Page 41 of Bryce

She should at leastsay goodbye, shouldn’t she? Shaking her head, she went to grabher jacket and changed into rain boots before dashing outside intopuddles and a light drizzle. It was better this way, she thoughtgrimly as she went to her car.

*****

He watched her leavefrom his position at the window and despised himself for wanting totake a last look at her. She seemed to be in a hurry. As if shesensed he was looking at her, she stopped and looked up at hiswindow.

Like a coward, hestepped out of view and held his breath as she stood there staring.Letting his breath out on a whoosh, he watched as she stepped intothe vehicle and drove off.

He had his suitcaseopen on the bed and half his clothing packed. He had no idea where hewas going, at least not yet. He could call his assistant and have himcall the pilot to meet him somewhere. Italy, Ireland, Paris, theCaribbean, he could be gone in a minute.

And never set foot inthis place again.

With that resolve inmind, he turned back to his packing, ignoring the sinking, lonelyfeeling in his heart. It was better this way. A clean break andignore the heaviness of a heart that felt as if it was breaking intoa million pieces.

*****

“Don’tleave!” Sandra’s voice was sharp, her fingers digginginto her friend’s flesh.

“I am righthere. If you would only ease your fingers off a little and allow meto get some circulation back, I would be most grateful.”

“Misery lovescompany.” Sandra snickered as she eased back. “And sincemy darling husband is not here to take the brunt of it, you’renext in line.”

“Lucky me.”

Her friend laughed atthe dryness of her tone.

“I am not fullydilated, so this is going to take hours. God, I want this baby out ofme.”

“When is Briancoming back?”

“He is tryingto get a flight out, but the weather is against him. The poor thingis frantic. I bet I can ask him for anything, and it would be grantedwithout a word.”

“That’snever been a problem before.” Zahra used the damp rag to wipeher friend’s brow. They were in the maternity ward because shewas not yet due for delivery. The hospital was small, but efficientand the rooms clean and tidy. Curtains had been used as privacyshields around the beds.

“How’sthe movie star?”

It took willpower andlots of it for her not to jolt at the question.

“He’sleaving.” Zahra busied herself straightening the sheets andfluffing pillows.

“So soon? Ithought he was here for a month. It’s been two weeks.”

Two weeks? Zahrathought with a pang. It seemed so much longer.

“He has thingsto do.” People like Bryce Whitlock don’t do small townfor very long.”

Sandra eyed herfriend curiously as she rubbed Sandra’s stomach to help takethe contraction away.

“Whathappened?”

“Nothing.”

“Bitch, I am inpain, uncomfortable and about to deliver a baby the size of afootball or even bigger, so don’t make me get off this bed andchoke the answer out of you.”

“Your languageneeds work.”

“Zahra.”

She sighed heavily.“He wanted to take me to bed.”

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