Surprise whisked across her face. “I can, and I did.”
He shook his head. “You can’t give up on your dream.”
“What if it’s not my dream?”
“What?” he asked with a frown.
She shrugged, her gaze shifting toward the French doors leading to the pool. “I don’t know. When I think about the Olympics, I’m not sure who wants it more, me or my dad.” She gave a short laugh. “Actually, my dad does, because I quit.”
A spark of hope flared bright. If it was her father’s dream, did he really have to do this?
Yes. She’ll end up hating you.
The spark sputtered out. “I’ve seen how hard you work, Raine. You have to follow this through. Maybe your dad does want it more than you, but you still want it.”
“I’m not so sure about that anymore.”
And that right there cinched it for him. She wasn’t sure she wanted it, but that also meant she wasn’t sure she didn’t. “You have to go home.”
She shook her head with a frown. “I want to be here with you.”
His heart kicked in his chest at her declaration. He hadn’t wanted to use the next thing, but didn’t see any other way. “Is that what you say to all your trainers?”
“What?” Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “What did he tell you?”
“That you have a history of…getting involved.”
“It happened one time—one—and it was years ago. I was young and stupid, and he did take advantage.”
“Your dad made it sound like more than that.”
“Of course he did. He wants me to go home, remember?” Fury shook her voice. “I dated some after that, and had one somewhat serious boyfriend about two years ago, but that’s it. That makes you the third guy I’ve ever been with, so whatever my dad told you, it isn’t true. I would hope you’d believe me over him.”
His heart soared, then took a dizzying nose-dive. Shit. That blew that angle. Which left him with the worst option of all. The one that would hurt the most.
Before he could form the words to send her away, her expression softened as she moved closer and took his hands. She tipped her face up, her eyes full of a warmth that squeezed his chest and made it hard to breathe.
The corners of her mouth trembled before she declared, “I love you, Reyes.”
His heart lodged up in his throat. The emotion shining in her eyes matched what had been building inside him and solidified last night when she loved him through the darkness.
“I’ve had a thing for you since the summer we visited when I was fifteen, but these past few weeks, getting to know you, and last night…” Her cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head with a sheepish, almost shy smile. She squeezed his hands and looked up again. “I’ve always done what is expected of me. What my dad wants. But now it’s about what I want, and that’s to stay here and do the horse rescue with you.”
He closed his eyes as one second of pure joy was swallowed up by black misery.
Years from now, when she realizes what she gave up, she will blame you.
He could not be the one to steal her dream.
Reyes pulled his hands from hers and stepped back. “You’re reading too much into last night,” he said gruffly.
A tiny frown marred her brow. She stared long enough to make him squirm, then shook her head with defiant bravado. “I don’t believe you didn’t feel our connection. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t feel anything last night. Right now. I dare you.”
She could dare all she wanted. He wasn’t a Diamond.
He forced a shrug. “It was good, of course, but it was never going to be more than the one night.” No matter how much he wanted it to be.
Her expression fell. “How can you say that?”