AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Alec brought me here last year,” Cara said, pointing to the turnout she wanted Baird to take. “There is the most gorgeous view of the pass and limestone gorge if you get out of the car and walk a little bit. I’m not going to get out, but I want you to see it, Ella.”
After forty-five minutes in the car, Ella was happy to get out and stretch her legs. The air was fresh, cold, and the wind whistled through the pass. The cold felt good, invigorating, and the rocky gorge was definitely worth the drive.
“I’m so glad you suggested this,” Ella said to Baird as they walked to the overlook to take in the view. “Cara is already happier.”
“I thought you might like a drive, too,” Baird said, glancing at her. “You haven’t seen much since you arrived.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be doing a lot of sightseeing. I just wanted to see Cara and make sure she’s doing well, and except for the bedrest, she’d doing great.” Ella chewed the inside of her lip. “I just wonder how she’ll handle Alec’s news when he tells her.”
“They’re a good couple, and good for each other. My gut says they will be fine.”
Ella nodded, reassured by Baird’s confidence.
“As you probably know, Alec has been through a lot,” Baird added. “Alec was never the golden boy at Langley Investments. His dad was tough on him, but it didn’t break Alec. It just made him stronger. Alec will get the firm through this. He’s good at weathering storms.”
“Cara is the same. She grew up feeling a lot of criticism and pressure, but she didn’t let it get to her. She has a good head on her shoulders, and the most wonderful heart. Once Alec tells her, it’ll be better for him… for both of them.”
“I agree.”
Silence stretched, but it was strangely companionable. Ella liked it, glad not to feel adversarial with Baird.
“Do we need to talk about what happened at the wedding?” Baird asked abruptly, looking at her, his gaze briefly holding hers.
His question caught her off guard. “Do we?”
“It seems like we should. If not now, soon. There are a few things I’d like to clear up.”
Up until that moment, Ella would have said yes, they definitely needed to talk about what happened at the wedding, but now hearing him say there were things he wanted to clear up made her heart fall. Would he apologize again? Would he bring up his girlfriend? Repeat how that kiss had been a terrible mistake. She shuddered inwardly, not ready for any of that.
“I’m not sure what you can say that will change what happened. I’m not sure I need to hear anything, either. Maybe we just put it behind us.” Ella was grateful her voice was firm.
“Not trying to extract myself. I was there. You were there. And it was a pretty… intense… kiss.”
Her insides somersaulted. “I thought so too, until you mentioned you had a girlfriend.” Ella steeled herself. “Afterkissing me senseless. That wasn’t fair. But then, some men play by their own rules.”
“I do have my own rules, but they don’t include taking advantage of anyone, much less my best friend’s new sister-in-law. Because you’re right, that wouldn’t be fair, or cool.”
She met his gaze. “Are there extenuating circumstances I’m not aware of? Are you going to blame your lapse on the romantic setting, the summer night, or something much more basic? The fact that you simply got carried away?”
“It was a romantic environment. It was a beautiful night. We did get carried away. But I was not in a relationship at the time. I wasn’t cheating on anyone. I wouldn’t do that. That’s crossing the line.”
“But you said—”
“I said I wasn’t available,” he interrupted flatly. “And emotionally I wasn’t.”
“But physically you were?”
“Physically… it was one intense kiss. We had chemistry, but it was too much too soon. I wasn’t ready to pursue anything with you, which is why I said I was sorry. I was sorry for leading you on.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to get down on one knee and propose. It was a kiss, a kiss I quite enjoyed until you ruined it by making it all seem… sordid.”
“Then I am sorry for that as well. It wasn’t my intention.”
Ella was so tired of his apologies. “Can we try never to discuss this again? You’ve successfully ruined that memory several times. Thank you.”
His lips twitched. “You are so angry.”
“I am.” She faced him, temper blazing. “You are this gorgeous man, big, handsome, with the most delicious accent I’ve ever heard. Every time you talk, I melt a little bit, but then I listen to the things you’re saying and it’s maddening. I want to throw rocks at you. Next time you kiss a woman, and kiss her the way you kissed me, do not apologize. Do not say it was a mistake. Do not walk away leaving her alone, leaving her to feel bad. That was mean, and you don’t strike me as someone who enjoys being mean.” Ella didn’t give him time to respond. She turned around and swiftly marched back to the car, wishing she hadn’t gotten so upset, wishing she hadn’t revealed just how badly he’d hurt her.
