Page 95 of Without Apology

“Hi.” Maybe I’d been fooling myself to think I deserved this woman. That I could manage both a career and relationship.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have to leave.” The words were like acid on my tongue.

Her face didn’t reflect as much surprise as it probably should have. “Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s a potential hiccup with the sale. Something unavoidable. I have to get to the office to deal with it.” Technically, I wasn’t lying, but she could read between the lines. I couldn’t give her details about the company she was working for when I was on the other side of the transaction.

She bit her lip and looked as if she might cry, which made me feel like the biggest arse in the world. “Okay. Did you at least want to say goodbye to everyone?”

“Yes. Of course.” I wasn’t that much of a shit to sneak out the door.

It might as well have been an execution and I was a dead man walking. Everyone was seated at the table waiting for me, with the girls fighting over who would get to sit next to me and Peyton.

“I regret I need to leave. Unfortunately, there’s an emergency at work.”

Kevin was the only one to give me a look of sympathy while his wife glared daggers, and Peyton wouldn’t even meet my eyes.

She walked me silently to the door, her arms wrapped around her waist in a vulnerable pose.

“Please understand this was never my intention,” I said. “This is an unavoidable crisis.”

Her gaze lifted to mine. “I do understand.”

“You do?” I was skeptical, but hopeful at the same time.

“Yeah. Go.”

Although her words conveyed an understanding of my unavoidable dilemma, I started to have second thoughts once I was in my car, driving way. Forcing my unease out of my head, I reasoned she knew I didn’t have a choice.

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