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He couldn’t—wouldn’t allow that tragic story to shape Kelly’s life. To prevent it, all he had to do was walk away from her. If he let her go, she would at least have a chance to live a normal life, a happy existence.
But could he do it? Could he say goodbye to this woman who had become so important to him? To Jason?
He’d lived a life of privilege and had always taken whatever he wanted. Who was going to stop him? He was self-aware enough to know the arrangement with his father had been as much for him as for his mother.
Confusion clouded Kelly’s clear blue eyes as he remained silent, stroking her cheek with his thumb. She’d asked him if the press release was the truth. He owed her an answer.
“You’re safer if it is the truth,” he said softly.
She blinked. “I’m safer? What does that mean?”
He dropped his hand and stood, interrupting her questions. If he stayed here any longer he’d give in to his own need and tell her how he felt. He suspected she was half in love with him already. And with him, surprisingly, not his money, which was perhaps the quality he admired the most about her.
Or was it his own raging arrogance that made him think he could make Kelly his? He’d never met a woman like her, a woman with an unwavering internal compass about right and wrong. She’d made him a better person, given him the courage to take Wentworth Industries in a new direction.
If she fell in love with him—and maybe it was arrogance, but he knew he could make that happen—life with him would devastate her. That was a tragedy he had to prevent because the world was a better place with a healthy and happy Kelly Jenkins living in it. She’d already saved one little boy. Maybe others would need her help someday. She’d chosen the right career to help people, a job that she loved.
And her contact with him had put that career in jeopardy.
He shouldn’t have come.
“Trey?” she asked in a quiet voice. “What’s wrong?”
He turned back to her. “I need to focus on Jason’s recovery,” he said.
“Of course you do.” She closed her eyes.
“He’s been so confused about you, his mother, losing Maria, the change in therapists. Jase doesn’t need any more turmoil in his life right now.”
She opened eyes glittering with unshed tears. He longed to move to her, comfort her, tell her everything would be all right. That he loved her. But he couldn’t do that to her.
“And being around me is harmful to his recovery,” she said, her voice catching. “Just like the press release said.”
No, he wanted to scream. But Trey nodded, unsure what he’d say if he tried to speak. It was better this way. Easier.
At least easier for him. This way he didn’t have to pretend he didn’t care about her.
“I understand,” she said. Moving slowly, she used her arms to push herself to her feet.
“I’m sorry,” he managed, knowing his apology meant little to Kelly, that he’d hurt her. Worse, he could see the pain it had caused her to think she was damaging his son.
He moved to the front door and opened it. Scott focused on him immediately, alert and attentive. Trey informed him they were leaving.
“I’ll wake up Jason,” Trey said, stepping toward the bedroom.
Arms folded across her chest, Kelly offered him a brave smile. He wondered how much that had cost her.
He shouldn’t have come. No matter how much Jason begged, he couldn’t bring his son to see her again. They should fly back to New York tonight. He needed to put distance between himself and Kelly so he wouldn’t be tempted to give in to his own selfish desires.
But no. He couldn’t escape Miami. Jase had just started with a new therapist, one he liked even better than Carico. His four-year-old was adjusting to the change. He was the adult and needed to find a way to do the same thing.
As predicted, Jason was sound asleep on Kelly’s bed. When Trey gathered his son in his arms, he fussed a little but didn’t fully wake up. Trey exhaled a sigh of relief that they were all three spared a tearful scene, and turned toward the door.
Jason had had enough goodbyes in his short life.
Kelly stood in the doorway watching. Their gazes locked as he moved toward her. At least he couldn’t touch her. Not when he was holding a child who had thankfully gained weight since returning home.
