by Ellie Hall
A quick breath burst out of her, and she felt a giant glimmer of hope. Had she been wrong all those years ago? But wait … what about her dad telling her to run? Had she imagined it? Dang it, she could have. Sometimes she swore she heard his voice, but she might be bonkers. Oh, goodness. She was confused, and hopeful, and so in love with Breck. She heard no inspiration from above and wasn’t sure how to respond. So she did the only thing she could do.
She kissed him.
He reacted quickly, tucking her into his arms and taking full advantage of her willing mouth. The kiss was as magical and wonderful as she remembered their kisses being. Sunshine and happiness exploded through her as the pressure of his mouth increased.
When she finally pulled back, she was breathing hard. Why had she waited so long for this, for him? What a blinding idiot she had been. She would have to sort out her misguided dad voices later. She and Breck would need to kiss for days to make up for lost time.
Breck was grinning at her. “I love you, Rissa Gentry.”
She felt the words seep into her. She’d wanted to hear them from him for much too long. “I love you too,” she admitted.
He kissed her softly, the aching sweetness of his touch lighting her up from the inside out. His kiss deepened and Rissa savored each movement of his lips. The way his hands held her with strength and tenderness. His smell. All of him.
He gave a low groan and simply held her close. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me, Riss. How long I’ve waited to touch you, hold you, tell you that I love you. So many times, I’ve hated myself as I kissed another woman and wanted her to be you, but it never felt like you ...” He stopped and grimaced. “Whoa, sorry. That didn’t come out right.”
It was the slap in the face Rissa didn’t want, but maybe she needed. Oh, reality was not her friend. She backed up and his arms dropped away. Silence stretched between them for a few horrible seconds. Breck swallowed and said, “Riss. You know there have been other women.”
“I know, and I appreciate you being honest about it.” What was she doing? How could she have told him she loved him, gotten lost in his touch and kiss, and let herself forget about all the past, present, and future women competing for Breck Judd? She was fighting tears again and it ticked her off. She was a professional, successful woman, and yet here she was—a scratched up, dirty, teary-eyed git, falling for a man who couldn’t stay true to her. It just wasn’t in his DNA.
“But there’s something I need to tell you.”
Rissa held up a hand. “You need to get back to the wedding dinner. I apologize for making you miss so much of your brother’s wedding day.”
“No, Riss, you need to hear this.”
“I …” She blinked quickly. Breck would never be true to her. Maybe he hadn’t cheated on her that fateful day, but he’d been an insane womanizer before and ever since. He might as well cut her heart out as lie to her that he would try to be faithful. She prayed harder than she’d ever prayed, squeezed her eyes shut, and suddenly she could hear her dad. It was faint, but it was there.
Run, my girl, run.
Her eyes flew open and she gasped. She didn’t think she’d imagined that. She looked over this handsome man that she loved and knew … she had to listen to her inspiration. Her dad could see more than she could.
“I can’t do this,” she mumbled.
Breck opened his mouth, but the rumble of a truck coming down the road grabbed Rissa’s attention. It was the second sign she needed. She pivoted and ran with everything in her toward the road. She could hear Breck on her heels, but she was fleeing for her sanity. Even though being barefoot hurt, it was easier to grip the sometimes muddy ground. She heard Breck slip in his dress shoes, hit the ground, and curse. Wincing for him, but not willing to stop, she dodged onto the road. The truck almost hit her, brakes squealing and dust and mud exploding from under its tires as it ground to a halt.
Rissa held up a hand and rushed around to the passenger side, yanking the door open and climbing onto the running board. “Can you run me down the mountain?” she begged the middle-aged driver.
He stared at her like she was an alien, but nodded shortly.
Breck ran in front of the truck as she slammed the door shut. “Drive,” she screamed.
Breck made it around to her side. She shoved the door lock down before Breck could yank on the handle. The man dropped it into gear and pulled away.
Breck banged on the door and hollered, “Rissa, wait!”
The tears were back, and Rissa begged the driver, “Please, please drive.”
He pushed the gas down and Rissa hated that she watched out of the side mirror as Breck ran alongside the truck and then dropped further and further behind. She closed her eyes as wetness trickled down her face.
“Ain’t none of my business,” the man said, “but I think that gentleman had something to say to you.”
“Nothing that comes out of his barmy mouth can change the truth,” Rissa muttered.
“Ah, one of those?” He downshifted and the truck slowed on the steep slope.
Rissa could only nod. She was too spent to even wipe the tears away.
4
Breck finally admitted to himself he wasn’t going to catch the truck speeding away with Rissa and stopped in the middle of the muddy road. His chest heaved from the exertion and the emotion. Had she really run away from him again? She’d originally run because she thought he was cheating on her, but even knowing he hadn’t, she couldn’t trust that he would commit to her. That was on him for dating so many women to try to heal the heart Rissa had broken, but no one could replace her. He knew that now. Was he ever going to convince her that he was genuine? That he loved her and only her? He cursed himself. What a mess he was in.
He turned and trudged back to the wedding party. Looking down at his suit, he knew he was in for some teasing from his brother and concerned looks from everyone else. He laughed shortly, trying to remember the last time he’d ruined a tailored suit. Okay, he’d probably never ruined a tailored suit. He tried to brush the mud off his pants, straighten his shirt and coat, and smooth his hair.
He slipped into the wedding party, pasting on a smile he didn’t feel. Luckily, dinner was over and people were milling around talking. He got a few questioning looks, but he was able to downplay any questions with his usual charm. His brain was spinning with ways to find Rissa and still make Chance’s day great. He had to keep reminding himself that today was about Chance and Summer, not him, but if he didn’t find Rissa and tell her everything, she might slip away and he’d never get another chance.
He greeted family members and met Summer’s girl’s camp friends. It was only when Summer pinned him alone that he got the harsh whisper, “Where is Rissa and why did you roll in the mud?”
He forced a smile for onlookers as he wrapped an arm around his new sister-in-law. “I messed it up. She ran again. I chased her, and slipped and fell in the process.”
Her face crumpled. “No. I was so hoping… Go after her. Now!”
He laughed uneasily. He didn’t know if going after Rissa would help. How could he convince her he loved her? “I’m not going to ruin your wedding day with my issues.”
“Oh yeah?” Her blue eyes flashed fire and she got up in his face. “You don’t follow Rissa and I’ll tackle you and then drag you out of here, getting my wedding dress all muddy and making a huge, embarrassing scene for the both of us. How’s my wedding day going to be then?”
Breck laughed, though he knew he shouldn’t. The image of Summer tackling or dragging him around, especially in that dress, was hilarious.
He held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll slip out as soon as I can.”
“It had better be really soon,” she warned, holding up a small fist.
He nodded, not wanting to upset the bride and his new sister-in-law any more than he already had. Truly, all he wanted was to chase after Rissa.
“It’ll all work out,” he lied. “I don’t want you to worry
.”
An elderly gentleman, he thought it was Summer’s grandpa, was approaching the bride with arms held out. Summer gave Chance a careful squeeze, avoiding the muddy spots on his suit. “She’s staying at the Elevation Hotel. Go find her quick or I’ll never forgive you.”
“Got it. Thanks, sis.” He pecked her on the cheek and then released her so she could hug her grandpa. Breck smiled when a few minutes later Chance grabbed his wife to start the dancing. Summer was perfect for his brother, and Breck couldn’t have been happier for them. He wanted their day to be perfect, but he was going to listen to the feisty bride and slip away as quickly as possible. He had to find Rissa. As he made his way toward the four-wheel drive vehicles, an obnoxious cousin asked if he’d been “wrestling with pigs.” He pasted on his easy-going smile and joked that the pigs had won. All he could think about was Rissa. He prayed he could get a ride down the mountain and that she’d gone back to her hotel and not to the nearest airport.
5
Rissa slipped out of her ripped clothes, cursing herself for leaving her favorite pair of Manolo Blahnik heels on the muddy mountain and ruining another Anne Klein skirt. She took a hot shower, letting the water run down her face and mingle with her tears. How could she have any tears left after how hard she’d slobbered in Breck’s arms?
In Breck’s arms.
She’d felt heaven and then given it up again. The very memory of his kiss and ripping herself away from him again brought more tears. Had she truly heard her dad or was she making it up in her head because she wanted his counsel so badly? Was she simply a coward looking for an excuse not to trust Breck? Was there any way she could trust that he’d be true to her? She couldn’t wrap her mind around a solution, if there was one.
Finally, she forced herself out of the shower, combed her hair, and redid her makeup. She dressed in a blousy gray shirt and navy tights. She didn’t usually dress this casually, but she wanted to be comfy if she had to wait at the airport all day for a flight. Her flight was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, but she couldn’t stay here any longer. She could not risk Breck finding her and talking her into staying with him for life. She wished it could be different, that she could trust him, but he wasn’t going to reform for her. She was a gormless moron to even hope for that.
If he’d loved her for three years as he’d claimed, why had he dated every beautiful woman on this side of the pond? That didn’t shout love to her. So many pictures found on the internet circled through her brain. As an eligible, handsome, enigmatic, too-charming billionaire Breck had been the bee’s knee to every woman and a favorite with local Charlotte news sites. Argh! She pushed it all away. She needed to escape, and now. Work. She could bury herself in work again. This setback was going to cost her heart dearly, but work was the only clear answer she had. Her mum. She’d schedule a holiday and go see her mum soon. Her dad would like that, and her mum could hold her and make everything a little more manageable with a pudding and her bright, happy smile.
She glanced around the hotel room, certain she’d packed everything. Shouldering her purse, she dragged her suitcase out the door and down the hallway. She’d almost reached the elevator when it dinged open. Breck rushed out, looking impossibly handsome and disheveled. His dress shoes were coated with grime, his suit coat was gone, his white shirt had dirt stains on it, his fitted dress pants had a rip in the leg and mud caked on them, a smudge of dirt decorated his neck, and his hair was mussed.
He’d never looked better.
A small gasp escaped and she almost threw herself into his arms and cried with gratitude that he’d found her. She hadn’t even dared hope he would, knowing it would hurt too much if he did, or didn’t. Could she be any more of a head case than she was at this moment? Could anyone blame her? The man she loved was blindingly perfect, even dirty and disheveled. The brilliant man had come for her. She hung her head. Her dad had told her to run, and they both knew Breck could never be faithful to her.
She held her ground, not moving as the elevator closed behind him. His dark eyes swept over her. She didn’t know how to escape, or if she even wanted to. She prayed for more help. Was heaven sick of her needy requests? Maybe if heaven hadn’t taken her dad so young, she’d have him counseling her from this side. Hopefully she wasn’t being too impetuous hoping for another clear voice from above.
“Room key, please,” he said in a no-nonsense voice. He was a powerful businessman and used to getting his way. She should tell him where to leap off, but for some insane reason, she couldn’t find her tongue and her legs were too weak to run.
“Room key,” he repeated.
Rissa blinked at him, not sure what to think or how to respond. She pulled the key out of her purse and handed it to him. He nodded, not smiling as he took her suitcase and wrapped his hand around her elbow, escorting her back to her suite as if it was the only option she had. It probably was. She’d never seen Breck so serious. He didn’t appear angry, but it might be simmering under the surface. Even if he was furious at her, she had no worries that Breck would hurt her physically. He was the epitome of a gentleman. No, he’d never hurt her physically but emotionally he could, would, and had gutted her.
“How’d you know where I was?” she murmured.
“Summer’s been my ally in reconnecting us.” He unlocked the door and gestured for her to go first.
Rissa walked through the suite and sank wearily into one of the chairs. She couldn’t risk the couch and him sitting right beside her. Summer wanted them together? She should’ve guessed with how insistent her friend was that she be at the wedding. She had talked Breck up every chance she got. Summer wouldn’t want her with somebody who would gut her heart again, would she? Summer saw the best in everybody. She’d assume her brother-in-law was a good guy like her new husband. Breck was a good guy, but he was also a heartbreaking player.
“She knew my room number?” Rissa asked, not sure what to say, how to stay strong any longer.
“The girl at the front desk was very helpful.” Breck sat in the chair opposite her, as if guessing that she couldn’t handle any physical contact right now.
“Of course she was. No woman can resist your blinding charm,” Rissa sassed at him, then instantly regretted it as Breck’s dark eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and frustration. She pinched at her forehead to try to alleviate the headache that was brewing. “Breck, I’m sorry. You know me. You know this isn’t normal for me to be crying and a bratty git, running through the mud and ruining your designer suit and my favorite outfit, but I really can’t do this with you anymore. You’ve completely gutted me and truly, you need to let me go … please.” If he had any idea how much she still loved him, he’d never let her out that door. Maybe admitting he’d gutted her was too far. Should she tell him about her dad’s voice? He couldn’t fight heavenly inspiration.
He leaned forward and braced his elbows on his powerful thighs. “Listen to me for sixty seconds. Then if you still want me to leave, I promise …” He shook his head and cleared his throat. “I promise I’ll go, and I won’t come to you again unless you ask me to.”
Rissa could appreciate what it took for him to say those words. She didn’t want him to go either, but they couldn’t work as a couple. In his way, Breck did love her, but she wouldn’t agree to his version of love. Her and who knew how many women on the side. Call her old-fashioned, but she wanted a whole, committed relationship like her parents and grandparents had savored throughout their married lives.
“I’ll listen,” she finally conceded. Breck always kept his word. If she listened and then asked him to leave, this drama would be over, and maybe someday she could heal and move on. Maybe not in this lifetime, but maybe in heaven there was a chance her heart could find a salve.
“Thank you.” He continued leaning toward her and said, “It about killed me when you disappeared three years ago.”
Rissa wanted to respond, but she’d agreed to let him talk. She recognized the misunderstanding between them that
day in his office had been repaired, but if her leaving had about killed him, why had he dated half the universe and the Miss Universe? That picture had devastated her.
He stood and paced in the small area in front of her. His movements were strong and sure. How could any woman, herself included, ever resist his brilliance? The dirt and ripped clothing only added to his appeal. It meant he wanted to fight for her.
“I told you how I searched for you, but when I couldn’t find you and then you kept insisting we could only be ‘mates,’ I flipped out a little bit.” He clenched his fists and his jaw worked. “I dated any woman who came across my path, then I tossed them away for any reason you can imagine—didn’t smell right, didn’t talk right, no British accent…” He paused and smiled before sobering and continuing his pacing and his list. “Too short, too tall, not fun enough, not smart enough, not hard-working enough, didn’t know how to kiss, wanted to kiss too much.” He ticked off the reasons, then stopped and stared down at her.
The thought of him kissing other women still made her stomach churn and made her want to lash out at him, but she bit her tongue and focused on his dark gaze. His eyes always got to her, and she wasn’t immune from their alluring power.
“Basically, none of them were you,” Breck said in a gravelly voice she felt clear through her body. “None of them came anywhere close to being you.”
Rissa clung to the chair handles to keep herself from rising and going to him. She hated that he’d lost himself in other women to try to find her, but he had tried to find her, any way possible.
“Then Chance found Summer.” A brief smile flitted over his face, and he sank into the chair again and faced her. “I was so happy for them, and as I got to know her and they planned their wedding, she and I became close friends. I confided how much I loved you and she gave me a challenge. No women. Not so much as a lunch date. No physical contact of any kind until their wedding day. She promised me she’d get you here and give me a chance with you. She called it our Ditched Billionaire Pact, and I have been ditched and felt desperately lonely … for you.” His dark eyes had never been more sincere.