Say You'll Never Love Me by Ann Everett Read Free Book Online Page A

offered to drive her. Said the fresh air would do her good.
    His phone buzzed, and when he answered, Cheryl spoke in a whisper. “Beth Ann is in the parking lot. Should I say you’re not here?”
    Jared stiffened. There’d be no avoiding her, and he should explain about Julie. The last thing he wanted was for Beth to think he’d dumped her for an ex. It might feed her cra-cra gene. “No. If she asks for me, send her back.”
    He heard the click of her heels on the marble tile before she ever got to his door. Taking a deep breath, he watched until she appeared and didn’t wait for her to speak.
    “Come in.”
    “Thank you. I wasn’t sure you’d see me.”
    He gestured at one of the two client chairs and she sat. “I’m not mad at you, Beth. I’m glad you stopped by. I didn’t want to leave things the way we left them last night.”
    She opened her mouth to say something, but he raised his hand again. “No, let me finish. I told the truth about Julie.” But I’ve been lying plenty since then. “That’s the first time I’d seen her, and we are not back together and won’t be. But that doesn’t change things between you and me.”
    She leaned forward, rested her arms on the desk, and laced her fingers together. Her eyes were puffy, probably from crying or not sleeping, and he hated causing it, but there was no future with her and never would be.
    “That’s a relief. Well, the Julie part, not the us part. I’ll wait. I want more because I love you, but I won’t push. Just give us a chance.”
    Tears spilled onto her cheeks and Jared felt like the worst person on the planet. He wished there were magic words to let someone down easily, but no matter how you said, ‘I don’t love you,’ it always hurt. Years ago, the same sentiment had ripped his heart out and stripped him raw, and now, he was about to do the same thing. But he couldn’t back out. It’d taken a while to see the crazy streak in Beth, but it was there, so he needed to be firm. He grabbed a tissue and offered it.
    “We’ve given it six months.” He threaded fingers through his hair. Better to spit it out and be done. “I’m not in love with you. And why stay in a relationship that isn’t going anywhere?”
    Her breath hitched. For a moment, he weakened and wanted to offer comfort, but she’d take it the wrong way. He couldn’t risk it.
    She steepled her hands as if praying. “I understand what you’re saying, but if there’s no one else in the picture . . .”
    “Stop. I’m not willing to do that. It isn’t fair.” He almost apologized, but stopped himself, and added steel to voice. “Beth, it’s over. We’re over.”
    She kept silent as if waiting for him to take it all back. Then she wiped at her face, rose, walked to the doorway and faced him again. “Promise me you’ll think about it. Please?”
    “No.”
    She choked back a sob, stumbled. He thought she might fall, but steadied herself against the wall, and disappeared into the hallway.
    He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling, unclear about what was happening. He’d been verbally abusive with Julie, brutally honest with Beth, and lied to Raynie. Damn, talk about women trouble, he’d never had so much.

 
    Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.
    ~~Proverb quote
     
     
    SILBIE LOOKED SO PEACEFUL, her sweet face as beautiful as an angel. Raynie hated to wake her. The biggest surprise was how quickly she’d warmed up to the little girl. She thought any maternal instincts disappeared years ago with her miscarriage.
    A tear dropped onto her shirt, and once again, she didn’t understand what brought them on. Since coming to Lubbock, she’d turned into a crybaby. Homesick and already counting the days until she could leave this dreadful city and return to Austin.
    Well, it wasn’t all bad. Along with her niece and Mr. Remmus, meeting easy-on-the-eyes, Father Jared was the third bright spot in her life. A sunshine