Page 50 of Covert

Looking up, she stared him straight in the eye.

“No, that wasn’t an act.”

His eyes darkened to almost-black. “Then what was it?”

No matter how much she loved him, she couldn’t admit it. So what if he’d come here? He still hadn’t told her why and she’d be damned if she made a complete fool of herself by admitting her feelings.

“I was attracted to you from the start, like I told you. We’d been flirting for a while, we’d kissed a few times, so it seemed natural to take it to the next level.”

“That’s it?”

She schooled her features into a mask of indifference and shrugged. “What else could it be?”

He paled beneath his tan and she almost felt sorry for him. “Uh… I thought you might have feelings for me.”

“Feelings?”

She laughed, a bitter sound that did little to soothe the pain in her heart. Seeing Dylan again had resurrected her barely suppressed love; hearing him talk about feelings was too much.

“Come on, Dylan, we both know that would be disastrous.”

“Why?”

“We’re too different.” She waved a hand between them. “I’m trying to escape the shackles of my family, you’re so wound up in family responsibilities you can’t see straight.”

His eyes widened a fraction, drawing her into their seductive depths. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

And in that moment, Sam knew how to put an end to the heartache.

“Your attachment to Budgeree borders on obsessive. From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that you’re carrying some huge chip on your shoulder because of your dad. Is that why you’re so protective of the Harmon fortune?”

She’d done it; hit him where he was most vulnerable. Surely he’d leave her alone now?

He stood and thrust his hands in his pockets, anger radiating off him in waves, unable to meet her gaze.

“Sorry to have bothered you.”

“No bother. See you round.”

He didn’t respond and she watched him walk away, her heart breaking all over again.

38

“You’re an idiot, no doubt about it.” Ebony huffed out an exasperated breath and glared at her.

Sam stared at Ebony, surprised by her friend’s vehement reaction. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. You sure know how to kick a woman when she’s down.”

The wedding and reception had gone off without a hitch, despite Sam’s constant battle to hold back tears. Now, as she helped her friend change into her going away outfit, she’d finally told Ebony what happened with Dylan earlier.

What she hadn’t counted on was Ebony’s reaction.

“Are you that thick?” Ebony knocked on Sam’s head as if checking it wasn’t hollow. “Can’t you see the man’s in love with you?”

Sam snorted, hating the irrational flicker of hope in her heart. “Yeah, right.”

She turned away and busied herself with hanging Ebony’s beautiful dress.

Ebony grabbed her arm. “Did you give him a chance?”

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