Page 35 of Holidate Pursuit

“You’re right, but our backgrounds will cause issues in the future. If we were to end up together, our ideals would be so far from each other that we’d constantly be fighting. It just won’t work between us, and it’s better to figure that out now than get more involved only to regret it in the end. I should’ve realized that before I started things up again. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? Are you kidding me right now? What—you’re suddenly a psychic and can see the future? Just like that, you’ve decided we can’t be together because I come from money. Money that isn’t mine, that I choose to live without, and have no qualms not getting a dime of. You’re backtracking based on some big assumptions.”

“I prefer to call it intuition—maybe instinct. You could even go so far as sensible. You may be saying those things now, but this affects your children. You might want to send them to the most expensive schools in the country one day. Look, Lucy, I don’t want to string you along just because we’re compatible in the bedroom. You deserve someone who will make you happy inthe long run, and you’ll have plenty of time to find that before going home next year.” He gives me a small smile that I want to punch right off his face.

Taking the ring off my finger, I hold it out and drop it into his open palm. “Well then, I guess a thank-you is in order. Thank you for being a coward and for reminding me exactly why I can’t trust you.”

“Something’s not adding up. Are you sure your dad didn’t threaten him or something?” Lily asks when I tell her how the week went and how things ended between Justin and me.

“My dad’s a jerk, so I wouldn’t put it past him, but there’s nothing to threaten him with. It simply is what it is. I can’t make him want to be with me. And why would I want to be with someone who keeps changing his mind, anyway? This is exactly what he did before. Shouldn’t I be grateful he told me to my face this time?”

“Speaking of, I heard some gossip you might be interested in.” She wiggles her brows, trying to bait me.

It works. “What did you hear and from who, so I know if it’s legit.”

“Sebastian and Eli, who know Justin fairly well since they’ve used his company so much throughout the years. So, did you know he’s the one who was first assigned to me before I even knew Sebastian had me being watched?” she asks, making me wince.

“I did, sorry.” At the time, I didn’t feel guilty because I was happy to have Justin visiting the office to deliver reports, plus I didn’t know Lily all that well. Once we became friends, the guilt set in that she was in the dark.

“Don’t be. It’s just Sebastian’s way of caring. But anyway, that’s not the point. Apparently, Justin was pretty upset over my kidnapping that night and insisted it was entirely his fault. He took all the blame, removing himself from my protection and assigning replacements. Wasn’t that around the time you two were seeing each other?”

“Yeah. But how did this come up while I was gone?”

“Okay, don’t get mad, but I told the guys why he went home with you for Christmas since Sebastian already knew a little about it from that day. Then—”

I cut her off. “By the way, I never did give you shit for that. You know he’s been trying to promote me ever since? Next time you better warn me when he’s around.”

She shakes her head in exasperation. “You’re crazy, and we’re coming back to that, but first, you’re missing the point. Why do you think he ended up ghosting you in the first place? Think back to when it happened. Wasn’t he with you the night of the kidnapping?” She lets her question hang while I mull that over.

When he left so abruptly the next morning, it was obviously from the phone call about it. At the time, I remember using the whole thing as an excuse when Eli told me what happened. But what if there was more to it?

Lily’s looking at me expectantly, so I finally answer her question. “We went to a late dinner that night because he worked the gala. It was the first time he stayed over.”

“See? He was with you while something happened to me that he felt responsible for. Maybe that’s why he cut things off.”

“Maybe, but that still doesn’t excusehowhe did it. And why couldn’t he say that? Even last week, he had plenty of time toexplain, but he didn’t. No, I’m not buying it. And honestly, I’m done looking for excuses.”

“I can’t blame you there. It just sucks. You guys seem to have this connection, like you’re meant to be together or something.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, MissI Read Too Many Romance Novels.”

“Oh, whatever. Sue me for wanting you to get your happily ever after.”

“I’m not thinking that’s in my future quite yet. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.”

“You never know… third time’s a charm,” she says, making me giggle.

“We won’t ever know because he’s not getting another chance.”

“Fine. Maybe we’ll find you a new man on New Year’s Eve. The party we’re going to this weekend will be amazing.” She holds her hand up, palm facing me, as my mouth starts to open. “Before you protest, we already bought the tickets, so you’re going. You get a plus-one, too, because… well, I thought you guys might be together when you got back—sorry.” She looks down in guilt but then pops her head back up. “You could see if Jordan wants to go?”

“I amnotasking him out. Anyway, I have someone in mind already. My ex, Richard, I told you about? He’ll be in town next week for work and asked if I wanted to meet for a drink. I may as well see if he wants to go.”

“You’re playing with fire, Lucy.”

“I’ve already been burned by Mr. Burns. How much worse can it get?”

SECRET SANTA

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