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“Molly, I’ve already said sorry for the slipup at the wedding shower.” I can’t recall any form of apology from him. “We agreed that we could hook up with other people. Sure, that probably wasn’t the best time, but please, doll; I need you to hear me out.”
The nickname sours the bubbles still dancing on my tongue. “Please don’t call me that.”
“Let’s walk through all of the perks that’ll come from us getting married,” Lance attempts again. “Our wedding was meant to be two months from now; we can still turn this around.”
“Sure, if you can tell me what benefits there are for me, I’ll humor you,” I sigh.
He looks flummoxed. “The resort expansion, obviously.”
Of course. I frown and glance into his brown eyes. “No, Lance. I asked aboutme. Not my family, not the On Cloud Nine resorts. What’s in this marriage for me?”
He hesitates, his mouth hanging open. Lance has no idea what I want or who I am. This is all an ego play to him, and I’m collateral.
“We could be great together. New royalty. A beautiful family,” he continues as I emotionally withdraw from the conversation. “It’s clear that we’d have handsome kids together.”
The suggestion makes me nauseous. “No, thank you.”
I’m not even sure if I want to have children of my own. I barely have a handle on my own life. How responsible would it be to bring someone into this world when it feels like I’m just learning how to walk?
Lance ignores me. “Once my family’s investment goes through, I’d give you the life you’re used to. Better—what have you always wanted that you couldn’t have?”
I’m almost tempted to remind him that my family are billionaires. But my heart gives me another answer.My inn. That’s what I really want, but I won’t marry Lance to get it.
“Happiness, Lance.” I share the truth without hesitation. “There are some things that money can’t buy.”
“In our world, everything has a price. I doubt that guy you’ve brought here can afford you.” He looks at me with great displeasure, blond brows collapsing, straight nose almost folding in half. “Molly, this is the biggest account of my life. Come on. There’s no way you’re going to be content as some ordinary, suburban trophy wife.”
“Greenwich is hardly ordinary.” There’s no point in reasoning with my ex-fiancé, but I have to try. How do I make him understand and get him to leave me alone? “All your efforts and arguments aren’t going to work on me, Lance. I’m in love with Matthew Hudson,” I explain. However, unlike the previous times I’ve said those exact words, I might actually mean them now. They feel right. It’s like the truth just clambered out of my mouth like gumballs in a machine.
He rolls his eyes. It’s terribly unbecoming. “He’ll never make you happy, doll.”
Frustration boils beneath my skin, hot and potent. Enough. I’m sick of Lance and his antics. “I’m not a doll, and I don’t care about you or your money. Please, just leave me alone.”
“Everything okay here?” Matthew’s deep voice rumbles over Lance’s shoulder. His tone is severe and unrelenting. I glance up to find him skyscraping over my ex-fiancé.
Oh no. I didn’t want Matthew to get wrapped up in all of this. I had it handled. Everything was under control.
Heat flames my face.
“I’m having a discussion with Molly,” Lance hisses, spinning on his Ferragamo loafers to face Matthew.
The pair are night and day. Matthew is all man. A heavy crease in his forehead, a strain in his jaw as he looks—no, glares down at Lance, who resembles a scared little boy with his hands in his pockets.
My skin pebbles.
Matthew looks over at me and asks, “Do you want to continue your conversation?”
“She—”
I cut Lance off. “No, I don’t.” Matthew extends his hand out to me. I wrap my palm in his, worming my way out of Lance’s vicinity.
“Great, let’s get out of here.” Matthew nods, and we take a step forward.
Our spot in the corner in the room has been helpful in keeping attention away from the kerfuffle Lance is causing.Thank goodness.
“She needs to be with someone who—” Lance seethes, but there’s an unmistakable crack in his voice. He’s desperate.
“Listen here, boy.” Matthew turns and straightens his shoulders, somehow growing taller. He lowers his voice into a whisper. It’s barely audible, even to me, and I’m right at his side. “You don’t deserve her. Hell, you don’t even deserve to look at her. Now, we’re in public, and I care about Molly too much to cause a scene. We can either take this outside, like two gentlemen, or you can choose to come near her one more time and see what happens then.”
