Say You'll Never Love Me (3 page)

“Okay. I’ll try to do better but I think about you all day.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and trailed fingers down his arm. “Don’t you think about me?”

“I stay so busy, there’s no time to think about much other than work.”

“Pasta and bread sticks sound good?”

“Fine.”

“So, who kept you late?”

She’d pulled her hair into a messy twist on top of her head. Wind whipped dangling strands like the tail on a kite. He should break up with her right here. Not even let her in the house, but not knowing what reaction to expect, not a good idea. Might cause a scene. The last thing he needed was for neighbors to call the cops because of a domestic dispute. “I had to check on a construction site. Took longer than I thought. Had to wait on the foreman.”

He turned the key in the lock, and she stepped inside chattering on her way into the kitchen. “You want a green salad, too? I think you have all the ingredients. Did you eat a big lunch?” She opened the fridge and moved things around. “Yeah, there’s plenty here. Which site?”

“Doesn’t matter. Why don’t we skip cooking? I need to talk to you about something.”

She flapped her hand in the air. “Don’t be silly. I can have this ready in thirty minutes. Go jump in the shower. That will give us more time together after we eat. I want to discuss something with you, too.”

“Okay.” He sucked in a deep breath. This was it. She wanted more, and he planned to end it. After six months of dating, the next step seemed logical, but the constant interrogations wore him out. He should just do it. Tell her to hit the road. That he didn’t love her and never would. Cruel. Yes. Especially since he knew she was in love with him. But he couldn’t force it. Hell, he’d tried at the beginning, but she’d become a convenience, and that was unfair.

When he came from his shower, food was on the table. But because of his bad mood, he’d lost his appetite. She rambled on and on about some project where the client kept changing the color scheme. Jared moved pasta around on his plate and pretended to be interested, but all he wanted to do was get her out of there. When they finished dinner, she cleared the table, but he stopped her. “Leave everything. I’ll do the dishes later.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I insist.”

“At least let me put the leftover in a plastic container. You can take it for lunch tomorrow.”

“Fine.” Beth had good qualities. Smart. Hard worker. Kind. If she’d change her jealous behavior, they might have a chance, but no matter how many times he’d asked her to stop with the calls and texts, she didn’t. He was doing the right thing.

She leveled her dark brown eyes on him. “Is something wrong? You were quiet during dinner, and you hardly touched your food.”

“I have something on my mind, but it can wait until you’re done.” He wanted her undivided attention when he dropped the bomb. That way, no chance of miscommunication. “Did you turn in your bid for Escape Day Spa?”

“Yes, and after talking to the owner, I understand what she wants. I expect to get the job which means you and I will work together again. I love doing that. We make a perfect pair. Don’t you think? You design the building, and I decorate it.”

Jared let the question stand without comment. She was a good designer, and like her, at first he thought they were the perfect match, but how could a relationship survive without trust? And clearly her insecurity caused issues in that department. A future with someone like that would be torture. He needed to break all ties. Personal and professional.

She snapped the lid on the plastic bowl and put it in the refrigerator. “Okay. Ready to talk. You first.”

There it was. That look. Hope. As if she expected him to bring up the same subject on her agenda. This would not be pretty.

She followed him to the sofa, giving him plenty of space. Still close enough to slap him when he delivered the news, and if she did, fine. He deserved it for not ending it sooner.

“I know you want more from this relationship.” Oh God. She straightened and smiled, and he hated himself for being the bad guy. “But, I don’t see that happening.”

She sucked in a breath, but didn’t release it.

“It’s wrong to keep seeing you when I’ll never be more serious.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but someone knocked.

Relief washed over him. He welcomed the interruption because he didn’t know how he’d handle things if Beth begged. And no doubt she would. She’d built this fantasy they were a textbook couple, destined to spend eternity together. Too bad he was ending her dream. But he couldn’t keep up the pretense. He jumped from his seat. “I’ll get rid of them.”

He swung the door wide, and the person standing on the porch caused his heart to plummet. “Julie! What are you doing here?”

He glanced at Beth, already on her feet, headed toward the counter. She grabbed her purse, rushed to stand beside him, and met his gaze with eyes blazing white-hot. “Now I understand. Your former fiancée shows up, and you dump me. Is she the reason you were late? You were with her?”

God. What did he do to deserve this? “That’s not what happened. I didn’t even know she was in town.”

“Oh, please. I’m not an idiot.” Beth pushed past him, nudging Julie out of the way.

Jared called after her. “Beth Ann! That isn’t true!” It was no use. She cranked the engine of her silver Altima and peeled away, tires squealing.

He shouldn’t care what she thought, but he did. Sure, he wanted her out of his life, but not because of some misunderstanding.

He faced Julie. “What the hell do you want?”

She plastered a smug grin. “Oops. Is this a bad time?”

I DON’T SEE THAT HAPPENING.
Jared’s words pounded in Beth Ann’s head like an exertion headache. The kind she got after doing fifty push-ups. How could she have been so blind? She’d expected to leave his apartment with her own key, and instead, he dumped her. Unbelievable.

She angled the car into a space at a small convenience store, shifted into park, and pounded the steering wheel. Damn her! After all this time, Julie decides she wants him back, and he’s willing to reconcile? Well, he’d loved her once. Maybe he still did. Beth Ann hung her head and cried.

By now, Julie was probably all cozy in his arms confessing how calling off the wedding was the biggest mistake she’d made. Promising to spend eternity making it up. Why would he consider a reconciliation after she’d hurt him? It didn’t make sense.

Her breath hitched. She massaged her temples trying to ease the pain. She’d bet all his late appointments weren’t work-related, and he’d been seeing Julie all along. That’s why she showed up uninvited . . . to rub it in.
Bitch.

Beth’s mind rebelled at the notion and she debated going back and confronting them. No, she needed proof. Ramming the gear into reverse, she traveled toward Elm Avenue. If anyone had the whole story, Maggie would.

When Beth Ann arrived, she sat in the car a few minutes to pull herself together, then glanced in the rear view mirror. Her face was a mess. Red. Puffy. Bloodshot eyes from all the tears, but she didn’t care. Her world had collapsed, and appearance was the least of her worries. As she stomped across the lawn, a dog barked. A streetlight buzzed. Illuminated by solar lights, the flower beds, full of colorful pansies, looked like they belonged in an ad for plant food. Use Brand X for healthy blooms all season. The place was downright cheery, but with her foul mood, she wanted to crush the prettiness into the dirt the way Jared had done her heart. She’d fallen in love, and now it was over, unless Maggie gave her an idea of how to win him back. By the time she reached the front porch, the waterworks started again.

Jace opened the door, took one glance and rolled his chair backwards. “Maggie! I need you in here.”

Maggie rushed into the room, panic etched on her face. Then she saw Beth Ann. “What’s wrong?”

Her friend understood heartbreak. When Beth Ann met Maggie, she and Jace were separated, but she’d saved her marriage. She’d help Beth Ann figure out what went wrong. “Jared broke up with me.” She fell to pieces.

Maggie embraced her. “Why? What happened?”

Beth Ann wiped her cheeks and thought about what a great lover Jared was. Gentle. Considerate. At least in the beginning. Lately, passion had faded. But they were perfect for each other. But if he’d had his ex on the side, then naturally desire would be affected. That had to be it. “Julie showed up.”

Jace leaned forward, face pinched. “What? There’s no way in hell he’d take her back.”

Maggie nodded agreement. “Is that what he told you?”

“Not exactly. But his intentions were clear. I bet he’s been carrying on with her for months.”

“No.” Jace folded his arms. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I promise you, he is not interested in re-kindling anything with her.”

Maggie nodded again like a bobble-head doll. “Jace is right. She practically left him at the altar. He would never take her back. Was he surprised to see her?”

“Yeah, but I thought it was because he didn’t expect her while I was there.”

For the next hour, Maggie consoled her, and Beth Ann decided Jared was worth fighting for and she wasn’t about to give up. She’d find out for herself if he’d been cheating with Julie or anybody else.

WHAT A STROKE OF L
uck. If Julie read the scene correctly, her former lover had broken up with the cute, petite brunette. Her leaving in a huff confirmed it. Julie was still unclear about how the woman knew who she was, but she’d referred to her as his former fiancée. The reason didn’t matter. He was a free agent. Perfect timing.

If she jump-started their relationship, she’d never have to admit she’d bombed in New York. After her art critic boyfriend dumped her, not a single gallery would touch her paintings.
Bastard.
But now, to keep her artistic juices flowing, she needed a benefactor, and Jared fit the bill.

“May I come in?” She offered her best smile. The one that always got results.

His frown said it wasn’t working. “What do you want?”

This might not be easy, but she knew him well enough he wouldn’t risk a scene. He’d let her in, and that’s all it’d take.

“Are you going to invite me in or not?”

He didn’t answer, but stepped back for her to pass.

“I’m surprised you still live here. I thought by now you’d have a house and a wife.” She scanned the room. “But I see everything is the same.”

“Take my word. Plenty has changed.”

The edge in his tone proved she’d have to work harder, but that was okay. She was up for the challenge. She wasn’t in love with him, but that didn’t matter. To pursue her one true passion, art, she could love anybody. “I didn’t come here to cause trouble. I’ve moved back and wanted to see you again.”

He stood behind an upholstered chair and rested his hands on the back. “News to me. As I recall, the last time we spoke, you
never
wanted to see me again.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t say that. I made mistakes. The lure of bright lights confused me. But after living in The Big Apple all these years, I realized I’ll always be a Texas girl. So I’m back where I belong.”

“And I should care about this . . . why?”

She rose and moved closer, angled between him and the chair, slid her hands around his neck and kissed him. At first, he stiffened, but then circled her waist and pulled her tighter. She smiled inside. It was still there. The attraction. Passion. If she played her cards right, he’d forget all about what’s-her-name . . . once Julie had him in love with her again.