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“All you did was work,” he countered.
He had a point.I nodded stiffly.“But I worked a lot when we met,andwhen you proposed.You knew about my life.”
He didn’t say anything, so I kept going.“You didn’t think to talk it through with me, like a normal person?”
I could feel Rick behind me, and knowing he was there for me, not interrupting, but instead offering silent support, bolstered me.
Seb shifted awkwardly on the porch.“I’d really prefer it if we talked inside.What will people think?”
“I don’t care what they think,” I shot back, meaning it.
I had friends in this town, and family, who would have my back, and gave me strength.I didn’t need to worry about what they thought.They would have my best interests in mind.
Sebastian smiled, but it wasn’t a nice smile.“Of course you don’t.That’s why you’ve hooked up with the first guy you found when you landed.”
Rick shifted to stand next to me, folding his arms over his chest.He widened his stance in a very military way, and I expected that the stern,you wanna say that againlook on his face, combined with his height and the very prominent medal on his jacket, might’ve made a younger man wet his pants.
“Care to repeat that?”Rick grunted.
Sebastian took a breath, and I thought he was going to do the smart thing and back down.
But apparently, he hadn’t flown all this way to do the smart thing, because he ignored Rick and continued, to me, “Maddie, think about it.My family hasmoney.We can support you.Guide you to the right people to help you.That’s what I was trying to tell you.”
“Your money didn’t matter to me!”I hissed.“I thought you were being generous when you treated me to fancy dinners, took me to those lovely wine bars.I didn’t realize you were trying to buy control over me.”
The face I had once thought so kind and handsome darkened as he frowned at me.“Think about this, Maddie.My family knows a lot of people.We can help make your life easy.”His lips twisted.“Or, we cansuggestto those people that perhaps your venture wouldn’t be a good thing to promote.It’s your choice.”
My mouth fell open at hisridiculousinsinuation.Sure, his family were wealthy but was he seriously threatening that he’d block my access to having a little shop or market presence if I didn’t hop back on the plane with him?
This was absurd.
“It’s embarrassing, Madeline,” Seb added.“Me having to come out here.I offered you everything.”
“No, you didn’t.You took me out to placesyouliked, and I was so happy to have met someone who didn’t mind me having my own, admittedly very time-consuming, career, that I didn’t look too deeply into it.I should have stopped to think.I was with you because I was flattered, and okay, you deserved more than that.I wish I had paid more attention.That’s on me.”
But I deserved more, too.I deserved not to betrayed like this.
The feel of Rick beside me, his shoulder pressed warm against mine, gave me the extra little boost to add, “But now I know what I want, and we’re done, Sebastian.”
His features contorted.He was a man I didn’t recognize now.
“Fine.Have it your way.We’ll see how you feel when you’re back in London, struggling again to be seen, just another cake maker among all the rest.You’ll regret it then, you ungrateful little bit—"
He didn’t get the rest of the word out, because Rick surged forward and his fist slammed into Seb’s jaw.
He toppled like a tree.
The lights went on in several houses across the street.
I lurched towards Sebastian’s prone form, and then glanced back at Rick.”Oh my God, you punched him!”
“Yep.”He winced, flexing his hand.“Not punched anyone in a real long time, as it turns out.”
I spared a glance at the houses with lights on.“This may be talked about for some time.”
Rick lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.“I was talked about for defendin’ Jenny when she first moved back here, too.I’m happy to be talked about for standin’ up for what’s right, Maddie.”
This man.I would have moved to kiss him, but then Sebastian moaned at our feet.
