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“How do you figure that? I don’t have a damn thing to feel guilty about.”
Once again, she sprang to her feet. “You lied to me!”
He shot up, too. “I never lied. I just didn’t tell you everything.”
“Are you people about done back there?” the bus driver called out. “My tour group’s on its way.”
“We’re done,” she said firmly. And then she looked Kenny straight in the eye, so he wouldn’t mistake her meaning. “We’re absolutely done.”
“Don’t you say that!” To her astonishment, he grabbed her arm and pulled her tight against him. “I never figured you for a quitter. Where’s all that British stiff upper lip bull? First little bit of trouble on the horizon, and you’re ready to give up.”
“This is more than a little bit of trouble. I don’t know you at all.”
“You’re going to give up, aren’t you? You’re going to walk away.”
“I just need some time to think.”
“There’s a guarantee of trouble.”
“Don’t you dare be condescending. I can’t play by your rules, Kenny. I’m not made that way. I can’t take things as they come and see what happens. I need time to adjust and think things through.”
It was a long, silent drive back to the hotel.
Chapter 22
On the plane, Kenny buried himself in a book he’d bought at the airport gift shop, and Emma pretended to read a magazine. They barely spoke, but this time she didn’t challenge his silence because she had nothing more to say to him.
She was so ashamed of herself. How could she have agreed to this travesty of a marriage when she’d known there was nothing between them except sex? There was no honesty, no understanding, no real commitment. Yet she’d married him anyway, just like a dotty, dear thing making a desperate, last-minute lunge for the brass ring.
As they arrived in Dallas and made their way down the concourse, Kenny had never moved more slowly nor looked more unapproachable. Not even the fans who recognized him seemed to want to come any closer. It wasn’t until they’d reclaimed her luggage that he finally looked fully at her.
“What’s it going to be?” he said stonily. “Are you running back to England like a scared rabbit, or are you going to stay here and fight?”
She’d been thinking of nothing else since they’d left Hoover Dam, and she’d already made up her mind what she was going to do. “This isn’t a war.”
His eyes were as cold as frozen amethysts. “Let’s just say it’s a test of character, then. Who has it and who doesn’t.”
“Are you implying that I’m lacking in character?”
“I don’t know yet. Are you running or are you staying?”
His attitude infuriated her. “Oh, I’m going back to Wynette, all right. I’ve already made up my mind about that.”
A flicker of satisfaction passed over his features. “You’re finally making sense.”
“Unlike you, I know this isn’t a game, and I’m going back so we can sort this out. But I’m not staying at the ranch.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m not running, but I’m not moving back in with you either.”
“That doesn’t even half make sense! You were living at the ranch before we got married, so why would you move out now?”
“Stop looking so outraged. This isn’t a real marriage, and you know it.”
“It’s as real as it gets, and I’ve got the license to prove it.”
“Stop it, Kenny. Just stop. You know exactly what I mean, so don’t try to hide behind that righteous indignation.”
