Always(Time for Love Book 4)(47)

“I admit I was wrong for keeping the engagement—the fake engagement—from you,” she continued. “I’m so sorry about that. But it hurts me so badly that you could even think I was lying when I said I loved you. And how could I be having amazing, incredible sex with you and be engaged to another man? How could you even think that of me? I thought you knew me better than that.” Tears flowed profusely down Brenna’s cheeks.

“Are you saying you and Darren never got back together?” he asked in a daze, his own eyes smarting.

“No! How could I do that, when I love you!” she cried, wiping her face with angry strokes. “Anyway, that’s all I want to say.”

Brenna turned around and left in a huff, leaving him to gape at her in disbelief.

She wasn’t engaged to Darren! And she loved him!

“Bren!” he called, rising from his chair so fast he almost stumbled. He caught up with her by the lifts.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I don’t have any excuse except that it drives me crazy thinking you and Darren are always together, holding hands, perhaps even kissing and... I’ve obviously lost my mind.”

“Obviously,” she muttered, not looking at him.

“For the record, it never occurred to me that you were sleeping with the both of us at the same time. I know you're not like that. What I thought was you were preparing to break up with me.”

The elevator doors opened, and out came a pretty woman wearing a low-cut top.

“Dr. Payne. Hi! I’m ready for my surgery,” the woman said, smiling at Ash and batting her lashes.

Ash mentally rolled his eyes. Just when he was having an important conversation with Brenna, his most flirtatious patient turned up five minutes early. “Thanks, Vivian. Go on in. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

With a sultry smile, Vivian sashayed to the clinic.

“What’s wrong with her?” Brenna asked after Vivian had gone inside. She crossed her arms and glared at the clinic’s front door.

He smiled at the little snark in Brenna’s voice. It made him feel good that she got jealous. “She’s having laser eye surgery today.”

“Well, I suppose you have to attend to her now.”

“Can I see you tonight?”

“No. My parents are back from Africa and I’m spending some time with them.”

“Oh, okay.” He wanted to ask if he could join them, but Brenna hadn’t seen her parents in a long time and she’d probably prefer to be alone with them. “Tomorrow night?”

She shook her head. “I’m with the girls.”

“Friday night?”

“I’m co-managing an expo that will be running from Friday to Sunday. I’ve agreed to do the night shift. It doesn’t close until ten each night. And I have things to do Saturday and Sunday days.”

His heart sank. “When can we talk?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, staring straight at the lift doors, waiting for them to open again.

“Are you too mad to want to talk to me?” he asked, hazarding a guess.

Brenna sniffed. “Partly. But I didn’t deliberately fill up my schedule just so I wouldn’t have to talk to you. I planned those after I tried and tried to contact you but you wouldn’t even return my calls.”

His heart pinched, guilt and regret poking him. He put his arms around her and kissed her hair. But Brenna kept her arms crossed, her stance stiff. He’d hurt her. Badly. And he had a lot of making up to do for his stupidity.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he said again, vowing to make it up to her even if it took forever.

“You have to go back in,” she said.

“Yes. I do. I’ll see you soon, okay? There’s so much we need to talk about.”

Brenna gave a very small nod, but it was more than enough to make the pieces of his heart start to glue themselves back together.

*****

Ash looked around in confusion at the lack of cars parked on the street near Patty’s house. He couldn’t spot any that he recognised, so he knew none of the gang had arrived.

Well, he had gotten there ten minutes early. He’d given himself plenty of time in case the traffic was bad. He didn’t want to be late.

He walked the path leading towards Patty’s front door, carrying a bunch of flowers and a gift for the ‘engaged’ couple. He wondered how Brenna would react when she found him there today. He hoped she’d take it for what it was—a gesture to show her that he did trust her.

After everything that had happened, he wanted to let Brenna know that he completely supported her decision to pretend with Darren for Patty’s sake. He’d realised he’d let his past hurt and fear dictate his actions, causing untold damage to their relationship. In his heart, he knew Brenna was only trying her best to do the right thing for everyone. He hated that he had been quick to put his walls back up, when the heart he was trying to protect within was lost without her anyway. Crazy overreaction, like Amanda had said.

He’d do anything—anything—to fix what he’d broken. He’d even smile and clap if Brenna and Darren kissed and cuddled in front of him today.

He rang the bell, palms sweaty with nerves.

A lady opened the door and stared at him in surprise. “Can I help you?”