Page 39 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

A sick feeling washed through her. Darby started to turn away, but Penelope put a hand on Darby’s forearm.

“You won’t hold his interest long,” Penelope said confidently. “I know. I was his flavor of the week last week.”

The words startled her. She had spent most of last week with Jace before flying back to Kansas City on Thursday morning.

Penelope gave her a knowing smile. “You are replaceable. We all are. Jace Tanner is as handsome as a Greek god, but he doesn’t have a soul.

This time last Thursday night, I was the one on his arm.

We dined at The Mansion. He fawned over me, and yet here I am this evening without him.

And you have taken my place, just as another will take yours soon. ”

Nausea now filled Darby. She had gotten on a plane, and Jace had gone out with this woman the very day she left Dallas. No wonder he hadn’t had time to text her back. He had been with Penelope Rossi. She dropped her arm, causing Penelope’s hold to break.

Coolly, she said, “It was nice meeting you.”

Turning away, Darby walked out the doors of the small ballroom and headed to the nearest restroom. She locked herself inside a stall, breathing deeply in and out, trying not to give into the tears which threatened to fall.

How could Jace make her feel as if she were the only woman in the world, all the while stringing along other women?

Penelope might not be the only one. Doubt filled her, and Darby was certain there were others.

And once she returned to Hawthorne, Jace would be left on his own.

A lot. Relationships had to be based upon trust, else they eroded quickly.

Her heart told her that while she thought Jace was the only man for her, he was nothing more than a player.

He knew what to say. What to do to make a woman feel as if she were the center of his universe.

With her in Hawthorne and him in Dallas, it would take a lot to keep their relationship going.

Knowing what she did now, Darby believed she better cut ties with him before she was hurt more than she already was.

She already loved him. She was thankful that she hadn’t spoken those words aloud to him because she would have felt incredibly foolish if she would have done so. Most likely, Jace would have parroted them back to her, not meaning any of it.

She was stuck without a car. She couldn’t go back to Jace’s condo and sleep in the same bed with him, not after what she had learned this evening.

Darby decided she would call Sawyer. Her brother would come and get her.

But it struck her. She didn’t have her phone with her.

She hadn’t brought a purse. By the time they got back to Jace’s condo, it would be too late to call Sawyer and have him drive down to Dallas to get her and go back to Hawthorne.

She had talked to him yesterday and learned he would be in court tomorrow morning, and she didn’t want to drag him away from Hawthorne when he needed to get his sleep in order to be fresh for his client.

Leaving the restroom stall, she studied herself in the mirror.

Then Darby steeled herself, knowing she would need to put on the performance of a lifetime.

It would be wrong to cause a scene here in front of so many people.

She had been determined not to embarrass Jace in any fashion, and she would hold to that.

A public breakup would be humiliating for them both, and it might also affect his business.

She returned to the silent auction room, finding him in conversation with someone she didn’t know.

Coming up to them, she slipped her arm through his. He turned and smiled at her, causing her heart to shatter into a thousand pieces. Still, she returned his smile. Once he finished his conversation, they moved away.

“Where were you?” he asked.

“I went to the ladies’ room,” she replied evenly.

“I still have a bunch of money of yours in my pocket for you to gamble with.”

“Then let me go see how fast I can lose it.”

It wouldn’t be the only thing she had lost this night.

They returned to the casino party, and as Darby had expected, she lost of the rest of her money quickly because she couldn’t concentrate on the games in front of her.

“Have you lost your magic touch, Montgomery?” Jace whispered into her ear.

The touch of his lips grazing her earlobe almost had her coming undone. She gave him a tight smile.

“I guess my luck finally ran out.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost a quarter until ten. Want to call it a night?”

“Yes. I would.”

Jace took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. As they headed toward the ballroom doors, Darby caught sight of Penelope Rossi watching them. The woman lifted her wineglass in a mock toast as they passed by her.

Darby’s heart ached. What was going to happen in the next hour would be the most painful thing she had ever gone through.

Her gut told her that she would be spending many a miserable night after this, yearning for Jace.

She would need to remind herself that he wasn’t the man she had fallen in love with.

That had been an illusion. The Jace she loved was kind.

Considerate. And only had eyes for her. Then again, it was probably how he treated every woman.

Every flavor of the week, according to Penelope Rossi.

As they waited for the valet to bring the Porsche around, Jace said, “You’re awfully quiet.”

“I suppose I’m all talked out,” she told him.

“Well, you were definitely a hit. Dallas loves Darby Montgomery.”

His car arrived, and she got into it, nausea bubbling up inside her again, knowing what lay ahead.

They reached his parking garage and exited the vehicle, using the elevator to go up to his penthouse.

Once inside, Jace arms enveloped her, and he kissed her.

Darby didn’t kiss him back.

Quickly, he pulled his lips from hers, studying her anxiously. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this anymore, Jace. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Confusion filled his hazel eyes. “Do what, Darby? I don’t understand.”

She pushed away from him, freeing herself. “That’s the problem. You’ve never understood. I thought this might have a chance to work. I let my guard down—and let you in. I should have listened to that nagging voice I kept hearing.”

Darby’s gaze met his. “ We aren’t working. We are too different, Jace. We live such different lives. We don’t even reside in the same place. I can tell now that long distance would kill this, what we have between us.” She sighed. “I want to cut my losses while I can.”

She saw the hurt spring to his eyes, but anger quickly replaced it.

“That’s it?” he demanded. “You think we’re too different and that a little distance will be hard, so you’re going to cut and run?’

His words felt like a knife, piercing her heart. Dully, she said, “We’ve been like a couple on The Bachelor . We’ve had some phenomenal dates. Yes, we have amazing chemistry, but just like those couples, the fantasy ends and reality sets in. The track record for that show is abysmal.”

“We aren’t on some TV show, Darby,” Jace said bluntly. “This is real life.”

“Yes, it is. And I’m saying that our two worlds don’t mix.

We both have careers that we aren’t giving up any time soon.

We simply don’t mesh, Jace. I am grateful for the time I spent with you, but I want to go back to Hawthorne.

To life in a sleepy town where not much of anything happens.

You belong here in the big city, cutting deals and hitting up social affairs.

You’re a mover and a shaker. You thrive on pressure. That’s the last thing I want.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to be where you are, and you certainly don’t want to be stuck in a place like Hawthorne.”

Her temples throbbed painfully. “I’ll sleep in your guestroom tonight.”

No, if she did, he would come to her. Cajole and wheedle and make love to her until she couldn’t think straight.

“On second thought, I think I’ll check into a hotel.”

Jace took a step for her, and Darby held up a hand. “Don’t try to change my mind,” she said firmly. “Stay here. Give me a minute to pack my things.”

She turned quickly, praying that he wouldn’t follow her.

As fast as possible, she slipped clothes from hangars and from inside dresser drawers, tossing them into her suitcase.

She removed her toiletry bag from the bathroom and collected her chargers, tablet, and phone.

Giving the room a final look, she didn’t find anything that belonged to her in sight.

Exiting his bedroom, she returned to where he still stood. It didn’t look as if he had taken one step.

“I’ll go now.”

Darby couldn’t help herself. She leaned up and brushed her lips against his cheek.

“Take care, Jace.”

He didn’t reply.

She let herself out of the condo and took the elevator downstairs, feeling numb inside.

Was she wrong to walk away from the man she loved?

She couldn’t be completely sure of anything, but she knew she didn’t belong in this big city, going to fancy parties and making small talk with people she didn’t care to be around. If she stayed with Jace, it would boil down to her needing to quit her new job and move to Dallas.

And that was if he really cared for her and wasn’t seeing other women on the side.

“Better safe than sorry, Darb,” she said under her breath. “Protect your heart.”

In the lobby, she asked the concierge for a reasonably priced chain hotel nearby. The woman gave her a sympathetic look and suggested one.

“Yes, that’ll do. Where is it located?”

“Let me make a reservation for you, Miss Montgomery.”

She didn’t realize the concierge knew her name. “Please. Thank you. One night.”

While the woman made the call, Darby opened her ride share app and arranged for transportation. When she finished, the concierge told her that they were holding the room for her.

“I appreciate your help.”

As if sleepwalking, she went outside and waited for her driver. The trip to the hotel took less than ten minutes. The clerk at the desk asked for her credit card, and Darby handed it over. She signed for the room and was given a key.

When she went inside the hotel room, she locked it securely behind her.

Like a zombie, she removed her expensive new cocktail dress and let it drop to the floor.

She stepped from her shoes and then removed her underwear and bra.

Naked, she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.

Immediately, she turned her face into the pillow.

So that no one would hear her loud sobs.