Page 77 of Redemption

Not I love you, but I need you. It wasn’t the same. It wasn’t enough.

“That’s just it.” I wondered how we could be so very far apart in our opinion of what was best for our future. A week on my boat, with the wind in my hair and Jackson at my side, had clarified some things for me. “I don’t want to marry someone because we’re well suited. If I’m going to marry,” I said, “it will be for love.”

Out of everything Edward had said or promised this evening, he’d never once uttered that word—love. And rarely ever in the past.

“You’re tired,” he said with an indulgent smile that felt almost patronizing. “And I sprung this on you. You should rest. We can revisit this conversation in the morning.”

“In the morning?” I frowned.

“Yes.” He stepped closer. “I took off the week to be here with you.”

Warning bells signaled in my head. Maybe it was Jackson’s concern or my exhaustion, but I found myself asking, “How did you know I’d be here? How did you know I was staying for a week?”

He furrowed his brow. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“I—” I couldn’t find it in me to lie. “I’m certainly surprised.”

“If you must know, I asked your assistant Holly for your itinerary. She thought it was incredibly romantic that I was coming to surprise you.”

He sounded miffed. Like he’d expected me to fall at his feet for his grand gesture. Yet it felt hollow. Like he was going through the motions. I didn’t understand why.

Maybe I was misreading the situation. My mind and my heart were chaotic after everything that had happened with Jackson and now Edward.

“It’s Halle,” I said, wishing I’d told more people about the breakup, especially those closest to me. Maybe then, this whole situation could’ve been avoided.

“Same difference,” he said, waving a hand through the air.

“Edward—”

He placed his finger on my lips as if to silence me. “Just…give me a chance. Give us a chance.”

When I looked at Edward, I felt nothing. No sadness or regret. Nothing, really. Sure, we were compatible. But I wanted love. Devotion. Passion.

Everything you have with Jackson.

I sighed. My answer wasn’t going to change, but I was too exhausted to argue at this point. And then it dawned on me—Edward had probably been so confident I’d accept his proposal. He likely didn’t have a Plan B. Which meant, he was expecting to stay here.

Fuck.

No fucking way. “I’ll call reception and have them find you a room for the night.”

I turned my back to him and picked up the villa phone without waiting for a response from Edward. The front desk answered immediately. “Ms. Mackenzie. How may I be of assistance?”

“I have a guest who will be needing another room.”

“Of course. When will they be arriving?”

“They’re already here. We’ll need the room for tonight. As soon as possible. Whatever you have available.” I didn’t care how much it cost—no way in hell was I sharing this villa with Jackson and Edward.

I could hear the sound of a keyboard in the background and then, “I’m sorry, ma’am. We are at full occupancy. It’s peak season, and with the eclipse, the island has been booked for months since we have 99 percent totality.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Right. The eclipse.

“Even the ones you typically hold back?”

There was a brief silence, and then she said, “Unfortunately, yes. The governor decided to come to the island at the last minute, and he was offered the last of the rooms for himself and his staff.”

I sighed. I was thrilled the hotel had one hundred percent occupancy, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. “Can you check around with the other local hotels?”

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