Page 53 of It Takes a Thief
We step back, and I sniff. “I never wanted him. Not really. All I’ve ever wanted is to live my own life on my own terms. To be free.”
My parents exchange another look.
“You dropped a pretty big bomb about being in love.” My mom searches my face. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Does he feel the same?” my dad asks.
“I know he cares for me, but I think I’m the only one who was foolish enough to fall in love.”
“Do you want me to ban him from the country, Peach?”
My dad is so serious, and I shake my head.
“No, Dad, but thank you.” I let out a sigh.
“You should talk to him before he leaves,” my mom encourages. “Let him know how you feel.”
My mouth opens as I struggle to find the words. “You would accept him?” I finally ask, fighting back my emotions. Because their acceptance would mean everything to me.
“You’re a good judge of character, Merritt,” my dad states. “If you say he’s a good man and he loves you, then that’s all we could ask for. The rest will work itself out.”
“Thank you. That means more than you know.” Biting my lip to keep from crying, I hug them both then spin away and hurry to the guest room where Linc is staying.
Except when I step inside, it’s empty. His things are gone, and a hurt like I’ve never known slices through my heart. Any little bit of hope I’d been harboring vanishes.
He didn’t even say goodbye.
A heavy sadness fills me as I walk out and go to my room.
Why would he leave without finding me first?
The moment I step into my bedroom, I see the cupcake, and I walk over to my nightstand. There’s a note beneath it and I pick it up.
Mer, you deserve the best and I wish you every happiness.
My knees give out and I drop onto the bed, eyes flooding with tears.
If he felt even half of what I’m feeling for him, he wouldn’t have run away like a thief in the night. He would’ve at least said goodbye. Not left a cold, generic note.
But he doesn’t care.
The truth hurts terribly, but I can’t ignore it.
To Lincoln Decker, I was just a job. And, unfortunately, a foolish little girl who lost her heart to her bodyguard.
Chapter Twenty: Linc
I’m sitting in an armchair, ankle crossed over my opposite knee, waiting in the darkness for Jeffrey Dumbass to return home. Breaking into his house was child’s play, laughably easy, and I’m not leaving this country until I hear the truth from his mouth. Then I’m going to kick his ass and let Merritt and her parents know what kind of SOB Dumas really is.
When a key finally turns in the front door, I clench my fists and watch as Dumas walks in, slams the door shut behind him and turns on the lights. He jumps when he sees me.
Yeah, he should be scared.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demands, angrily stomping forward until he’s directly in front of me.
“I have some questions for you.”
