day.“I’ve been honest with you every step of the way.You managed to break even this year, but it was by the edge of your teeth.But next year…”
Seeing that side of him again.It reminded her of his father.
Anger, hot and bright, surged in her chest.Overriding the sadness, the heartbreak.It gave her something to grab onto.A feeling of control even as the world around her spun out of control.“There’s not going to be a next year.”
“Lilian, don’t give up on this yet.My dad is an asshole.Let me talk to my mom.You are welcome back here.You know that.”He was talking to her like she was being unreasonable.Like she was being dramatic.
When he reached out to lead her back to the party, she pulled away.
“Do I?”she bit out.“Your dad thinks the only reason my shop broke even is because I’msleepingwith you.Did you tell him that as well?”
“What?No, of course not!You know me.I wanted to keep it quiet from everyone, especially my dad.Becauseof issues like this.But you kept flirting with me here and—”
She blanched at him, and he realized instantly that it was the wrong thing to say.The control he wore so easily disappeared.“Fuck.I didn’t mean it like that.I meant—”
“No.”Her voice was surprisingly hard.There was no hint of her earlier tears.She was past that.Her grief was there inside her, but it wasn’t for Hawk to see.She stepped away, putting more distance between them.It was only a few inches, but it might as well have been miles.“You were right.Okay?I shouldn’t have dated the boss.I deserve your dad’s comments.I deserve to not come back next year.”
“Lilian—”
