Page 22 of Without Fail

“I know and I’m going to catch hell, but I also have something I need to tell you in person.”

“Okay.” She smiled, placing her hand over his where it lay resting on his thigh.

“I’m getting a sense that our personalities don’t mesh,” he began, not sure where he was going with this or what he was trying to convey, but he’d start there and see if she’d at least acknowledge that. If would make breaking up easier.

Also, he was never one to mince words when it mattered and he wasn’t going to start now. Of course, he wasn’t going to mention Marshal, that would just hurt her feelings.

“Mesh? I think we get along great. Is it because we haven’t had sex? Because you know I’m open to that.” She scooted closer.

“I…don’t think so…”

But he couldn’t be sure and frowned. Was that the reason he felt disconnected from her? Was the lack of sex the reason hewas annoyed with the things she said and did? Would sex make that better? Or more importantly, would sex make them get along better?

He doubted it, plus the idea of having sex with her was unappealing.

“I think our personalities clash.” He tried to sound gentle, but the words were stark and anger filled her beautiful face.

“How so?” she snapped. Squeezing the water bottle tightly, the plastic crackled.

Taking a deep breath, he stuck to the facts of why they didn’t work.

“I like kids, I love being around kids. I loved being at Light Bright and I don’t think you do.”

She stared at him and he could see he had her there. He wondered if she’d admit it or lie her way out of it.

“Look, I’m not opposed to children, just not other people’s kids,” she said.

“I like noisy places. I like to eat from food trucks, and I love to shop at thrift stores,” he countered.

“I can learn to like those,” she said, her voice full of determination.

“I’m ugly. You’re going to go out with me and this face for the rest of your life.” He knew his scars bothered her and he also knew she was pinning her hopes on the surgery fixing everything.

“But you’re having surgery!” She tightened her hand on his.

“The doctors told me that it won’t fix all the scars.”

“It…won’t?” She frowned.

He’d deliberately not worn a mask today and she flickered her eyes over his face. She couldn’t look directly at his scars for long.

“Let’s end this,” Ryker said, waving a hand between them.

She looked thoughtful but stayed silent.

He left her then and pulled on his shoes before stepping outside and closing the front door. He finally drew in a deep breath of fresh, cool, crisp air as he walked down the front steps.

Ending things had been the right thing to do. There would be hell to pay when his father caught wind of him breaking the engagement, but he’d deal with that when the time came.

Right now, though, he had bigger fish to fry.

Namely in the form of the sexy bodyguard leaning against his sports car.

And if the man’s frown was any indication…a storm was brewing.

Hailey sighed with frustration and turned to gaze at her brother lurking in the doorway.

“How much did you hear?”

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