Page 47 of Hidden Dane
She towered over him as he sat on the bed. She crossed her hands and stood taller, like she readied for a fight. “Relationships like ours don’t work out.”
She didn’t need a gun or bullets. His entire body tensed as he rose, making sure to look down at her. “How do you know?”
She threw her hands in the air and paced the room. “What do you mean? What healthy relationship have you ever had?” Emily stopped and waited for his answer.
He shrugged. “I thought this one might work out.”
She sucked on her lip bottom lip and for one second, he thought she’d apologize and they’d move on. But then she crossed her hands again. “For now. How long until we’re both bored and want to go chase something or someone else?”
Maybe she was irritable because she hadn’t eaten or slept much. He backed toward the phone to call for room service as he said, “Emily, I’ve never chased a woman in my life.”
She followed him toward the nightstand like he was the prey she needed to slay. “Dane, I know we’ve all been easy for you.”
“Emily, you’re not easy.” Yes, his tone was defensive. Emily had never been that.
His leg brushed against the edge of the bed and he stopped. Emily continued toward him, her mouth tight, her blue eyes cold. “I guess I’m not, but it’s better that we break up now, Dane.”
Emily knew how to rip out his heart and dance on his grave with those words. He stilled as he asked, “Break up? Are you serious?”
She nodded and that affirmation was just another spike in his open, gaping wound. “I don’t want to move to Boston with you. I can’t just walk around your house and not have a position.”
His mind couldn’t process everything she said. He pivoted to move away from her as he shook his head. “You’ll get one. You’re talented.”
She scoffed and ran her hand through her hair. “At what? Writing history reports? I’ll write about the Irish Crown Jewels--which we had in our hands and lost. I’m sure history journals will be lined up to read my failed work.”
Was this why she wanted to break up? Because they’d lost the jewels? She wanted to write a paper to get a job? He hadn’t considered this. He rallied his weary body and pointed to the door. “Do you want to chase Alexandre then? I told you I’d drive all night.”
Emily sat on the bed. “We have no direction and I’m tired.”
Sleep was needed for both of them. He sat beside her as he said, “But not too tired for this conversation.”
She turned on the bed and took his hand. “No. Dane the best thing for both of us is to stop any more relationship stuff.”
The sparks from her touch were clearly one-sided. He’d had no idea. He took his hand back and said, “I can’t force you to stay.”
“No. You can’t.” She lowered her voice.
A moment later, her phone rang. She stood and headed to her pocketbook he’d brought for her. “Sophie’s calling.”
His phonedingedand he read his father’s text message. Emily looked at him from across the room and he nodded at her. “Michael and Sophie have arrived so your family is together. You’ll be safe with them, but it’s better if you go down the hall to them on your own.”
“Don’t leave the hotel,” Emily said and walked toward the door. “Michael will want to see you and I don’t want to interfere.”
Right. She’d done her best to kill him and now she was done. He followed her to the door to see her out. He was a sucker for believing they had a chance. As she opened the door, he asked, “Emily?”
“Yeah?” She paused in the threshold.
“I really wanted us to work out this time. I’m sorry.” He brushed her arm one more time.
If these flashes of desire were just in him, he had to let her go.
She sighed, closed her eyes and leaned against the door, then glanced at him. “Me too, Dane. Goodbye.”
She closed the door behind her and just like a rush of wind outside, she was gone. His mother had lied to him all his life. Emily had made him believe in the impossible and that was obviously a lie. Maybe he was better off on his own—women never trusted him with the truth.
Chapter 16
Birds chirped outside the window. Emily blinked and covered her head to block the light as she dug into the bleached white sheets and down comforter at the hotel.
