Page 77 of His One True Wish

He extended a hand. “Billie, I couldn’t — ”

I stepped forward and pushed him with both my hands. Snow fell on my face and my eyelashes. I couldn’t breathe fast enough. “Don’tact like you’re sorry now. And I know this is my problem since we aren’t anything. We’re nothing, so I know I’m being stupid.” Tears choked my voice, and I felt sick for being so weak.

“I told you that I don’t do relationships,” Axl said, his voice low and gravelly.

“I know you don’t, but you should have never touched me,” I said, shaking. “You knew how I felt about liars and cheaters. And now I find out that you are the biggest liar of all.”

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“Yes, you did,” I said, looking up into his green eyes. I thought I saw them glisten, but that was impossible. Axl didn’t have feelings the way I did. If he had any integrity, he would have told me about Angel, come clean. Instead, he seduced me and used me. He pretended to be someone else to manipulate me into feeling sorry for him and letting him stay in our cabin. “You made me believe you are someone that you are not.”

“I am who I am, Billie,” he said, reaching for me again.

“No.” I swatted his hand off my arm and walked past the truck. “I know who you are now. You are a piece of shit who fucks around with married women and then leaves them out in the cold.”

“She had a ride.”

“I don’t care if she had a ride. I am guessing she isn’t the first married woman you’ve fucked around with.”

“I’m not answering that.”

“Yeah, I figured.” I looked at him, tears spilling. “I hate that you made me feel stupid.”

Axl said nothing.

“She told me about your business, too,” I said.

“Fuck,” he said.

“You’re a billionaire? A millionaire? I don’t know? I do know that you don’t need a good deal on this lease. In fact, you don’t need to be here at all.”

“I wasn’t trying to manipulate you,” Axl said. “I don’t like telling people about that part of my life.”

“I don’t give a shit what your reasons were. I’m leaving. I am goingto dig my car out of this drive. I am putting on chains and going home.”

“Billie, it’s still not safe out there,” he said.

“Fuck you. I know these mountains, and I am not staying here with you another night. Fuck. You. Axl.” My nose flared with anger.

“We had a deal, Billie.”

“You had a deal,” I said, pushing him. “We both agreed that what happens in Smoke River stays in Smoke River, but you weren’t supposed to lie to me. I deserve better than that.”

He nodded.

I walked up the stairs and tried to open the kitchen door. It was stuck firmly in place. I stared at the door for a moment before turning to look at him.

“You’re not the only one who is a liar,” I said.

Confusion flashed across his face.

“Gran’s dead,” I said. “She passed away six months ago, so all those emails you’ve been writing, nobody’s read them. Not me, not my mom, and not Gran. The lease you have in Smoke River is with my grandmother. She’s gone now, and as soon as I’m home, I’ll find a way to get you out of here.”

I glanced back to see Axl frozen in the drive, his face pale and his mouth open in shock. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Yeah, well, it’s too late for ‘I’m sorrys’ from either of us, isn’t it?” I said. “The door is locked,” I blurted, holding out my hands. “Do you have the keys?”

Without a word, Axl walked past me and unlocked the door.

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