Page 93 of Trap ’N’ Trace

Then slowly, her heart cracked into tiny little pieces.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dayne hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

Who was he kidding? Of course he had. Although he wished to hell he hadn’t. Every one of his senses was numb—no, make that mashed to a pulp—as if he’d been run over by a truck.

Colin was a prick, but he was also a shrewd attorney. The bastard had made his case and won. Kat hadn’t caved. Dayne had.

“Didn’t you hear what I said to Colin?” she cried.

The stark anguish on her face about killed him. “I did.” Every word had been a knife slice to his guts. She’d stuck up for him, and he couldn’t have been prouder. But he’d also heard the doubt in her voice. Doubt she had every right to feel.

She touched his arm, and his blood sizzled with need and so many emotions he couldn’t name. But he had to let her go.

“I don’t understand what’s happening here.” Her brow furrowed. “Are you angry with me?”

“No. I’m not.” It was all he could do not to take her in his arms, but that would only put off the inevitable.

She cupped his face and he turned into it, loving the softness of her fingers on his cheek and knowing he would never feel her touch again after today. “Colin was wrong. So we have a lot to work through. We can do it. I know we can.”

Gently, he tugged her hand away, wishing she were right. Knowing now that it wasn’t possible. “I know you think so, but it’s too much to ask. We are too different. We could never make it work.” He’d been crazy and selfish to think otherwise. It was just that he wanted her so badly. Wanted to be part of her life.

She planted her fists on her hips. “How can you believe anything Colin said? You heard how he tried to manipulate me. Don’t let him manipulate you.”

Dayne shook his head, feeling more miserable than he’d ever felt in his life. “He made valid points. I don’t know how I feel about never being able to buy you anything because you already have everything money can buy.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t have you! You’re all I want.” Her eyes clouded with so much despair, he nearly fell to his knees. “Don’t do this.”

“I have to.” The pain and hurt on her face were killing him faster than any bullet could. “We’d only wind up hurting each other. I don’t fit in here. It’s better to end it now.” Before he lost more of his heart to her.

“You fit in just fine last night,” she insisted.

He had, but it didn’t change a thing. “You shouldn’t have to defend my honor or explain anything on my behalf, and I don’t want you to. The price is too high.”

“What does that mean?” she cried.

“It means there will always be someone out there accusing me of being a thief or a gold digger. Of only wanting your money and of being nothing more than your ‘pet.’”

“I don’t care about that.” A single tear trickled down her cheek.

There was only one thing he could give her. Her freedom.

“It’s not about living in your shadow,” he continued, barely able to get the words past the enormous lump in his throat. “It’s about us being able to just be us, and that’s something that can never happen. You’re the most generous, kind, and compassionate person I’ve ever met. I was being selfish. All I’ve done is turn your orderly world upside down. Today’s headlines are proof of that.”

With an angry swipe, she flicked that lone tear away and gritted her teeth. “I don’t care about the headlines. I never did.”

“You should. The kind of publicity you got last night could damage your reputation and every business dealing you have. I don’t want to be responsible for that. I can’t go through that again.” The last time he had, his family had nearly lost everything. He couldn’t allow that to happen to Kat.

Her mouth fell open and she took a step back. “That’s what this is about. Not me. You. You have so many insecurities and fears about your past. About what Crystal did to you and your family and that woman who wouldn’t marry you because you weren’t going to be a rich doctor. That’s why you’re so easily swayed by Colin. You’re afraid it will happen again and you’re afraid to give us a chance.”

Remy and Angus padded into the foyer, their heads hung low.

Some of what Kat said was true. Hell, all of it. Christ, he hadn’t meant for things to come to this but they had, and now he had to reap what he’d sown. What they’d both sown.

“I’m sorry, Kat. One day you’ll see this is for the best.” So why did it feel like his entire world was imploding?

Her eyes went wide with a mixture of shock and outrage. “That’s bullshit. How can you end this so easily? Don’t you feel anything for me?”