Page 90 of Lead Me Knot

I can’t excuse that away when I know it by heart. Baylor. Why would Baylor’s number be listed as the contact number? Unless it is.

Dropping the paper on the counter, I jump when Baylor returns. “I have two surprises . . .” he says, but I don’t hear the rest.

My gaze lowers to the letter again. Does he own . . .? No. He wouldn’t do that. Why would he trick me into marrying him? That makes no sense. It was my plan. He was just going along with it.

“Shortcake?” My gaze lifts, and I turn around with my hands gripping the edge of the counter. He says, “I have something for you.”

My gaze travels to the manila envelope he’s holding up, but my mind is still on the letter behind me. Shooting him a glare, I stand tall, and ask, “Do you own this shopping center?”

CHAPTER 32

Baylor

“Why do you ask that?”Feigning innocence was never a strong suit. Although it feels justified since I walked out of the sunshine and right into the dark of a situation. I’m going to need some guidance to find my way out.

With her arms crossed over her chest, Lauralee’s fingers dig into her skin, whitening the tips. This isn’t looking good for me. “Baylor, what have you done?”

I foolishly glance at the door like I entered the wrong apartment. “I was gone for two minutes. What did I miss?”

She reaches for a letter on the stack of mail behind her and rattles it in the air. “Please tell me you aren’t Greene Ventures.” Her voice is steady but too controlled, as if it could go off the rails at any moment.

Fuck.

Keeping my voice as composed as I can, I set the manila envelope on the coffee table, and reply, “I can’t tell you that, but I can say that?—”

“You raised my rent?” Beelining to the other side of the room, she smashes the paper to my chest when she passes, putting as much distance as she can between us. Five feet wasn’t enough, I guess. “You were behind this all along.”

Taking the paper, I glance down, but then tell her, “I was cleaning up a mess I didn’t intend to happen?—”

“Everything is always good intentions with you, isn’t it? Yet I’m always on the negative receiving end of it.”

“It seems that way, but it’s not plan?—”

“My God, Baylor. Where does it end?” she shouts, the words cutting like a razor.

I take a breath, but it doesn’t calm my heart thudding in my chest, knowing I’m in trouble here. “It was ending today. I promise. That’s what I was trying to tell you.” I point at the envelope on the table between us. “That’s what this is. The end of it.”

She takes a deep breath, but no exhale follows. Instead, her shoulders rattle with a sob that breaks my heart as much as I’ve broken hers. “Please, Lauralee. I promise?—”

“Your promises no longer mean anything. You dole them out like candy and still expect me to believe you after breaking every one of them.”

When she turns her back to me, I worry there’s no changing her mind about anything other than what she’s already convinced herself. But I won’t give up. Not on her.Not ever.In my fool’s heart, I still believe we can find a way back to happiness.

“I’m telling you the truth. I took my eye off the ball, thinking the company would manage the building and not make decisions they were never given permission to do. I know you don’t want to hear explanations from me, but please, I beg you to give me the chance to clear this up.”

She turns back abruptly, hitting me with a glare that could melt ice. “I’m not one of your clients, Baylor,or some woman you’ve picked up for the night.” Her tongue is sharp and poised to deepen the wound, causing me to brace for what’s coming next. Though I deserve to hear it. I deserve to feel the cuts. I want them if she doesn’t have to go through it. She crosses her arms over her chest again as if she needs something to hold. “Your bullshit doesn’t fly with me.”

The accusation breaks the dam. Pointing at the floor, I grit, “I don’t bullshit my clients, and no other woman interests me. Only you. It’s only been you since the first time I walked through that door.”

Throwing her arms up, she rolls her eyes. “Oh my god, it doesn’t matter. Those women don’t, but I thought I did. I’m your wife who stood with you and said I do. I betrayed myself for believing I was different.” Her tears spill over the levee of her lower lids as her voice cracks. “You still chose to lie to me like I wasn’t.”

“I didn’t lie about the rent.”

“You lied about the building. You lied about the bet. If lying is your love language, I want no part of it.” Her anger wanes, curling her shoulders forward as if the weight is unbearable. “I thought you cared about me.”

My insides are shredded, but seeing her in so much pain rips my heart out. “I do. I care about you more than anything.”

“Your actions show otherwise.” Her tone turns self-righteous as she raises her chin, removing the privilege of her gaze. “What am I supposed to believe? Your words or your actions because they don’t align.” She starts for the bedroom, but I cut her off. I’m not going to fight with her with a door between us.

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