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“Really?” Surely he hadn’t heard her correctly. “You’re fine with ending things?”
“Yes. After all, it’s not like there was anything serious between us.” Her voice was hollow and lacked any emotion. “You made perfect sense.”
He made sense? He wasn’t sure how to take that.
Her gaze didn’t quite meet his. “And don’t feel obligated to judge the baking competition. I can make your excuses.”
“You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.” He smiled at her, but she didn’t smile back. “I’m looking forward to this.”
“I just don’t want you to do it out of obligation.”
“I’m not—”
“And I hope this won’t affect the South Shore deal.”
“Business is business. I’m expecting to hear from the board today or tomorrow.”
“Good. Now I have to go.” She turned and walked away with her head held high and her shoulders rigid.
He blew out a frustrated breath. He’d really messed things up. He stood there watching her retreating form. She’d said all of the right things and yet he didn’t believe a word of it.
He might not be in a place for a relationship, but that didn’t mean he was okay with hurting Annabelle. He felt awful for his outburst the prior evening. There had to be a way to make it up to her. He wanted to make her smile again. But how?
He thought about the problem for a moment. And then he latched on to the heritage festival. Annabelle had been so excited about it. He thought about the baking contest today. It’d be great if she won, but he didn’t know what she’d baked and he wasn’t one for cheating. If she won, it had to be on her own merits. That was the only way it would mean anything.
No, there had to be something else. He pondered it some more as he walked over to the tent to get his judging paperwork. He was almost there when the idea hit him. A little payback for Annabelle signing him up for all of these activities. He would now sign her up for an event.
* * *
Second place.
Annabelle shook hands with so many people congratulating her on her accomplishment. She knew that it was foolish and petty, but she’d been hoping to take first place. She wanted to show Grayson what he was passing up by brushing her off.
She gave herself a mental jerk. Since when did she worry so much over what a man thought about her? There had been no one else in her life who had ever affected her so greatly. It was best that he would be leaving soon. She needed to think clearly because she still had a note to decipher. She wasn’t giving up...even if Grayson would no longer be helping her.
Having spent a few hours at the festival, and with
the baking competition over, it was time she left. She didn’t want to have to force a smile on her face any longer. She needed some alone time.
With Berto following close behind, Annabelle was almost to the palace when Grayson came rushing up from behind. His sudden appearance startled her. “Grayson, whatever it is, it’ll have to wait.”
“Hey, is that how it’s going to be from now on?”
She kept walking. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. You’ve said all of the right things, but you don’t mean any of them.”
She stopped and glared at him. “Grayson, what do you want from me? You said there shouldn’t be anything between us. I said I was fine with that. And now you’re upset because I’m trying to maintain some distance between us. You can’t have it both ways.”
He frowned as he considered her words. “Would it help if I admitted that I’m confused—that you confuse me?”
“No. It wouldn’t.” She started walking again. The palace was in sight. Just a little farther.
He reached out, touching her arm. “Annabelle, don’t run away.”
That stopped her in her tracks. She did not run from anything or anyone. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She turned to him. “What do you want from me?”
“Nothing.”
