Page 89 of Auctioned To Be Mine

“Jeff Connors backed out,” she said.

That was exactly what I didn’t want to hear. That made my apology pretty weak.

“He called Betty this afternoon. Said he didn’t feel comfortable moving forward after what happened.” Her jaw was tight. “He also apparently felt the need to tell her that I had conducted myself unprofessionally by bringing my boyfriend to a business meeting.”

I let out a long breath. “I’m sorry.”

“She’s my friend, Callum. She’s the person who gave me a chance when I had nothing. She trusts me to represent this organization and now she has to think about whether that’s still a good idea. Because of what happened today, I’m a liability. I’m costing her donors. That doesn’t just affect her. It hurts the people were trying to help.”

She was right. I felt about two inches tall.

“I’ll sponsor the event,” I blurted out. “Whatever Connors was going to give, I’ll match it. More than match it. I’ll write a check today if that’s what it takes.”

She didn’t move from the doorway. I was not getting invited in. “No,” she said. “Don’t do that.”

“I want to make this right.”

“You can’t make this right with a check.” She crossed her arms and looked at me with disappointment. That was worse than her anger. “That’s what my parents used to do. Every time they broke something, every time someone got hurt, every time my father did something my mother didn’t like or vice versa, they wrote a check or they bought something. Problem solved. Next issue.” She shook her head slowly. “I watched them do it my entire childhood and I swore I would never live like that.”

I hated that as well. I tried not to do it, but it was hard not to when there was a problem I could fix with a check.

“You’re right,” I said. “That’s not the answer.”

One of her neighbors stepped out, looked at me, and then recognition dawned on their face.

“Come in,” Victoria said begrudgingly.

It wasn’t an invitation as much as her controlling the situation. Preventing more eavesdropping. More rumors. She closed the door behind me and didn’t sit down. She just stood in the middle of the small living room with her arms crossed and looked at me like she was trying to figure out what to do with me.

“I might get fired,” she said.

“Betty wouldn’t do that.”

“You don’t know that. Betty runs a nonprofit on donations and goodwill and I have now cost her two significant donors in a very short period of time.” She took a deep breath. “Jack Montana was an accident. An unintended consequence. But today was different.” She pressed her fingers against her temple. “You humiliated me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I walked in there and I set the terms of that meeting before we even ordered. I had him.” I saw the sadness in her eyes. “I had him, Callum. I was proud of myself. I sat across from a man who makes my skin crawl and I handled it professionally. Confidently. Without anyone’s help.”

I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say to that.

“And then you went all feral. I was a woman whose boyfriend had to come make sure she was okay.” She pressed her lips together. “Do you understand how that feels? To have something taken away from you that you earned? That you fought for?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Not for being there. I can’t be sorry for that, but I’m sorry for what it cost you.” I ran a hand through my hair. “The idea of you sitting across from him and being uncomfortable drove me crazy. Logic goes out the window when it comes to you. I don’t know how else to explain it. It’s not an excuse. It’s just the truth.”

She exhaled slowly and unfolded her arms. She looked tired. “I grew up in a house where love looked a lot like control. My father decided what was good for my mother. My mother decided what was appropriate for me. Everyone was always making decisions on everyone else’s behalf because they knew best.” She sat down on the couch and looked up at me. “I spent my life in that world. And when I finally left, I had to learn how to trust my own instincts. I need you to understand that what you did today wasn’t just inconvenient. It brought back up old feelings. I don’t know what to do with that.”

I sat down across from her so I could be at her level. I wanted to reach for her hand, but I didn’t.

“What do you need?” I asked. “What can I do? I’m sorry. I know you don’t want me to write a check, but it’s not me fixing a problem. It’s me helping. I want to do it.”

She looked at the floor for a moment. “I think I need some time,” she said. “I’m not ending things. I’m not saying that. But I have a lot to think about and I can’t think clearly when you’re around. That’s not your fault. That’s just how it is. I need a few days.”

A few days. I didn’t know if few meant three or five. I had never been in a position where I had to wait and wonder and do nothing. And I had become so used to her being around. I needed her. I had no idea how to function without her.

With no other choice, I stood up. “Okay.”

She looked up at me and once again I had to fight the urge to reach for her.