Page 32 of Intrigued By Love

“The fact we come from different worlds. You’re Hollywood and affluence. I’m a military brat.”

“Who owns a huge percentage of this resort.”

Shit, I’d forgotten he’d been part of the initial financing for the development of the property. Back then he’d offered to loan me more money to get a more substantial stake, but I’d refused, wanting to make the investment with my own savings.

“Jax, why can’t you see I’ll never fit into your world. I work for a living. I like working. You’d be better with a woman you could take to events and wouldn’t give you as much trouble as I do. I know I’m not an easy person.”

“And I am. Answer this, have I ever asked you to change, to fit into any mold?”

“No, you never told me to change, but you kept me as a separate part of your life. I won’t ever be that again.”

“Dammit, Kai, I told you why I did that. I wanted to keep you from the disaster my parents are. If I was ashamed of anyone or wanted someone to change, it would be my parents. They don’t matter anyway. I haven’t had a relationship with them since before you left me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to bring my shit home to you.”

“And that’s the problem. I’m the one person you’re supposed to turn to, to stand beside you. Instead, you kept me far away from things.”

“I can’t change the past, Kai.”

“I know. But I won’t risk the same results again.”

Hurt flashed on his face. “I really was fighting a losing battle. There was no chance for us from the beginning.”

He slid from the bed, moving to the chair where his clothes lay. He put them on and then glared at me.

“You aren’t blameless in this. You ran away. Instead of fighting for us, instead of confronting me, you got it in your head it was time to go and you moved on. You left. And I had to pick up the pieces. Did you know I’d left that weekend to get my grandmother’s engagement ring from the family vault in Los Angeles? Did you know I was arranging for your family to fly in so I could propose to you? Or that Kevin had to be the one to see the aftermath of my shattered heart when I realized you ended us without looking back?”

What?

He wanted to marry me? I’d always hoped, but Jax rarely mentioned anything about a future with marriage. I’d thought he was happy with the way things were between us.

Had I read everything wrong?

My hands shook as I stared into his eyes and saw the truth of his words.

Why hadn’t Kevin told me this?

“I didn’t know.” My throat burned.

“All I’ve ever wanted was what your parents have, what Thad’s parents have.” He grabbed his keys and moved to the stairs leading to the lower level of my bungalow. “It doesn’t matter. It feels as if everything I’ve done to convince you of how much I love you was a complete waste of time. It only pushed you further away.”

“It wasn’t. It hasn’t. I just need to process everything.”

“Dammit, Kai. What more do I have to do to convince you I’m in this for good? I feel as if I’m fighting a losing battle.” The resignation in his voice had panic churning in my stomach.

This couldn’t be how it ended.

“Jax.” I reached out. “Please don’t go. Not like this.”

At that moment, my alarm went off, making me cringe.

“You have wedding details to manage. I’ll let you get to it.”

Jax left, slamming the downstairs door.

* * *

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