Page 35 of Tangled Passion

Pearl turned toward him and scowled.

“What?” he asked. He hadn’t seen her this mad in a while.

“She came in to say goodbye a few hours ago,” Pearl said.

It took a moment to understand what she said. “Where did she go?” He could feel his stomach tighten with every minute that passed.

“She didn’t tell me. She did say she’d keep in touch with me.”

Trey wiped a hand down his face. “Do you know why she left?”

Pearl shrugged. “She didn’t say, but if I had to guess, I figure she thought the relationship wasn’t going anywhere, and she’s not the type of woman to live with men without some kind of commitment.”

“Commitment? Jesus, she has us wrapped around her little finger. We never want her to leave. She’s our world.”

“Did you guys ever tell her that?” Pearl asked.

Trey went to nod but then started thinking about whether words had ever been said. He just assumed they were a trio and would be together. Had they said anything about the future or how they felt? Fuck, he didn’t remember anything, and he wanted to kick himself.

Pearl must have caught the look on his face because she snorted and shook her head. “Knuckleheaded men.”

He had to agree with her. “We’ll find her and bring her back. There’s no other option.”

“I hope you can do it because she’s the best thing to happen to this place and you guys in a long time.”

Trey nodded. He agreed with her. Madelyn made every day seem brighter, and he couldn’t remember smiling as much as he did with her.

“I’ll find my brother.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.” He was afraid he was going to need it.

Chapter Twenty

Madelyn watched Trey get into a truck and drive off. Thinking it might be the last time she ever saw him made her feel nauseous, and the pain was unbearable.

She turned back to her suitcases, packed the rest of her things, and set the bags by the door.

She’d already written the men letters telling them how much she enjoyed being with them. She also told them she knew it was time to leave, and she wasn’t going to make it harder and wait for them to ask her to go. She loved them too much for that.

One more time, she glanced around before picking up her cases and taking them downstairs. Daisy was not there, so she wrote a little note for her before heading to say goodbye to Pearl.

Pearl tried talking her into staying and talking with the men because she knew they both loved her and wanted her to stay.

They had talked about her moving in with them, but that’s it. There were no words of emotion or a future commitment, and she didn’t want to wait another week or month for it, and then it never happened. If she left now, she figured it would be easier.

After hugging the older woman and promising to keep in touch, Madelyn reached her car and drove out of the driveway before her hands started shaking. She knew she needed to cry, but she wanted to be several miles from the lodge to find a place for the night.

Madelyn tried to think of anything besides her heart breaking. Anything to keep from crying. She didn’t know if she’d ever tell her children about how her vacation ended or what had happened. Some things had to stay private.

An hour later, she pulled into a motel that looked decent and parked. She got out of her car and looked around. There wasa restaurant attached to the motel, but she wasn’t hungry. Hell, the way she was feeling, she’d never be hungry again.

An older man met her at the tall counter inside the motel office.

“How can I help ya, ma’am?”

“I’d like a room for the night, please.”

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