“We’ve always butted heads. Ever since we were young.”
“I’d heard that. Lottie, I really think his intentions were good. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t cussing at you, and I know, just by the way Drew looks at you, he doesn’t think you’re at all stupid.”
Lottie’s eyes warmed a bit, but a bittersweet expression stole over her face. “Sometimes...sometimes it’s just too hard. Sometimes being with someone you care about is harder than not being with them.”
April saw the wisdom in that, but she hated to see Lottie and Drew miss their chance at love.
Eleven
Risk and his brothers took turns dropping by the tables, shaking hands, making small talk. He’d spoken to Shannon briefly. After her big entrance into the ballroom, things seemed to settle down with her. The paparazzi were dismissed, and the Boone security team made sure they were off the premises.
As he made his way toward the head table via the dance floor, he searched the room, looking for signs of April. Where in hell was she? It seemed like she’d been gone a long time.
Music started playing after a short break, and someone grabbed his arm from behind. He smiled. “April, where—” But as he pivoted on the empty dance floor, he stared into Shannon’s big green eyes.
“Risk, I’d love one dance with you before I leave the party.” Risk hesitated, finding several guests watching them. “I’m sure April wouldn’t mind one dance.”
There was a plea in her voice, hopeful expectation on her face. He couldn’t refuse her without looking like a heel. “I, uh, sure thing.”
Risk kept her at arm’s length as they danced to a slow tune. As soon as he looked out and saw cell phone cameras flash, he knew this was a bad idea. How had things gotten so damn complicated? He had an ex and a fake fiancée keeping him on his toes tonight.
“This reminds me of old times,” Shannon said, her eyes gleaming. “Remember when we went to Barbados and we danced on the beach most of the night?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“We had good times,” she said, inching a bit closer.
They did, before their relationship started to crumble. Shannon had a selective memory at times, and Risk hadn’t forgotten the hurt and pain of their breakup.
“That was a long time ago.”
“Not that long ago, Risk.” Then she gripped her stomach and scowled. “Oh no. This is not good.”
They came to a stop in the middle of the crowded dance floor. “What’s not good?”
“My stomach’s been acting up lately. With Mama’s death and all, I haven’t been—” Her lips tightened, and color drained from her face. “Risk, I’m not feeling well.”
“Shannon, do you want to sit down?”
She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. “No. I’d better go up to my room.”
“I can call a doctor for you,” he said, feeling her body waver. He gripped her arm to hold her upright.
“No, I think I need to lie down. I’ll just go up to my suite. Thanks anyway.” She gave him a small forced smile, her hand still on her stomach. “Have a good rest of the evening.”
She turned from him and bumped into a woman on the dance floor, the jolt knocking Shannon off balance. Risk saw her going down and grabbed her upper arms before she fell. The woman, whom Risk recognized as the principal of Boone Springs High School, apologized immediately. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there, Miss Wilkes.” Jodie Bridgewater’s eyes filled with concern.
“It wasn’t your fault, don’t feel sorry. I’m uh, oh wow. My head’s spinning now.”
Risk held her steady. “I’ll walk you to your room, Shannon.”
“Not necessary,” she said. “You don’t need to leave your party.”
“Oh, I think he should,” the principal suggested, and her dance partner nodded in agreement.
Risk sighed. “You’re in no shape to walk up to your room by yourself, Shannon.”
She looked at him then and nodded. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”
Risk took her arm and slowly led her out of the ballroom. As they approached the grand staircase leading to the second floor, he stopped. “Stairs or elevator?” he asked. The elevator was located farther away around the back end of the lobby.
“I think I can manage the stairs, Risk, with you beside me.”
So they climbed the stairs, Shannon leaning against him until they reached her suite. She opened the door, and Risk put his hands in his pockets. “Well, I guess this is good-night, Shannon. I hope you feel better. But if you don’t, call a doctor.”
“Oh, Risk. Please come in for a minute. There’s something I want to tell you.”
He hesitated, glancing up and down the hallway.
“It’s important,” she added.
He inhaled a sharp breath. “Only for a minute. I really should get back.” To April. He wanted more time with her tonight. He wanted...a lot of things with April.
He stepped inside, and Shannon closed the door behind them. “Don’t you want to lie down?” he asked.
“Uh, yes, a little later. Come sit with me a second.” She took a seat on the sofa in the living room of the suite and waited for him.
He sat in a chair and eyed Shannon carefully. What was she up to? “How are you feeling now?”
“Better now that you’re here.” She smiled, and color rose in her cheeks.
“Shannon, what’s going on?”
“I’m buying a place here in Boone Springs. I’ve, uh, made a deal with Tony Russo. He’s agreed to sell me his house...our little farmhouse, Risk.”
He stood up, his ears burning. “Shannon, what in the world?”
“Just listen, Risk. Mama told me time and time again, I was a fool to let you go. It took me a while, but I see that now. We belong together.” She had no trouble rising from the sofa and walking straight over to him. “I miss you, Risk.”
“Is that what this is all about?”
“I see you with April, and it’s obvious she’s not right for you. There’s something up with you two, and I haven’t quite figured it out yet. But I know she won’t make you happy. I know when a guy is truly in love, he tells the whole world, but when you came to visit Mama before she died and then after her death, you didn’t say a word about April or your engagement. That got me to thinking—”
“Shannon, you’re not really sick, are you?”
She nibbled on her lip, giving him an innocent look, one he used to think was adorable. She shook her head.
“Well, you’re a better actress than I thought. And for the record, April is an amazing woman. She’s my fiancée, and we’re completely right for each other. I love her...very much.”
As soon as he said the words, it dawned on him he wasn’t lying or making excuses. He really did love April. And as soon as he could, he wanted to make this fake engagement real. His feelings for her were so powerful he could hardly believe it. As much as he hated the way Shannon had lured him up here, he couldn’t be angry, because now he knew exactly what he wanted.
“You can’t possibly love her the way you loved me.”
“Shannon,” he said gently. “What we had is over. It has been for a long time. Face it and move on with your wonderful, fabulous life. I mean that.”
“But, Risk, you—”
“Good night, Shannon.”
Risk left her room, anxious to find the woman he loved.
* * *
April stood with Lottie at the back corner of the ballroom. They’d had a good talk in the ladies’ room, yet Lottie wasn’t quite ready to mingle again. She needed a few more minutes, and April didn’t mind staying with her. April had helped console her after her big blowup with Drew; not that she was an expert on men, but she was a good listener and Lottie seemed to appreciate it.
From where she stood, April scanned the room looking
for Risk. She missed him and couldn’t wait to resume their evening. As soon as she spotted him on the dance floor, she gasped, and her heart instantly plummeted. Risk held Shannon in his arms as they danced to a love song. The two of them were a striking pair: Shannon a princess, tiara and all, and Risk looking like a roguish prince. It sure hadn’t taken Risk long to replace her as his dance partner. She looked away, her pulse racing, dread entering the pit of her stomach. These awful sensations weren’t new—they were the same old feelings of not being enough, of being abandoned. She was tired of allowing people to let her down. She wanted no part of it anymore.
When she regained the courage to look again, Risk and Shannon were walking out of the big ballroom double doors arm in arm. “Excuse me a second, Lottie,” she said.
She strode out of the ballroom just in time to catch Risk climbing the grand staircase with Shannon, her head leaning on Risk’s broad shoulders. April’s whole body shook as she watched him reach the top of the staircase and head down a hallway leading to the suites.
She’d seen enough. Risk was involved with Shannon. She was still in his life, which left April with nothing more than the clock ticking away on a fake engagement.
It took her a second to realize Lottie had come up beside her. “It may not be as bad as it looks.”
“It looks pretty bad, Lottie.” Tears welled in April’s eyes, which made her even more angry, more hurt. She didn’t want to cry over Risk. Ever. Again.
“It’s time for me to end this charade once and for all.” Her bravado concealed the pain that was beginning to burn its way through her body. Goodness, what a fool she’d been. But it was better being a fool than a rat.
Which was what Risk Boone was being to her right now.
* * *
An hour later, Risk pounded on her door for the third time. She knew it was Risk because he was calling her name and knocking loud enough to wake the dead.
“April. Open the door. I need to talk to you.”
She held a washcloth to her face, cooling her eyes that burned from the tears she’d promised herself she wouldn’t shed. But as soon as she’d gotten home and undressed, her tears had flowed like an open faucet. “Please just go away, Risk.”
“No. I’m not going away. Not until you hear me out. I mean it, April. I’m stubborn enough to wait all night.”
She yanked the door open and faced him. Risk seemed surprised, and then relief shone in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Say what you need to say, Risk.”
“You’re not letting me in?”
“No.” She pulled her robe tight and folded her arms around her body.
He sighed deeply. “Okay, fine. Aunt Lottie said you were very upset tonight.”
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
“No way, Risk. I’m not answering your questions.”
He rubbed at his jaw. “If this is about Shannon, I can explain.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not about Shannon. It’s about me. And what I want in life. And how I deserve to be treated.”
“Okay, look, I admit I’ve made mistakes. And I’m sorry about that.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Risk. We’re done. I owned up to my part of the bargain. You can do whatever you want now, with whomever you want. The charade is over. Thank God.”
He stared at her a long time. “You don’t mean that. April, what we have—”
“Is nothing.” She put up her left hand and showed him her bare finger. “I’ve already given Jenna back the ring.” She wiggled her fingers. “See, nothing there.”
“You won’t even hear me out?” He gritted his teeth.
“You know, your aunt said something profound tonight. And it hit home. She said sometimes being with someone you care about is harder than not being with them. Sometimes it’s just too hard. That makes a lot of sense when it comes to the two of us. Let it go, Risk. Let me go,” she pleaded.
His jaw twitched. “Is that what you really want?”
She nodded, unable to voice the words.
Risk closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, moisture pooled there. “Okay.”
She was touched by the tears in his eyes, but she held firm. The two of them were not meant to be. They’d tried and failed too many times. “Goodbye, Risk.”
“’Bye, April,” he said quietly.
April shut the door on him, and immediately a new stream of tears began to flow down her cheeks.
* * *
Risk sat in his office, going over figures from the latest Boone acquisition. The figures weren’t adding up. He’d been at it for two hours. This job wasn’t for him. It never had been, and it was time he owned up to that. He wasn’t a nine-to-fiver like his brothers. They poured their hearts into the business. But it never had held that kind of appeal for him.
He pushed away from his desk, giving up. He wasn’t going to get any work done today anyway. It’d been three days since he’d spoken to April, three days of not hearing her voice, not seeing her sweet smile, not looking into her crystal-blue eyes.
April wouldn’t take his calls, wouldn’t answer his texts. She was shutting him out, and it was taking its toll on him. He couldn’t concentrate on work; he was having trouble sleeping.
Deep in thought, he didn’t hear Mason walk into his office. “Man, you look like hell.”
He didn’t have a comeback for his brother. “I know.”
“April?”
He nodded. “She won’t talk to me. I don’t know what to do.”
“You love her?”
He nodded. “More than anything.”
“Have you told her?”
He shook his head. “She hasn’t given me the chance. I doubt she’d believe me now. I don’t think she has much faith in me.”
“I think she does, or wants to. According to Aunt Lottie, April’s looking about like you these days.”
“Miserable?”
He nodded. “Miserable.”
“Yeah?” He hurt inside thinking of April feeling bad, but that little shred of hope put a smile on his face.
His brother put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not gonna let that girl go, are you?”
“I don’t want to. I can hardly think straight without her. But I can’t barge in on her and demand that she love me back.”
“Maybe you don’t have to. Maybe you can find a way for her to come to you. That’s what I did with Drea, and it worked. Remember? She was leaving town and I had to think fast on my feet. I couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving Boone Springs and me.”
“Drew helped you with that.”
“He led her to me and believe me, she wasn’t happy about it. I hijacked her to get her to hear me out. It took some convincing on my part, but it was well worth it.”
Risk scratched his head. “I don’t know. How am I supposed to make April come to me? She won’t answer my calls.”
“Think outside the box, Risk. You’re a smart guy—you’ll come up with something.”
* * *
April rushed into her office at half past ten, her body achy, her head fuzzy. “Clovie, I’m so sorry I’m late. Thanks for holding down the fort. You’re the best.”
Clovie gave her a sympathetic smile. “It’s no problem. Didn’t get any sleep again last night?”
She shook her head. “I think I finally dozed off at five this morning.”
“Your internal clock is out of whack.”
“It’s like I have jet lag.” She shook her head to clear out the fuzz.
“More like you have Risk lag.”
April sighed. “I don’t want to talk about him, Clovie.” Every time she thought about Risk, her stomach would ache, her head would hurt. He’d been good about letting her go that night, but ever since then, he’d called her five times a day, texting he
r just as often. Yesterday, all of that stopped after Risk called Clovie, giving her the news that he wasn’t interested in the lodge after all. He didn’t think it was a good fit for the family business. He’d wanted to speak to April in person, but she hadn’t been ready for that.
So the deal was dead.
Had Risk finally given up on her? She should be glad he wasn’t calling her, wasn’t making her doubt her decision about him, because a big part of her was still devastated at the way things had ended with him.
“Right, no Risk,” Clovie said. “But I do have good news for you. I just got off the phone with a couple, a Mr. and Mrs. Rivers, who are very interested in Canyon Lake Lodge. They’re from Willow County, and they heard about the lodge from news reports and taking the virtual tour on our website. They’d like to view the property. I checked your calendar and made an appointment for tomorrow morning at eleven. Is that okay?”
“Is that okay? That’s the best news I’ve had in days. If they’re serious about it, I can call Mr. Hall and ask him for an extension on the listing.”
“I thought it would make you happy. I mean, it’s not a done deal, but the clients seemed excited about the lodge. And I know how badly we need this sale.”
“It’s great. Maybe we should get there earlier and check on things.”
“We? Y-you want me to go with you?” Clovie rubbed her forehead.
“I’d like it if you’d come.” The truth was, she’d need moral support, seeing that lodge again after what had happened between her and Risk. But Clovie didn’t look too well all of a sudden. “What’s wrong, Clovie?”
“I’m, uh, nothing much. Just have a little headache, and my throat feels a little dry.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry. Your head is probably hurting from putting up with my moods lately, listening to me complain about everything.”
“That’s what friends are for, April. We only want what’s best for each other, and I don’t mind listening if it makes you feel better.”
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