“Olivia was right. You’re forcing me to rewrite my rule book,” Bailey said. “I’m not sure I like that.”
Dillon sorted through several responses, the process accelerated by how his heart rate had suddenly approached redline.
The first was,You’ve discussed us and our relationship with the former love of my life?
Next came,There’s a rule book?
Finally,Are you certain today of all days is when we need to be talking this through?
For once in his rocky career as a guy ladies left behind, Dillon did the right thing and remained mute.
Bailey said, “The problem is, I can’t tell whether I’m not liking your taking center stage, or that you’re making me accept how so much of what’s behind me is my fault.”
Dillon decided his only course of action was to not blink, much less breathe.
“I watched you lay out a terrific idea to the team.Myteam.And they loved it. Which they should. Your plan could genuinely help my town heal.” Bailey caught herself. “See, that’s how hard you’re making it for me.Ourtown.”
Dillon remained silent. Frozen in place.
“But what I caught sight of just then, for one split second, was why I chose Griff. Why I made that relationship work despite the whole world telling me it was wrong from the start. The simple reason was, Griff was happy with me taking the spotlight. I led, Griff wandered. He never followed. He didn’t care enough to be supportive. He just did what Griff always did. He went looking for the next . . .”
Bailey stopped and did a full-body clench. Fists to hairline. Everything went intensely tight. And in the process, the old pain aged her ten years.
She took a very hard breath, and willed herself to release. A smidgen. Not much. Enough to go on. “I have no idea how to be in a relationship with a man who is a genuine partner. I don’t even know what those words mean. All I know is, I’m coming to love you. And I can’t let my fears or my past or my natural desire to lead get in the way—”
She was silenced by a knock on the door. Porter opened and said, “Sorry to interrupt whatever this is. But we need to discuss—”
“Coming.” Bailey started to follow the chief from the office, then turned back long enough to say, “I’m glad we had this talk.”
Once the door closed, Dillon allowed himself to breathe.
