Page 124 of The Charm of You

Austin widens his stance, and his steely expression practically cuts through my crumbling exterior.

But if he thinks he can scare me off, he has another thing coming. I will not back down so easily.

“You have feelings for me that go beyond the surface-level fun you’ve been telling yourself we’ve had. Just admit it,” I urge through gritted teeth as frustration bubbles inside my body.

“What good would it do, huh? My feelings don’t mean shit.” He hangs his head. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Princess. A lot you don’t understand.”

“Tell me, then,” I whisper pleadingly. “I want to understand. I can’t bear the thought of leaving and knowing you won’t be here when I come back.”

“That’s just the thing.” He raises his head and swipes at the corner of his lips, his thumb raking over his trimmed beard. “I’ll always be here in Sapphire Creek. I’m not leaving for you or for anyone else, and I’m sure as hell not going to New York. That’s where you need to be, though. You’re not coming back.”

“I’m not asking you to move there.”

“Then what are you asking?” His defeated gaze bores into mine. “From where I’m standing, we don’t have a future together. That’s the fucking truth.”

“You’re wrong.” I dig my proverbial heels into the ground.

This connection between us is too all-consuming and real. The kind of once-in-a-lifetime feeling that we’re lucky and blessed to experience. I can’t let it—or him—go so quickly.

Even though he’s right, and our situation is complicated, I have to try.

“I know you’re scared, and I am too. But it doesn’t…” I swallow the rest of my words as he releases a humorless chuckle. It hits me square in the chest, and I purse my lips.

Is he making fun of me?

“Don’t tell me what I am and what I’m not. You don’t know me as well as you think you do.” His frown somehow deepens—I didn’t think that was possible. “You want more truth, Princess? How’s this for truth? Even if you lived here, we couldn’t make it work. I don’t have room for you in my life.”

I shrink back as the weight of his words grows heavy on my shoulders and chest.

“Is that clear and honest enough for you?” He brushes past me and disappears into the house, leaving me alone with my champagne and a single tear streaming down my cheek.

Why is he doing this?

I still don’t think he wants this to end, but I don’t have any other choice. Not when he so desperately believes what he spewed.

“Hey.” Maren steps into my blurred vision and grasps my elbow. “What’s going on?”

“I, um…” I swipe under my eye and clear my throat. “I’m leaving town sooner than I thought.”

chapter

thirty-nine

AUSTIN

In my driveway, I throw my truck into park and let the back of my head hit the seat.

What I really want to do is fucking punch something.

Why did I tell her I don’t have room for her in my life?

Oh, right. It’s what I tell every woman until she stops asking for more altogether.

For the last few days, I truly believed it—I didn’t have room for Caroline in my life.

But as soon as I said the words out loud to her, I hated myself. I immediately wanted to take them back. I wish I never said them.

She looked at me like each word was a hammer to her heart.

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