Page 52 of So That Happened
Connor let his hand drop.
‘Okay, well, have fun,’ he said.
There wasn’t a flicker of emotion on his face.
How could he behave so flippantly about this?
Because he didn’t care enough.
A surge of anger exploded in her chest. ‘I live in the real world, Connor. I face things head-on, even if it’s tough.’
He stared at her, his expression darkening. ‘How did this conversation get turned around on me?’
She let out an exasperated sigh. ‘Perhaps it’s your guilty conscience making the leap?’
‘Josie, go home if that’s what you want.’
He sounded totally unconcerned.
The pain of his rejection burned in her chest. ‘So that’s it for us? You’re cutting me out of your life? I’m just another project you’ve completed?’
He gave her such a condescending look she wanted to prod him hard, just to get some sort of emotional reaction. Instead, she did something much worse.
‘Come with me to the awards ceremony,’ she blurted, her heart pounding so fast she thought she might pass out.
He looked incredulous. ‘And do what?’
‘I don’t know.’ She flapped her hands in the air in exasperation. ‘Just be.’
‘You want me to make nice with your family? Shove me under their noses to win some attention away from your sister?’
‘No,’ she said, gritting her teeth. But she did. She wanted that, and more. Much more.
He sighed and rubbed a hand forcefully back and forth through his hair. ‘Then what do you want from me?’
‘I don’t know. Nothing.’
I want you to want to keep exploring whatever the hell this thing is between us. Come to London.
But she knew she couldn’t ask that of him. He’d never do it in a million years.
He took a step backwards, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. ‘I can’t offer long-term commitment, Josie. I’m not interested in that. It wouldn’t be fair on you. I’m always on the move. That’s what went wrong with my other relationships; I couldn’t give them the attention they needed. Anyway, I can’t be with someone who puts her job before me.’
‘That’s your reasoning? That your past relationships didn’t work so this one won’t either?’
He shrugged. ‘I’m a realist.’
She snorted. ‘What would you know about realism? When have you ever had to stick your neck out to make a go of something? You have no idea what it’s like to fight for something; you’ve had everything given to you on a plate. You’ll never have to wake up in the morning and wonder whether you still have a business to go to. You’ve got so much money you can afford to give it away, so please don’t lecture me about how to live my life. You do whatever the hell you want, when you want, and then just up and leave when things get too hard to handle. You’re mad because I’m beating you to the punch this time.’
She could see tension working the muscles in his shoulders, and as he turned to face her his jaw was clamped in anger.
‘You’re right. You should go. It sounds like this relationship’s walked into a brick wall.’
‘I didn’t think this was a relationship.’
He gave her a cold smile. ‘It’s not.’
Josie felt sick. Where had the compassionate man she’d begun to unearth gone? How could he be so callous after all they’d shared?
