AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rick’s eyes darkened as he looked at her with confusion. His slow breathing warned her he was keeping himself calm and controlled—perhaps because he could see she was on the edge of falling off the cliff.
“You’ve been very reserved all morning. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“By invading my private space?” She surreptitiously glanced around the room, irritated to notice they were still the center of attention. “In full view of everyone?”
“I guess I must’ve mistaken the past week of touching and kissing each other wherever we went,” he growled in a low voice.
“Never in public.” She pointed between them. “What we did was private. It’s no one’s business but ours, and I most definitely don’t appreciate you deciding it was okay to change that.”
“I see.” He watched her pensively. “So, it’s okay for us to kiss, hug, for me to spank you until you scream and beg me to fuck you… as long as no one else knows we’re intimate? Is that about it?”
“Exactly like that.” Clarissa’s heart was cracking, but she stood resolute.
This incident offered her the perfect opportunity to end the mistake she was heading toward—falling in love with Rick Butler. She rubbed her brow and smiled sadly. Breaking up was never easy. She just never had to do it with someone who had so quickly come to mean too much to her.
“Look, I’m sorry. This happened too fast. I’m not going to blame you or castrate you for any reason. I’m at fault. I knew nothing would come from being with you. I’m not relationship material, Rick.”
“Maybe it’s because you haven’t met the right man.”
She shook her head sadly. “No, it’s because I haven’t looked for the right man… or any man for that matter. I’m not the marrying kind of girl. I’m sorry, but it’s better you realize it now. I’m a career girl. I told you that. I have no interest in love and happily ever after.”
“Everyone deserves to be loved, Clarissa, and to find happiness with someone.”
“Everyone but me. It’s over, Rick. I’ll be leaving the day after Christmas for Paris. I received the most amazing offer this morning. I’ll be gone for two years, and—”
“I’ll wait.”
Clarissa wanted to believe him with all her heart. For the first time ever, she wished she was more like Cathy. That she, too, wanted nothing more than love, a happy marriage, and children.
“I don’t want you to wait, Rick. After the two years, there will be something else I’ll be chasing. I’m never going to stop. It’s who I am. No husband or pitter-patter of little feet is going to put a ripple in my long-term plan. Love at the end of the rainbow doesn’t interest me. It never has, and it never will.” She watched the light die in his eyes. Swallowing hard to keep the tears at bay, she felt her soul shatter. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said gruffly. “You know the saying. You win some, you lose some. This time, I lost… forever. I guess it’s time I accepted my fate.”
“What fate? Rick, just because I can’t love you doesn’t mean that—”
“You better check those cookies in the oven. They’re about to burn.” With those words floating over his shoulder, he walked out of the kitchen.
“Damn it!” Clarissa cursed, unaware of the tears marking a silvery trail over her cheeks.
Chapter Ten
Christmas Eve—D-Day…
“Open this door, Clarissa Stone. I know you’re in here!”
When the insistent knocking on the hotel room door turned to banging, Clarissa knew ignoring it wouldn’t help. Not when it came to her sister.
“Go away,” she mumbled as she pressed her face into the pillow. “Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she snapped as the banging was accompanied by kicking.
“So, help me, if you don’t open this door, I’m going to—” Cathy stumbled into the room as Clarissa yanked the door open. “Well, it’s about time. Oh, my lord, just look at you. No, no, no, this just won’t do. Go and wash your face. I’ll get your clothes ready. I’m taking you to lunch.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am, and so is the little peanut inside me, so snap to it, Missy.” When Clarissa didn’t move, Cathy spun her around and marched her toward the bathroom, surprising her with how strong she was. “Then we’re going shopping. There is a plethora of little shops only open at this time of the year that you haven’t explored yet. C’mon, Sis. Hurry up.”
“You are so bossy,” Clarissa protested but knew it was useless to try to change her mind.
“It’s Christmas Eve. No one is allowed to mope. Well, you have reason to since you broke that wonderful man’s heart, but that’s water under the bridge. We move on, right?”
