Page 73 of Free to Live

“If you just give me a chance to explain…”

“Contracts will be sent over in late August.”

Finally, my temper snaps. “You have no idea what I feel for her!” There’s finally silence on the other end of the line. “None,” I whisper.

“You hurt her. No one gets to do that,” Ali says in a voice so deathly quiet I know if I was standing right in front of her, I’d be bleeding.

“I was trying…I didn’t think…There were things I was trying to work through so I didn’t hurt her,” The words come out as a jumbled mess.

“In other words, you didn’t give her a chance to think for herself,” Ali concludes brutally. “Why is it all of you stupid men think we need protection? That after all we’ve been through, that we’re not strong enough to handle a little adversity?”

All they’ve been through? I want to probe more, but I have more pressing concerns. “I need to see her. I have to explain.”

“Joe.” I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “She’s closed up to even us. She won’t talk about what happened. All I know is she’s hurting. I don’t know whether seeing you will help or hurt her even more.”

“Ali, just let me know where she’ll be and let me take it from there,” I beg.

There’s a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. “We’re leaving at five to head into the city. All of us are going. Holly’s staying an extra few minutes to lock up. That’s all I’ll give you.” The phone clatters in my ear.

I have until then to come up with a plan.

I just hope it’s enough.

* * *

I wonderif Ali sent me here to get a taste of my own medicine.

As Holly steps through the mansion doors wearing a rose-colored, knee-length dress that’s hugging every inch of her perfect figure, my heart skips a beat. The color brings out the creaminess to all of her beautiful skin on display. I’m sliding out of my SUV to approach her when a Honda Pilot pulls just past the steps. A blond man in a suit I vaguely recognize jumps out of the car with a smile on his face. “Hols? You ready?”

She nods. “Just a minute. I just have to lock up.” She teases him gently, “I know you don’t want to be late tonight of all nights.”

“Might pose to be a bit of a problem for my plans,” he jokes back.

Witnessing her sweet being directed toward another man makes me want to give up already. I know if I walk away she’ll find a way back to the smiles and the laughter she gave me so I could heal. The rest of me—the part of me that she guided into the light from never-ending darkness—can’t. I’m too damn selfish to let her go.

Slamming the door, I startle both of them as I stalk my way toward the front porch that wraps around Amaryllis Events. “Someone you know, Hols?” The man steps protectively toward her.

Even as she steps to the side, the small bit of laughter disappears from her face as she watches my approach. “Give me two minutes? I promise we’ll be on the road in time.” She reaches out and squeezes his arm.

“I can…”

She shakes her head. “It’s okay. Just wait in the car for me,” she says softly.

Giving me an assessing once-over, he nods. “Hols, we need to talk,” I start. She holds up her hand.

“It’s really not a good time right now, Joe. As you can see, we’re in a bit of a hurry.” Her voice is polite but flat.

“Please.”

She shakes her head and starts to make her way toward the stairs. “Everything’s fine. I’m just going through a few…things. We do have to catch up though. I haven’t had the chance to tell you how happy I am you found someone.” I might have believed her if it wasn’t for the fact her eyes are completely dead.

God, was my father right? Were we both looking right at each other and not seeing?

I leap down the steps and land directly in front of her. “She’s not what you think, and I suspect neither is he.” I jerk my thumb behind me to the man spinning his key fob impatiently. “Promise me—right here, right now—that you’ll meet with me tomorrow. I don’t care where.”

“Joe, I appreciate this. You’re being sweet. I get that, but…” She tries to move past me, but I grab her hand.

“You’re everything.” She freezes. Haunted eyes lift to meet mine. I want to shout in relief there’s finally something else there besides a polite blankness. More than that, I want to kiss her, but I can’t. I figure I have about thirty seconds before the Neanderthal picks her up and carries her to the car. “I have no idea how that’s possible after I had it all and lost it once. Tell me how not to be afraid of having it all ripped from me a second time.”