She was humiliated. She was angry. But more than any thing, she was destroyed. Twice she’d allowed him to manipulate her and to make her love him. Worse, she’d fallen even deeper in love the second time around. She’d been ready to capitulate and give him what he’d wanted all along. What he didn’t even need from her because he had no intention of ever honoring his promise to her.
She was twice a fool for believing him and for not being smart enough to get the agreement in writing.
She was an even bigger fool for loving him.
A tear slid down her cheek and she hastily wiped it away but to her dismay another fell in its place.
“I’m sorry, Bryony. You didn’t deserve this,” Ryan said quietly. “Rafael is my friend, but he went too far. I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of this deal.”
She wiped away more tears and bowed her head. “I’m sorry, too. I wanted so much for it all to be real even when my head knew that something wasn’t right. I should have never come to New York to confront him. I should have trusted my first instinct. He used me to get what he wanted. I knew that and I couldn’t leave it alone. If I had just stayed home, I’d be over it by now and I would have never gotten involved with him a second time.”
“Would you be over it?” Ryan asked gently.
“I don’t know. Maybe… I definitely wouldn’t be sitting here crying my eyes out, thousands of miles from home.”
“True,” Ryan conceded. He checked his watch and grimaced. “We should get you to security. Your flight leaves soon.” His phone rang, and he looked down then frowned. He hesitated a moment and then punched a button to silence the ring. Then he looked back up. “You ready?”
She nodded. “Thank you, Ryan. Really. You didn’t have to be this nice. I appreciate it.”
Ryan smiled as he took her arm and they began the walk toward the security line. When they reached the end, she turned and blew out a deep breath. “Okay, well, this is it.”
Ryan touched her cheek and then to her surprise pulled her into his arms for a tight hug.
“You take care of yourself and that baby,” he said gruffly.
She pulled away and smiled up at him. “Thanks.”
Squaring her shoulders, she eased into the security line. In a few hours she’d be back home.
Twenty-Two
Rafael dragged himself into the shower, washed the remnants of his alcohol binge from his fuzzy brain and proceeded to punish himself with fifteen minutes of ice-cold water. He’d been trying to call Ryan to find out where the hell Bryony was, but Ryan wasn’t answering. He had to get his act together and prepare to plead his case to her. This was the most important deal of his life. Not the resort. Not the potential merger with Copeland Hotels. Not his partnership with his friends.
Bryony and their child were more important than any of that. He was furious that he could have been such a cold, calculating bastard with her before. But if she’d listen to him, if she’d just give him another chance, he’d prove to her that nothing in this world was more important to him than her.
By the time he got out, his mind was clear, he was freezing his ass off and he had only one clear purpose. Get Bryony back.
He dressed and strode into the living room, surprised to see Devon and Cam both sprawled in the armchairs.
“You two look like hell,” he commented on his way to the kitchen.
Cam snorted. “You’re one to talk, alcohol boy. When was the last time you went on a bender like that? Weren’t we in college? Hasn’t anyone told you we’re too old for stuff like that now? It’s a good way to poison yourself.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Rafael muttered.
“So what’s the plan?” Devon drawled.
“I’ve got to get her back,” Rafael said. “Screw the deal. Screw the resort. This is my life. The woman I love. My child. I can’t give them up over some ridiculous development deal.”
“You’re serious,” Cam said.
“Of course I’m serious,” Rafael snarled. “I’m not the same bastard who would do anything at all to close a deal. I don’t want to be that man any longer. I don’t know how you stood him for as long as you did.”
Cam grinned. “Well, okay then. Don’t get pissy about it.”
“Have either of you heard from Ryan? I sent him after her, but the son of a bitch won’t answer his phone.”
Devon shook his head. “I’ll try him. Maybe he’s just not answering your calls.”
Like that was supposed to make Rafael feel any better. But at this point, he didn’t care how he had to get to Bryony. Just as long as he did.
Just as Devon put the phone to his ear, the elevator doors chimed and Rafael jerked around, holding his breath that by some miracle Bryony had come back. He let it all out when he saw Ryan stride in.
Rafael strode forward to meet him. “Where the hell is Bryony? I’ve been calling you for the last couple of hours. Where have you been?”
Ryan glared back. There was condemnation in his eyes. And anger. “I just spent the past couple of hours listening to Bryony cry because you broke her heart. I hope to hell you’re happy now that you’ve destroyed the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Whoa, back off,” Devon said as he stood. “This isn’t any of our business, Ryan. He’s already beaten himself up enough without you piling on.”
“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to listen to her cry.”
“Where is she?” Rafael demanded when he found his voice. The image of Bryony crying sent staggering pain through his chest. “I need to see her, Ryan. Where did you take her?”
“To the airport.”
Rafael’s heart dropped. “The airport? Has she already left? Do I have time to catch her?”
Ryan shook his head. “She’s probably already in the air.”
Rafael cursed. Then he turned and slammed his fist into the wall. He leaned his forehead against the cabinet and fought the rage that billowed inside him.
When he looked up, an odd sort of peace settled over him. He looked at his friends—his business partners—and knew that this could very well be the end of their relationship.
“I have to go after her,” he said.
Devon nodded. “Yeah, you do.”
“I’m canceling the deal. I’m pulling the plug. I don’t give a damn how much it costs me or if it costs me everything. It already has. I’m going to give back that damn land. Bryony will never believe that I love her as long as it stands between us. I have to get rid of it and make it a nonissue.”
Slowly Cam nodded. “I agree. It’s the only way you’re going to get her to believe that you love her now.”
To his surprise, all three of his friends nodded their agreement.
“You’re not pissed? We had a lot riding on this.”
“How about you let us deal with the resort plans,” Devon said. “You go after your woman. Settle down. Have babies. Be nauseatingly happy. I’m going to see what I can do to salvage the resort proposal. Maybe we can find another location.”
“I’m not even going to ask,” Rafael said. “Tell me about it later. I owe you. I owe you big.”
“Yeah, well, don’t think I won’t collect. Later. After you’ve kissed and made up with Bryony,” Devon said with a grin.
“Need a ride to the airport?” Ryan asked. “My driver’s still outside. I told him I wouldn’t be long.”
“Yeah. Just let me get my wallet.”
“Not going to pack a bag?” Cam asked.
“Hell, no. Bryony can buy me more jeans and flip-flops when I get down there.”
“After she kicks your ass you mean?” Devon asked.
“I’ll let her do whatever she wants just as long as she takes me back,” Rafael said.
“Good God,” Cam said in disgust. “Could you sound any more pathetic?”
Devon laughed and slapped Cam on the back. “Apparently that’s what falling in love does to a guy. Take my advice. Marry for money and connections, like I am.
”
“I think the best idea is to never marry,” Cam pointed out. “Less expensive that way. No costly divorces.”
Rafael shook his head. “And you all called me the bastard. Come on, Ryan. I’ve got a plane to catch.”
“Bryony!”
Bryony turned to see her grandmother waving to her from her deck. Silas stood beside her, watching as Bryony stood close to the water’s edge.
She’d been there for a couple of hours, just watching the water, alone with her thoughts. She knew her grandmother and Silas were both worried. She’d given them an abbreviated version of everything that had happened. No sense in them knowing the extent of Bryony’s stupidity.
They knew enough that Rafael had made a fool of her and would develop the land, but then Bryony had been prepared to give up that fight. So the outcome would be the same, only Bryony wouldn’t have the man she loved.
Bryony waved but turned back to the water, not ready to deal with them yet. Mamaw and Silas had both fussed over her ever since she’d gotten back home. She was exhausted and what she really wanted was to go to sleep for about twenty-four hours, but every time she closed her eyes, she heard Rafael’s words. They wouldn’t go away, she couldn’t make herself stop hearing them no matter how hard she tried.
And she was damn tired of crying. Her head ached so badly from all the tears she’d shed that it was ready to explode.
Her cell phone rang in her pocket and she picked it up, just as she’d done the other twenty times that Rafael had tried to call her. She hit the ignore button and a few seconds later, heard the ding signaling that she had a voice mail. One of the many he’d left her.
What else was there left for him to say? He was sorry? He hadn’t meant to deceive her? Was she supposed to forgive him just because he forgot what a jerk he had been? How could she be sure he hadn’t made it all up just to get her to shut up and not make noises that would scare off his precious investors?
If he kept her quiet enough for long enough then the deal would be sealed.
She didn’t like how cynical she’d grown. It would never occur to her before that anyone would be so devious, but Rafael had taught her a lot about the world of business and the lengths that some people would go for money.
She hoped he made a ton off his precious resort and she hoped it kept him warm at night. She hoped it made up for all the sweet baby kisses he’d miss.
The thought depressed her. Money was just paper. But a child was something so very precious. Love was precious. And she’d offered it to Rafael freely and without reservation.
She felt like the worst sort of naive fool.
Finally her feet got cold enough from the surf that she could no longer feel her toes, so she turned to trudge back up to her grandmother’s deck. She’d say her goodbyes, assure Mamaw that she’d be just fine and then she’d go home and hopefully sleep for the next day.