Page 81 of The Rancher's Unrequited Love

"This is the best surprise, darling."

He thinks I'm here to tell him I've agreed to marry him...andhave a high-profile wedding like he wanted to. It was originally what we argued about and kept usfrom making the engagement official, but there are obviously other issues now, and I anxiously tug his sleeve. "Listen, it's not—-"

But Jack's already put an arm around my waist, and the way my body automatically flinches at his touch makes me feel so guilty I end up letting him lead me to his table. A chorus of heys and wassups from his friends and their girlfriends welcome me, and I numbly go through the motions as we exchange a series of meaningless hugs and kisses.

A deluge of questions follows, and I realize in horror Jack's told them about my trip to Wyoming while twisting the truth at the same time. He's always had the tendency to pad his stories, like he doesn't think anything's ever worth telling as it is.

"The town's police chief personally came to rescue Raffi?"

"That's not—-"

Jack's chest puffs up with pride. "My girl's famous, you know."

"It's not—-"

"Hear, hear. Cheers to that!"

"You all got it wrong!"But my protest is drowned by the sound of everyone cheering and clinking their glasses, and I'm forced to wait until the noise level goes down, and they can hear me again. "It's really not like that—-"

"You've always liked to see the world with rose-colored glasses," Jack says indulgently. "But trust me, darling. When you have a real job like ours, you'll soon see for yourself everything's just one big, ugly rat race."

"To be fair though," one of Jack's colleagues interrupts jokingly, "it might be as Raffi says. The guy came to her rescue because it's all he's trained to do, being police chief of a no-name town in Wyoming—-"

The whole table laughs, and I can only watch them, unable to believe I've made myself tolerate this kind of b.s. for years. Jack and his crew have always had this need to make themselves feel good at other people's expense, but I've always made excuses for them in my mind, and all for what?

Because I think my life is okay as it is, and if it comes with people like Jack and his friends, then I should be okay with them, too?

Because this is what I believe I deserve, and I can't be too greedy and ask for more?

I look at Jack, and he's still the same attractive man I first met. Still dressed like the hotshot lawyer he wants everyone to see him as. I've never really felt the strongest desire for him before, but I've never felt revolted by him either.

Now, however...

I look at him, and the sight of him sickens and shames me.

Nothing about Jack and me feels right anymore. Nothing about us makes sense. And even the admiration and respect I used to feel for Jack...it's all gone now, and...shit.

My purse suddenly starts to vibrate, and I fumble in my hurry to get my phone out.

Aidan:See you in ten.

Raffi:No. Something came up. Can you call me? Please? PLEASE.

The seconds tick by, and I have to fight against the urge to start biting my nails as I wait for Aidan's reply.

Shit, shit, shit.

I jab theCallbutton for his number, but his phone just rings endlessly. I call him again and again, but he still doesn't pick up, and I don't even know how many minutes it's been since his last text.

Shit.

Jack frowns when I suddenly jump to my feet. "Something wrong, darling?"

"I, um, there's someone I need to meet—-"

The hairs behind my neck shoot up, and my whole body turns into ice as I hear a familiar deep voice murmur, "That someone wouldn't happen to be me, would it?"

Oh. Fuck. Me.

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