“Hmph.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I may not be world-traveled, but I know when I’m getting the brush off.”
She leans forward and places a hand on my arm. “That’s not it.”
“What is it then?”
“Everything in New York is go, go, go. Everyone is biting off more than they can chew.”
“That’s the best you can come up with?” I’m almost insulted by her dismissive response.
“Rhett––”
I lift a hand. “Let me guess. They’re envisioning a carbon copy of Stefano, minus the douche bag factor and the skankyCardi baby mama, for their only daughter.” Irritation fires inside of me. “I don’t have a family business to latch onto. Heck, I don’t even have a family. And I sure as hell don’t have a shiny degree from an Ivy League school. I’m just a simple country boy. No trust funds. No suit-worthy career. No fancy wheels. No multimillion-dollar penthouse in Uptown Manhattan––”
“Upper Manhattan or just Uptown.”
“I can’t even get that right.” I rake my hand through my hair, tugging on the strands. “How the hell am I supposed to ever be able to afford a home there?”
“I didn’t mean to––”
“I work with horses because I had to walk away from my dream career. I don’t measure up? Is that it? Did I get it right?”
She closes her eyes. “It’s just dinner, Rhett.” The words come out strained.
I release a frustrated sigh. “No, Carina. It’s everything.”
Chapter 26
Carina
Rhett stormed out of the hotel suite three hours ago. Since then, I’ve been blowing up his phone, but he refuses to answer.
Fuck.
The flash of hurt shining bright in his eyes as realization set in nearly killed me.
How do you tell the guy you’re crazy about, your family wants nothing to do with him?
Mom’s words were so shocking, I didn’t know how to respond. I guess I wasn’t prepared. I expected them to grill Rhett at the dinner table, but I never suspected they’d shut the door in his face without even giving him a chance. Just because he isn’t their idea of the type of man they had envisioned for me, doesn’t mean he isn’t the right one.
I drag myself out of the bathroom draped in the same white terrycloth bathrobe I’ve been wearing since I got back to the hotel. I’m disheartened.
Everything between Rhett and me was going so well, and now things are on shaky ground.
Fuck my life.
I’m about to head to the wardrobe to pull out some clothing to wear when I hear the door open and then close.
“Rhett?” I rush out of the bedroom. “You’re back.”
He shoves his hands inside the pocket of his jeans.
I take several steps forward. “I was worried sick.”
Still no answer.
“I’m sorry my parents put up a wall like this. They don’t even know you,” I say. “If they did, they’d know why I like you so much.”
Rhett presses his lips together as he scans my face, reaching out to smooth the hair from my forehead. “You like me?”
