Page 156 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Robyn walked around the back and opened the tailgate. “How about here?”

I eyed her dress.

She laughed. “Do you have something I can sit on?”

“Uh, yeah.” I retrieved a sweatshirt from inside the truck and smoothed it out on the tailgate.

Robyn turned and placed her palms on the tailgate. With the truck sitting so high, it hit her in the middle of her back.

“Here, let me help.” I placed my hands on Robyn’s hips. “On the count of three. One, two, three.” Robyn jumped as I lifted her. I stood in front of her, staring.

Robyn patted the spot next to her. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

I shook my head. “I want to see your face—your eyes.”

“Oh, I thought you’d come up here.” Robyn scooted toward the end of the tailgate.

“No. Stay. Please.” I moved closer and put my hands on Robyn’s knees.

“Are you sure?” Robyn’s dress rode up her thighs, so she pulled it down. “I shouldn’t be sitting like this in my dress.”

I pointed up at the light. Two of the three bulbs were burned out. “It’s dark out here. I doubt anyone will see anything.” I motioned toward the lodge. “Besides, we’re far enough away.”

“Ah, yeah. Okay.” Robyn ran her hands along her dress, smoothing it again.

We were both stalling, but I didn’t know how to begin. “I know I already told you, but you look amazing tonight. Beautiful.”

Robyn smiled. “Thank you.” She grabbed my lapel. “You’re looking rather dashing yourself.”

“Thanks.”

“Are we going to sit here all night making small talk?” Robyn asked.

“I’m good with that.”

She tilted her head and scowled. “Wrong answer.”

“Fine.” I grinned. “Where do you want me to start?”

“I don’t know, Blake.” I tensed at the wariness in her tone. “You hurt me.”

Ouch.Her words tore at my heart. “I’m so sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

“What was?” The playful light in her eyes dimmed. “I thought I meant something to you.”

“Oh, god, you do. You so much do.”

“Then why did you let me find out with everyone else?” Her voice was low, somehow making her pain more pronounced. “You consulted Dana before me.”

“Dana was in a professional capacity. As my lawyer. I had to do it this way.”

“Then help me understand. Because right now, I can’t figure it out. The story running through my head is, I don’t know what this is between us. I thought I knew, but now I don’t.”

“No. What you think is between us is still there.”

“You asked me to move to New York with you, but then you buy Blissful Breeze and don’t bother talking to me about it. Do you understand how hurtful that is?”

“Yes, I do. And it’s killing me it had to be this way.”