Page 51 of Protecting Chaos

He closed the door and paused. “I see you’ve already packed. I’m sure the plane is already here. Let me grab my things and we can go.”

“The danger is over. I’m not going,” Stella said. “At least I’m not going back home.”

25

Stella

“Because of Grant?” Ashton asked.

She folded her arms over her chest. “Did you know that he was the one buying all my paintings? That he waspayingpeople to buy my paintings?”

“No. I never knew. Well, not until today after visiting Marcus in the hospital.”

“I find that hard to believe, Ash. You can read his thoughts. Are you telling me he never thought about it while he was around you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Stella. I didn’t know. You have my word.”

Stella paced into the living room, and Ash followed her. “Talk to me, Stella. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here for you. We’ll deal with this together.”

“I’m a fraud, Ash. My life is one big lie, and I’m having a hard time trying to process what he did and what this means.”

“He loves you, Stella. He was worried about you. I can only imagine that he wanted to help without it feeling like he was.”

“So, he sent his fiancée to pay people to like my art? That’s cold. I…” She threw up her hands. “I don’t know how to process that. I thought I was finally getting somewhere. That people were starting to like my work, but they weren’t.”

“You’re talented, Stella. Don’t use this as an excuse to run away. We just found each other again. Don’t you want to even see where this can go?”

“See where things can go? You’re afraid to tell my brother about us. You always have been.” She shook her head. “You don’t even know me. Hell, how naïve was I to not see through my brother’s lies? Everyone has been lying to me—my brother, Conrad, Marcus…”

He crossed the distance between them and rested his hand on her cheek. “I didn’t lie to you. You and I are real. The chemistry between us is real.” His eyes searched hers. “You feel it too. I know you do.”

“You walked away from us once to find yourself. I think it’s my turn to do the same.” She turned into his palm and kissed it. “We both need the break to figure things out. I’ll no longer be a damsel in distress you have to save, and you can go back to the life you left me for.”

“Damn it, Stella, that’s not what I want, and I never, not once, looked at you like a damsel in distress. You’re one of the strongest women I know. You always have been. So, so what that Grant was trying to help in his misguided ways. That doesn’t change who you are and who we are when we’re together.”

She lowered her head. He wasn’t getting it. “Would you be here if it weren’t for Grant? Would you have come looking for me?”

He frowned. The answer was written in his eyes.

She cupped his cheek and pressed a tender kiss on his lips. “It’s okay. I’ll be okay.”

“Stella, don’t do this.”

She dropped her hold and stepped back. “Stay as long as you want and lock up when you leave, okay?”

“Where are you going?”

She shrugged and fought back the tears that were stinging her eyes. “To clear my head. Tell my brother not to come looking for me. I’ll call him when I’m ready.” She turned and grabbed her luggage. “For what it’s worth, Ash, I feel it too. I always have.”

She grabbed her keys and luggage and left him standing in the living room as the first tear slipped down her cheek.

Damn Grant for sending Ashton and making her heart break for wanting him again.

Stella headed directly to the airport. She parked her car in long-term parking and walked inside the terminal and up to the ticket counter.

“Can I help you?” the counter agent asked.

“I’d like a ticket, please.”

---