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The frown on her face was enough to give him his answer. “I can’t do that.”
James almost asked her why she wouldn’t even consider it, but she answered his question before it left his lips.
“My dad has those rules for a reason, however misguided. Yes, my sisters will probably suffer because of how I am. But I’m not willing to settle for someone who won’t make me happy. Hopefully, the guy who’s meant for me will come into my life sooner rather than later.”
He couldn’t help it. Hearing those words coming from her turned his stomach a little. Brielle was the second out of seven. He couldn’t imagine Constance being nearly so selfish.
Jaw tightening, he gave her a sharp nod. It was too much to ask Brielle to stick her neck out for her family. He’d have to come up with something else.
Brielle didn’t say anything else before she turned once more toward the door and let herself out.
James retrieved the dishes and headed for the kitchen. For now, he needed to regroup. The only good thing that came from Brielle’s visit was that he had more information. Constance knew about his past relationship with Brielle and wasn’t happy about it. She broke up with him due to the situation with her father. He might be able to work with that.
* * *
One week passedwith no contact from Constance. He hadn’t really expected her to reach out to him, but he’d hoped she would at least message him back. Constance hadn’t come into work since the night of their dinner. She’d called Chloe to take some personal days.
It was getting to the point where he was about to go over to her property and ask her to just talk to him.
But Chloe insisted that was a bad idea.
Now, he sat in his office, staring blankly at the health records for the horses that Shane owned. There were a few he should probably visit, but he didn’t have the energy to head out to where he might see Sean or Adeline.
They no doubt had heard about what was going on. He didn’t need their pity.
There was a knock on his office door that hung slightly open. Chloe poked her head in and smiled. “Do you have plans this weekend?”
He tossed the file on the desk and shook his head. “I don’t feel like doing much of anything after…”
Chloe nodded. “I get it.” She edged inside and shut the door with a soft click. “Do you remember when I was dating that guy from the city?”
“No offense, Chloe, but I don’t need a pep talk.” He sighed and got up from his seat to gather his things.
She scoffed. “This isn’t a pep talk.”
“Well, whatever it is, I don’t need it. I’m dealing with this the best way that works for me.”
“You mean by staying locked up in your office?”
He scowled at her. “You’re not my mother.”
“How is your dear mother doing? Is she aware of everything that has happened?”
James snorted. “Do you know what my mother would do with that information?” That was a stupid question. Of course she knew. At one point, Daphne Pratt had assumed that Chloe was going to be his next love interest. Before he knew what was happening, the whole town had started believing they were involved in a secret love affair.
Luckily, they were both single at the time and no one was hurt—unless one were to ask his mother. She claimed she was heartbroken when the town finally realized she was wrong. If she’d had it her way, James would have started to date Chloe just to help save her reputation from being known as one of the county’s most notorious gossips.
“Anyway,” Chloe continued, “when Scott broke up with me, you told me that I needed to get him out of my head and start thinking about the future.”
That advice wasn’t going to work for him. He already knew that Constance was his future. Somehow, he thought he knew it from the time Clio was born.
“You need to get out and start living your life again,” Chloe’s voice broke through his reverie. “Before you get all hot and bothered, thinking that I’m telling you to get over her, hear me out. You don’t need to give up on her. But you’re not going to be any good to yourself or her if you don’t take care of your mind. You don’t want to let the pain fester until you see her and end up saying something stupid because you haven’t forgiven her.”
His head snapped back in her direction. “Who said that I was angry with her?”
Chloe held up both hands. “No one said any such thing. But you never know what kind of things you harbor toward people you love. Just trust me. Come out with me. We can go dancing at the country club, and while we’re there, you can check on those two horses that Shane wanted you to see.”
James’s focus bounced toward the files on his desk. She made a good point.
