Holiday With Mr. Right by Carlotte Ashwood Read Free Book Online Page B

nothing left of the business by the time she was through.” Surprisingly, that had been the most devastating of all to her. Not even the fact that Michael had been cheating on her, though that hurt like hell. And not the fact that his mistress had gotten pregnant where she’d tried without success. All those had hit her hard but her business had been the finishing blow. It had been a total knockout.
    “Wow. I hate to speak badly of the dead and all that, but the man was a bastard.”
    Angie laughed weakly. “You can say that again.”
    “So you’re going to close yourself up to everyone because of that character?”
    Angie couldn’t believe her ears. Where was that coming from? “Excuse me?”
    “Angie, you have so much to give and you’re alive. So you married a crappy man, but your world didn’t end. We’ve been together practically every day since we met, but you haven’t really been with me. You’re holding back.”
    She jumped off his legs, suddenly agitated. Didn’t he hear a word she’d said? “Alex you don’t understand. I was with Michael for a year before we got married. If I got it so wrong then, how will I ever know I won’t make the same mistake again?”
    Alex stood up, suddenly angry with her. “You’re selling yourself short, babe.”
    “I have no guarantee I won’t meet another asshole.”
    He stiffened. “I’m not an asshole!”
    Angie jumped at the vehemence in his voice. “We’re not talking about you.”
    “Aren’t we?”
    She sighed and looked away from the challenge in his eyes. “I’m sorry Alex. I got it so wrong with Michael, and I’m not willing to take the chance that I could get it that wrong again.”
    Alex stared at her, saying nothing, a muscle in his jaw ticking. When she thought she couldn’t take the tension anymore, he spoke. “So you’re not going to give us a chance?”
    “What chance, I leave in two days!”
    “And if I asked you to stay?”
    Angie felt the shock of his words. It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought vaguely about staying, but it just hadn’t seemed like it was an option. She felt her heart flutter but she ignored it. Michael’s betrayal had devastated her, but Alex was different. No, if Alex did the same to her, she knew with bone deep certainty that she wouldn’t survive it. So she drew herself up and looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry.”
    Alex stood there staring at her. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, he could hear his heart splintering, or he would if he wasn’t feeling so damned numb at that moment. “I never had a chance did I?”
    “Alex…”
    “Damn.” He swore softly then laughed at the irony. He stared at his bare feet and shook his head absently. “ Kismet . I had to go and fall in love with a woman who won’t love me back.” He looked up and caught the stricken look on her face. She had tears pooling around her eyes and he felt his chest tighten. He wanted to yell at her that she couldn’t do this to them. He thought of weeping and begging her to reconsider. But in the end he walked to her and planted a fierce kiss on her startled lips. Whether she chose to acknowledge it or not, they belonged together. She was a part of him just as he was part of her and running away wasn’t going to change anything. As he kissed her with all he had in his soul, he let her know just how he felt. She’d closed her eyes and surrendered to the kiss, holding onto him like she would never let him go. But he knew better. She’d already let him go.
    He tore his mouth from hers and stepped away. They were both silent, only the sound of their heavy breathing filled the room. He lifted his hands to her hair then in a tender caress. “Take care of yourself sweetheart.” And he walked out of her apartment. He had on just his silk boxers and he wasn’t wearing any shoes. But at that moment he didn’t care if he was buck naked. He found his key under the mat inside the grill and opened his apartment. Who cared if he was