She threw her hands up in the air. “I’ll be working all the time! It might be in Barcelona if Chef Fort will still give me the job—I didn’t mention it, but it’s my best offer so far. YourSpanish is beginner level, and it’s a different kind in Barcelona anyway. Catalan is?—”
“What a wonderful chance for full immersion,” he only answered, holding up the ring box still in his hand. “You’re my forever.There’s nothing you can do to change my mind.”
So she was going to have to step away. Talking was getting her nowhere. “Then think of me.Icouldn’t live with myself if Dassault hurt you or anyone I loved. I won’t risk it. So I’m leaving. This thing between us is over. I hereby decree us best friends again. You will stay in Paris and run The Paris Roommates Group and live your life here, and that’s it.”
Turning around, she walked out of the kitchen, her vision suddenly blurring. Oh God! Not now.
Breathing shallowly, she pulled her coat out of the closet and tugged it on quickly.
She heard his determined steps following. When he reached the entryway, he swallowed thickly. “Mad, I won’t let you run away.”
“Too bad. It’s already done. I’ll let you know where to send my things. I’ll finish out at Nanine’s until you can find another chef. Tell Dean to bring Pierre by the restaurant until I’m finished, but he and Jacqueline should plan to start taking care of him permanently.”
She needed to get out of here as fast as she could and shore up her walls.
He finally put the ring box in his suit jacket. “Don’t do this, Mad. Stay. It’s late?—”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I know how to take care of myself.”
“Dammit, Mad!” He raked a hand through his hair. “I knew you were stubborn, but this is your home. I’ll understand if you want to sleep alone, but at least sleep here. Think about what I’ve said.”
If she stayed, she was afraid she wouldn’t have thestrength to leave him. Best to start moving now when it was the only way forward. Alone. “I can’t.”
His blue eyes shone way too brightly for her peace of mind. “This isn’t over. I love you too much to let you step away from me—from us—like this.”
She wanted to trace his jawline once last time. “It’ll be better in the long run, Kyle, you’ll see.”
Because if she had to choose, she could live without winning a star, but she couldn’t let Dassault ruin Kyle’s life or their friends’ lives over her.
