“He found me.”
“Not yet, he hasn’t.”
I can hear the assurance in his voice, telling me while he might be looking, he hasn’t located me yet. I can also hear the determination that says he won’t find me.
“I just don’t get it. How could he have found me? I have no connections here, no reason for him to even look.”
Ryder’s gaze drops to the ground. “I ran a background check.”
“On Devlin?”
“On you, before I hired you.” Hands on his hips, he looks down at the floor. “Mark and I think that’s what tipped him off.”
How had I not considered that when I applied for the job? A background check? I was supposed to steer clear of jobs that would require something that intensive.
Frustrated, I let out a groan.
“I’m sorry.” Ryder’s voice is pained.
“Oh, Ryder, this isn’t your fault.”
“Isn’t it?”
“It’s my fault… for getting involved with Devlin, for not being upfront with you.”
He looks up at me. “Why didn’t you, Ember? Why didn’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me, Ember? Don’t you know I would do anything for you?”
The hurt in his voice breaks me.
“I just wanted to forget.” I move cautiously toward him, my arms wrapping around his waist. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I need to know everything—from the beginning.”
Still stunned by his accusation, I nod.
He turns back to the window. “How did you meet?”
“In Nashville at the Rusty Nail. I was singing, and Devlin was scoping out talent. He approached me and said he wanted to make my singing dreams come true.” Tears flow freely down my cheeks as the memories and pain I had lived without since I left Nashville returned with a vengeance. “The more we worked together, the closer we became. He swept me off my feet with a whirlwind romance and made promises we would be together forever. Him, my manager, me, the rising star, and our love, stronger than anything on this planet. Like a fool, I believed him.”
Staring at Ryder’s back, I can see the muscles tense.
I hang my head, disappointed in myself for letting things with Devlin get to that point, for allowing it. Mostly, I’m disappointed with myself for hurting Ryder and not being honest from the beginning.
“When you said you left, I thought you meant you broke up with him. That’s not the case, is it? This was a planned escape?”
“I didn’t think he would ever find me. I didn’t think he would bother to look.” Huge mistake on my part. Despite knowing the man he is, I severely underestimated him.
“What else?”
“I don’t want to do this.”
“If I’m going to protect you, I need to know everything. Anything you know about him might be helpful.”
“Okay.” Taking a deep breath in, I recall every memory of Devlin, every good piece, every bad piece—every despicable piece. Ryder looks away from me several times, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat.
“What are you sorry for?” he asks, looking at me like I’m crazy. “You did nothing wrong.”