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“So great for families to be able to sit on the deck and watch the kiddos play. Why are you selling again?” Kayla raises a perfectly shaped brow at me.
“Wait—what?” A deep voice echoes through the room and I spin around.
Smith stands in the doorway, his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
Shit. Why do people keep showing up here unannounced?
“Um…” I stammer, biting down hard on my bottom lip.
“Give us a sec, would you please, Kayla?” Smith asks, his tone stern.
“You bet. I’ll grab the paperwork from the car.” Kayla clip-clops across the living room, the screen door banging shut behind her.
“What’s going on, Elise? You’re really selling this place? Were you even going to tell me?” Smith’s eyes are wide with hurt.
“Yes, of course,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He steps toward me, but I stand rooted to my spot. I don’t trust myself near this man—it’s all I can do to not reach out and touch him, if only to make contact for a split second. But that would be wrong, so instead I shove my hands deep into my pockets and stare at the floorboards. Anywhere but at his sad, beautiful face.
“You’re leaving town, then. Were you even going to say good-bye?”
“Yes, I’m leaving. It’s for the best.”
“Dammit, Elise. Why do you keep saying that? Like you know what’s best for me and I don’t have a clue?” His fists clench by his side, anger flashing in his eyes.
“It’s too much, Smith. I don’t want to hurt you.” I reach out to him, but he backs away, just out of reach.
“I can handle myself, thanks. But you obviously don’t care about whatever we have—had—between us.”
“That’s not true,” I whisper, my voice wavering as tears fill my eyes.This isn’t how I wanted this to happen.
“Here’s the paperwork,” Kayla sing-songs as she trots in, oblivious to the thick tension in the air.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Smith says, backing away. He stops at the door and glances at me over his shoulder. “You’re making a mistake.”
Then the door slams shut and Smith is gone.
Kayla’s unfazed. “He’s wrong about that. The market in Seaglass Beach is hot. Hotter than ever. Now’s a great time to sell.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking the mountain of paperwork from her. “I’ll look this over and get back to you.”
“Don’t sleep on it too long. I think I have a buyer.”
Even though this should be good news, my heart sinks.
Smith is gone and, despite my best efforts, I hurt him anyway.
CHAPTER15
Smith
Ican’t fucking believe Elise is selling her beach house.
And I really can’t fucking believe she was going to leave without even saying goodbye.
Slamming my truck into a parking spot at Seaglass Supplies, the local hardware store, I pound my fist on the steering wheel.
How did this happen?Everything was perfect between us before her asshole ex showed up.
