Page 13 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man
I gasp and step back and both men turn to look at me. My cheeks flush as James’s eyes drift over me, narrowing and gleaming. “Well, well, well. Looks like you managed to get her on your side. Too bad. I’m still gonna buy that property and hopefully run you out so that I can buy this land up cheap too. This is going to be the best resort around here. All I need to do is wait you out.”
‘What are you talking about, James? Why are you here in town? You don’t even like this place. You couldn’t wait to shake the dust off of your feet.”
“I’m back here to do a business deal for that property next door.”
“You’re trying to tell me you didn’t know a thing about what he was doing?”
“Of course not! I don’t usually talk to him and I haven’t heard from him since he walked out.”
I cross my arms over my chest and frown at both men who are practically posturing like mad bulls.
“What exactly are you asking me, Reginald?”
He doesn’t say anything but his cheeks flush and he won’t meet my eyes.
James’s eyes spark with laughter. “It’s actually pretty rich. He thinks that you were trying to get him to give up on that property by making up to him.”
He holds out his hands and sighs. “That’s not exactly true.”
Cocking my head, I fight the tears crowding my eyes. “Oh really? Which part isn’t true? Oh, I know…the part where you really like me. You just wanted to see how far I’d go to help my ex.” Biting my lip, I stalk out the door and down to James’s car. “Let’s go, James. I need to go pick up my car at the fairground and get some coffee before it’s time for the fair to open.”
I’ve got another terrible day of people and I’m so close to just throwing my head back and screaming that it’s not funny.
I thought he liked me. Thought I found someone who understands the real me.
Instead I found a man who thought I was playing him and wanted to see how far he could push me.
Oddly, enough. That doesn’t really bother me. What bothers me is that he acted like he cared. Like he liked spending time with me last night.
But really he was just waiting to see how far he could get me to go to make a deal.
Closing my eyes, I sit down in James’s car, fighting to keep still and not give in to the urge to scream until my throat bleeds.
Now that I actually have a chance to think, I know why I was so happy to spend time with him and it’s pathetic as heck.
I love that guy. But I cannot be with a man that I don’t trust.
And I don’t trust the good-looking devil as he stands in the doorway and watches me leave, his hands in his pockets and his blue eyes so cold that I can feel the arctic blast over here.
I hang my head and turn to the window, fighting the sniffles but letting the tears drip down my cheeks. I close my eyes, pain riding me like a cowboy on a bucking bronco raking the spurs along my sides.
James snorts. “I don’t know what you see in that guy but it’s obvious the only reason he was interested in you was to get to me.”
Another stabbing pain in my heart but I just lean into the window and let the tears fall silently.
“I’ll drop you off and then I need to get to the office and talk to my boss. He’s really excited about this chalet.”
I don’t bother answering him. I doubt if he hears me anyway. He’s always good at tuning me out.
The only man that’s ever really listened to me is the one that just tore my heart out when he believed that I could help someone like James.
I would never and if he really cared about me he’d know that.
It’s only now that I’m away from him that I realize that he might not love me but I love him so much that my whole body hurts.
Most especially what’s left of my aching heart.
Reginald
