Page 62 of His Southern Temptation

Lucky crossed the room and she stood to greet him. Ignoring Teague, Lucky pulled her close, brushing a soft kiss across her mouth as his arms wrapped around her waist. A small smile on the corner of his lips eased some of her tension. Everything was easier when they were together.

Teague ignored the display of affection, his hands shoved back in his pockets. “I know that’s what you say—”

“It’s what I know,” Lucky replied, his voice tense and low.

“You’re asking her to give up a great opportunity.” Teague’s hand shot out to point toward the envelope containing the deal she’d spent years cultivating. “You better be sure you can follow through.”

“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

“You didn’t tell me what was going on between you two.”

“It was none of your business.” Lucky’s grip tightened on her waist, his anger vibrating through his muscles.

“Well, as her legal adviser it’s my business now, and I have to tell her she’d be crazy to pass up her deal in Hawaii and go into debt staying here.” Teague turned to her and gave one quick nod. “When you make up your mind, bring the papers over to the office and we’ll notarize them for you.”

“Are you still thinking about going to Hawaii?” Lucky looked down at her, his eyes blazing first with surprise and then hurt.

“I have to factor it into my decision.” She faltered as his jaw tightened.

“I thought you made your decision.”

“I did. I have.” Oh shit. This was hard. “Things have changed.”

They stared at each other, the seconds ticking by as they sized each other up. Taylor wanted to tell him it didn’t matter, she would stay no matter what. But she couldn’t do it. So far, being here in Elliott was really no different than any other times they’d been together in Hawaii, Thailand, or San Francisco. They weren’t really living their normal day-to-day lives, not sharing the burdens of forging a life together. They were just playing house like a couple of kids, only the stakes were so much higher than that. But her heart was telling her that this was the real thing, the one worth taking the gamble on, and that she should trust her gut. It was her head that was getting in the way. Fear was a bitch, but it made a lot of sense.

“You made your decision.” Lucky’s statement was punctuated by the tightening of his hold on her body.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Teague said and strode out of the room.

“You said you were staying,” Lucky said.

“That was before.”

“Nothing’s changed.” He narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. “Have you been talking to your mother?”

Damn. He was going to make her spell it out.

“I have no money to invest in Sissy’s. The local banks turned me down because I don’t have the contribution capital. The deadline for Hawaii is breathing down my neck. I don’t see many options.”

“You can stay and work for my mom or work in Roanoke,” he said as he stepped away from her, stiff with anger and hurt.

“I don’t want to be an employee again. I’ve worked hard and I want to run my own shop.”

“I get that, and we’ll get you there. Just trust me.”

“Why can’t you come with me?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“I need to stay here. You know about the debt situation with the farm. My family needs me. And this is what I want to do. I can’t pick the farm up and take it to Hawaii.” He stepped forward, gripping her upper arms and hauling her close. His expression was guarded, distant, as if he were bracing himself for impact. Her heart ached knowing she put that look on his face. “You said you would stay.”

“I’m the one giving up something here.” Frustration and anger welled up, spilling past her lips in a tumble. “You get to fulfill all your plans and I get nothing. Damn it, I honestly can’t see what I’m getting out of this deal.”

She cringed at the ugliness of what she said. It hadn’t come out the way she intended. She didn’t want him to think that what they had or helping his family wasn’t important, but it seemed like he disregarded her sacrifice in this whole mess. She just wanted him to really understand what she was giving up. Her mother’s warning echoed in her head and while she didn’t like it, she’d be a fool to ignore it.

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