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“We’re staying at the bed and breakfast nearby. There’s not a single five-star hotel in this town,” her mother said. “I’d even take four.”
“The bed and breakfast is great. It’s right down the street and next to my friend’s restaurant.”
“Your friend?”
Yes, she had friends. Her mother didn’t need to sound so surprised. “Yes, Chloe owns the restaurant and bar, and my other friend Natalie has a gourmet cupcake shop in the same establishment.”
“Lovely,” he mother mumbled.
Michelle’s phone pinged back.
Dex: I look forward to collecting on this debt.
She smiled. Dex understood. Didn’t ask her why, didn’t make her feel bad. Just understood. He was a good guy. Whatever happened next, he’d been good for her.
Unlike her parents.
She had to figure out how to survive their visit. Their uneasy glares and judgmental smirks. Their unending disappointment.
“Perhaps while you show us around you can say good-bye to your friends,” her father said, eyeing the stack of bills near the cash register. “It’s time to stop this foolishness, Michelle. I know your business isn’t doing well. Give in to reality and come home.”
She was ready to defend herself, but words stuck in her throat. Sure, she’d had a few bad weeks that were turning into months, but she could pull it together…maybe.
“The boutique’s really not doing that—”
Her father looked down at her. “That badly? Honey, you know I’ve been keeping tabs on the shop. I don’t need to see the bills to know you’re six months from closing.”
“Then you know I still have time.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “Part of being responsible is knowing when to fold.” Her father looked around her shop. “You’ve got a losing hand here, sweetie. Shut down and walk away with your head held high. Before you have to walk away in shame.”
Pain sliced through her chest. All of a sudden she felt like she was drowning. She’d jumped from a helicopter into a bad situation, except this time, there was no one there to pull her out. Not even Dex. She’d made sure of that.
Because if she did ask for help? If she couldn’t do this on her own?
Then she’d already lost.
Dex still couldn’t believe the text Michelle had sent him.
Michelle: I can’t come tonight. Something came up. I’m sorry.
He’d sent her a text back immediately. But she hadn’t responded. What had gone wrong? Why had she canceled?
Now it was taking everything he had in him not to send another text. Hell, not to go straight to her place and find out what could have made her cancel her appointment. It wasn’t his business. She wasn’t his woman. And he wasn’t her keeper. She could blow him off for a good, bad, or no reason at all if she wanted. And there was nothing he could do about it.
Which was why he spent the evening calibrating the GPS system and walking through the woods. He needed to do something. Keep his brain and body going, otherwise he’d think too much about Michelle.
He was set to train an actual class of people two towns over tomorrow. All he was waiting on was his last hour to get recertified. But surely Gage would clear him. Otherwise he’d have to go teach the survival training class instead of Dex. And honestly, wanting to be with Michelle hadn’t been about training in a while.
Still, recertification or not, he wanted his last hour with her.
After a few hours, he was ready for a beer. He brushed off his jeans, figuring he wasn’t too dirty to head to Chloe’s bar and meet East for a drink.
He checked his cell. Michelle hadn’t text or called since their last exchange hours ago.
Something came up…
Damn it, he hated this feeling. Wanting to be with her but knowing he couldn’t. He’d gone so far as to think about what he could actually offer her. Assuming he tried to turn this into more than a training session.
