Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(81)

She squared her shoulders, decided there was no avoiding a confrontation, and scooped up a kitten. The heat of embarrassment reddened her face until she realized she had nothing to be embarrassed about. She wasn't entirely blameless, but Will was the one who'd lied.

"Hello, Grace." His greeting was as soft as a caress.

"Hello, Will." It demanded all her strength to keep her voice even and unemotional.

Grace knew his presence would make her uncomfortable at the wedding unless they cleared the air. She suddenly wondered if Will had sought her out because he wanted to apologize. Like her, he understood that they'd both be at Charlotte and Ben's wedding. They'd have to make peace— even a superficial peace—or the whole event would be too awkward, not just for themselves but their families and friends.

Grace needed to let him know two things: that she was willing to put the matter behind them and that she wanted nothing more to do with him. For Charlotte and Ben's sake, she'd be civil.

"You look wonderful," Will said smoothly.

A sick sensation hit her directly in the stomach. She held the kitten draped over her arm and close to her side, as if for protection. "Olivia told me you were coming for the wedding."

"Yeah, I figured she would." He slid his hands in his pockets and struck a casual pose. "I'll be here for several days." He let that information fall, apparently expecting a response. "I hoped we could get together."

"Get together?" She couldn't have heard him correctly. He couldn't possibly be suggesting they see each other socially.

"Mom and I are going to dinner tonight, but I'm free on Sunday."

"You're asking me to have dinner with you?" The man's audacity was unbelievable. "You can't be serious, Will. You lied to me!"

"You're right, that was unfair, but I've always been fond of you, Grace. I'm here—"

"Where's Georgia?"

He didn't even blink at the mention of his wife. "Home. We each have our own lives."

"I'll bet you do." Grace couldn't disguise her sarcasm. She wondered if Georgia knew she was supposed to have her own life. And how about their cruise? Did they have separate lives there—and separate rooms? Not that any of it mattered.

"I arranged my flight to come in early so you and I could talk. Do you realize what you did? You didn't give me a single chance to explain. You cut me off without listening to a word I had to say."

"Are you or are you not married?"

He sighed heavily. "Married, but this is important, Grace, for both of us."

She shook her head. "I don't have anything to say to you, other than that I don't care to see you or speak to you ever again."

He frowned as if saddened by her lack of understanding. "We both know you don't mean that. You can't mean it after everything we've been to each other." He took a step closer. "I've missed you, Grace. These last few months have been hell without you. Don't you feel that, too?"

She was careful not to answer him. "I'm grateful for the lessons you taught me," she said instead.

He nodded impatiently.

"The thing is, I came so close to—"

"You love me, Grace," he interrupted. "You did when you were in high school and you do now."

"I was a teenager then and I'm a woman now. I'm glad to say I occasionally learn from my mistakes."

"We're not a mistake," he said urgently. "Don't you see that what we had was special?"

He was good; she'd give him that. "What we had was a very big mistake. If you arrived early for the wedding because you wanted to see me, then I'm afraid you're in for a major disappointment. If I never see you again, I'll be a happy woman."

He shook his head firmly. "You can't mean that," he said with the same intensity as before.

"I mean every word. Now please... please leave me alone."

He frowned and turned away, but took only a few steps before he turned back. "I'm staying with my mother, so if you change your mind..."

"I'm not going to. Please don't contact me again."

He smiled—a smile obviously calculated to melt her stony heart. "I refuse to believe you're serious. Okay, you have a right to be angry, but I can't divorce Georgia. It would devastate her. But if that's the only way I can have you, then—"

Grace raised her hand to stop him. She'd heard enough, more than enough. "Go. Just go."

He frowned again, like a petulant child, but finally left. All of a sudden Grace started to shake. Her knees felt like they were about to give way and she sank into the folding chair in the animal shelter booth. Gently stroking the kitten on her lap, she closed her eyes and took in several calming breaths.

"Grace."

She opened her eyes to find Cliff standing there. "Are you all right?" he asked. "You look pale."

"I'm fine," she lied. She'd hoped he'd come here today, wished for just this moment, but not immediately after a confrontation with Will.

"No, you're not fine," he said bluntly. "That was Will Jefferson, wasn't it?"

So Cliff had seen her talking to Will. Her first thought was to defend herself, to explain that she wanted nothing more to do with Olivia's brother. Instead, huge tears filled her eyes and trailed down her cheeks.