Enticed by His Forgotten Lover (Pregnancy & Passion #1)(48)

Her shoulders sagged and she wiped a shaking hand through her hair. “I’m just going to cry all over you.”

His smile was brief but he turned her and motioned to a distant car. “You can cry all you want to. From what I heard, you’re entitled.”

“You can go now,” Bryony said in a low voice, as Ryan hoisted her only bag onto the scale at the airline check-in desk.

“You’ve got a little time. Let’s go get something to eat. You’re pale and you’re shaking still.”

“I don’t think I can.” She placed her hand on her stomach and tried to will the queasiness away.

“Then a drink. Some juice. I’ll make sure you get back to security in enough time to catch your flight.”

She sighed her acceptance. It was much easier to just cede to Ryan’s determination, though for the life of her she couldn’t figure it out. In a few moments he had her seated at a little round table outside a tiny bistro, a tall glass of orange juice in front of her.

Her eyes watered as she stared sightlessly at it. Her fingers trembled as she touched the cool surface.

“Ah, hell, you aren’t going to cry again, are you?”

She sucked in steadying breaths. “I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but kind. You don’t deserve to have me fall apart all over you.”

“It’s okay. I understand how you feel.”

“Oh?” she asked in a shaky voice. “You said you knew what it felt like. Who screwed you over?”

“The woman I was supposed to marry.”

She winced. “Ouch. Yeah, it sucks, doesn’t it? At least Rafael never promised to marry me. He certainly hinted about it but he never went that far in his deception. So what happened?”

Ryan’s mouth twisted and for a moment, Bryony thought he’d say nothing.

“She slept with my brother just weeks after we became engaged.”

“That’ll do it,” she said wearily. “I’m sorry that happened to you. Sucks when people you put all your faith into gut you in return.”

“That about sums up my feelings on the subject,” Ryan said with an amused chuckle.

She drained the juice and set the glass back down on the table.

“Let me get you something to eat. Can you keep it down now?”

Ryan’s concern was endearing and she offered a halfhearted smile. “Thanks. I don’t feel hungry, but you’re right. I should probably eat.”

He got up and a few minutes later returned with a selection of deli sandwiches and another glass of orange juice. As soon as she took the first bite, she realized just how hungry she was.

Ryan studied her for a long moment, sympathy bright in his eyes. “What will you do now?”

She paused midchew and then continued before swallowing. She took a sip of the juice and then set the glass back down.

“Go home. Have a baby. Try to forget. Move on with my life. I have my grandmother and the people on the island. I’ll be fine.”

“I wonder if that’s what Kelly did,” he mused aloud. “Went on with her life.”

“Is that her name? Kelly? Your ex-fiancée?”

He nodded.

“So she didn’t hang around? With your brother I mean? I suppose that would be awkward at family get-togethers.”

“No, she didn’t hang around. I have no idea where she went.”

“Probably just as well. If she was the kind of person who’d sleep with the brother of the man she’s going to marry, she isn’t worth your idle curiosity.”

“Maybe,” he said quietly.

Silence fell and Bryony picked at her food, getting down what she could. She kept hearing Rafael’s damning words over and over in her head. No matter what she did, she couldn’t turn it off, couldn’t make it go away.

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?”