Page 83 of Moonshine and Magnolias
“You were going to steal from me.” Her voice grew louder as the shock of it came back. A part of her registered the curious glances from guests at nearby tables, but she didn’t care. A massive force sucked all the air out of the room. A blaze of rage surged through her. “You were going to steal from my family. My dead grandmother!”
He reached across the table for her hand. She scrambled away, knocking over her chair in the process. The loud thunk had more heads turning and the speaker stopped his speech. “Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare touch me.”
He stood with her, but didn’t come any closer.
The tingling traveled up her arms and nested in her jaw. She rubbed her face, trying to keep the tears from spilling. Unable to speak. To breathe. She had given him so much. Piece by piece, she had let herself take a chance, to feel, to follow her emotions.
She should have known better, but she wanted to believe. And he taken advantage of her willingness.
“I wanted to tell you, when I realized Hal had misled us both. When we were done with breakfast.”
“You must think I’m ten kinds of stupid.” She glared at him. “How convenient that you were planning on spilling your secret so soon after Anita did it for you.”
The room had quieted. Her friends and neighbors all faced her with expressions of concern and curiosity. Her body trembled with hurt and anger, betrayal and embarrassment, and she couldn’t do one thing to stop it.
She flung her napkin on the table and ran out of the ballroom, gulping air into her stinging lungs.
Footsteps followed, and she braced herself as Rob entered the dining room behind her. She wanted the full story, even if all he spouted was lies. She’d sort itout from what he told her. Maybe with Anita’s help.
“Wendy.” Rob’s mouth twisted as he shook his head. “I messed up. I’m sorry.”
She stayed silent. It was four weeks too late for an apology.
“You’ve made a difference in my life, Wendy. Do you know how rare that is? I’ve never seen anyone take on so much with your grace and good humor, especially in the wake of a tragedy. Your crazy aunt, your strange friends, your cousin. You bring out the best in everyone you encounter.”
His words burned. “You’re lying.”
“I think about you when I’m not with you. What you’re doing, who you’re with. If you’re happy. When I’m walking around Claremont, I wonder when you last traveled the same streets. We have something, Wendy. I know you feel the same, or you wouldn’t have asked me to stay. You wouldn’t have given me so much.”
She so desperately wanted to believe him, to believe the changes within her hadn’t been a manipulation. That she wasn’t that gullible. It had been so easy to let herself fall. “Have you found what your uncle lost?”
He hesitated, looked away before bringing his gaze back to her. “No.”
Of course he hadn’t. Damn, he was good, the bastard, even managing to bring a hint of despair into his expression. She pointed toward the lobby. “Get out.”
“I need—”
She held up a hand to stop his softened voice. “I really don’t give a flying fuck what you need. Get your things and you and your damn brother get out of my house. NOW!”
“Wendy—”
“You heard her.” Sebastien marched into the room, his voice full of menace. She hadn’t noticed him following. Loïc and Massimo buffered Rob on either side, their massive bodies limiting his movements. “Get the hell out of here before you don’t have a choice as to how.”
Rob’s eyes swept from the two hulking beasts to Sebastien and back toWendy. “I am sorry.”
There was nothing to say.
He gave a quick nod to Sebastien. His men stepped aside to let Rob walk through. When he was at the threshold, he paused and looked back.
She hardened her gaze and pressed her lips together to keep from breaking down. Massimo stepped in front of her, blocking her view. She could tell when Rob left because the man’s body lost its tense alertness.
“Let’s get you upstairs.” Sebastien wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“No.” Not to the room where she had shared so much, only to be betrayed. “Not there.”
Her friend guided her through the kitchen and out to the brick patio while his men stayed behind. The sky was a beautiful summer blue and the air smelled fresh and fruity. The perfect day to have her heart broken.
“Thank you.” God, she hated how weak her voice sounded. “Can you go now?”
