Irresistible (Cloverleigh Farms #1)(70)

*



Somehow I made it through most of the reception, but just after nine I told Woods that I had to get going. I made up a story about one of the kids not feeling well, but I think he knew it was bullshit. He didn’t say anything, though, just gave me a hug and said he’d give me a call once he and Stella were back from their honeymoon. I congratulated them both, kissed Stella on the cheek, and left.

I knew what Frannie meant when she’d said she envied them. I did too.

My coat was in my office back at the inn, so I walked across the path and went to retrieve it. While I was there, I dropped into my chair and sat there for a moment, feeling dejected and empty. It didn’t seem possible that just a few days before, I’d had Frannie right here on this desk, not a care in the world beyond making her feel amazing. And now look what I’d done.

I should have known better.

Squeezing my eyes shut against the image of her and everything good she brought to my life, I jumped up from my chair, threw my coat over my arm, and took off.

At home, I undressed in the bathroom and crawled into Millie’s bottom bunk, where I’d been sleeping since my parents arrived. But there was no way I could sleep tonight. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those tears running down her cheeks in the dark. I heard her voice telling me she loved me. I felt the unbearable burden of knowing that I’d broken her heart.

I hoped she’d forgive me someday.





Frannie





I kept my head down as I hurried through the barn, which hummed with the happy noise of a wedding reception—the band playing up front, the clink of silverware on glasses, the laughter and chatter of the guests. With tears continuing to fall, I blindly made my way to the back of the room and hunted for April. Spotting her over by the cake table, I headed in that direction.

“Hey,” I said, tapping her shoulder.

“Hey.” She turned and gasped. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to leave. Do you have enough help the rest of the night?”

“Of course. Are you okay?”

I shook my head and tried to choke back the sobs that threatened to erupt. “Mack broke it off.”

Another gasp. “Why?”

“He had a lot of reasons, but I don’t really want to talk about it right now.”

“Okay. I understand.” She gave me a hug. “Go cry it out. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Thanks. Make an excuse to Mom and Dad for me, okay?”

“Sure. I’m really sorry, Frannie. I know how you feel about him.”

I couldn’t even talk anymore, so I just nodded and walked away, my chest aching and my throat tight. After grabbing my coat from the back office, I stuck my hands in my pockets and walked along the pathway from the barn to the inn, crying openly.

When I’d gotten dressed tonight, I’d been so excited. So hopeful. So happy.

How had everything gone so wrong so fast?





*



The next morning, I woke up to the sound of knocking on my apartment door. I reached for my phone to check the time. To my surprise, it was after ten already. I never slept this late, but then again, I’d barely slept at all.

Dragging myself out of bed, I wrapped my bathrobe around me and stumbled for the door.

“Yes?” I croaked before opening it. My voice was hoarse from crying and my eyes still stung.

“Hey, sweetie. You okay?” The voice was Chloe’s.

I opened the door and saw her standing there with two cardboard coffee cups in her hands. “I take it April told you what happened with Mack.”

“Yes, but only me. Mom and Dad think you weren’t feeling well, which freaked Mom out, of course, but then I told her it was just cramps.”

“Thanks. Come on in.”

“You look terrible,” she said, kicking the door shut.

“I feel worse,” I assured her, heading for the couch. I flopped onto it and curled into a ball, wrapping my furry blanket around me.

“So do you want to talk about it?” She sat next to me and set one cup on the table. “That’s for you.”

“What’s to talk about?” I set my chin on my knees. “He doesn’t want me.”

“No. I don’t buy it. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, I’ve heard the way he talks about you. The guy adores you.”

“Not enough,” I said, feeling my throat get tight again. “He said things were moving too fast and it was making him feel bad. He hated all the sneaking around, but he didn’t want to tell the kids.”

“I don’t get that.” Chloe frowned and shook her head. “I could see if you were some strange woman he met at a bar somewhere that he wouldn’t want to bring you around his kids too soon. But he’s known you for years. He’s known this family forever. And his kids already love you.”

“I think that’s part of the problem.” I took a shuddery breath. “He’s afraid they’re too attached to me.”

“How is that a problem?”

“It wouldn’t be if we wanted the same things in the future. But he claims he’s never getting married again and doesn’t want more kids.”

“Are you okay with that?”