Page 34 of Best Laid Plans
Or perhaps that was just what she wanted it to be.
Oh, how she ached for it to be that. And more, so much more.
‘According to him, it was my fault because I’d started to treat him like a project I’d grown bored with.’
‘Had you? Grown bored with him?’
‘No.’ She shrugged, then sighed in exasperation. ‘I don’t know. Maybe. I never meant him to feel like that. But I guess once he didn’t need me as much any more, I took a step back. Perhaps he didn’t like the fact I stopped doting on him like I had previously.’
‘You mean you started concentrating on yourself and the cafe and he was annoyed that he’d lost your undivided attention.’
‘I guess.’ The mention of the cafe reminded her what was waiting for her to deal with when she got back home, making her stomach roll with unease. ‘Ironically, I might lose the cafe soon anyway if we don’t get the funding we need. It can’t afford to pay me a living wage for much longer if we don’t get the grant I’ve applied for and there’s no way I’m going to fire any of my staff when they’ve worked so hard to make it a success.’
Putting the bottle back to her lips, she was surprised to find she’d almost finished all the beer. Shrugging, she knocked back the last bit, then stared out towards the twinkling lights that had begun to appear through the velvety dusk in nearby Nerano, desperately trying to pull herself together and regain some modicum of pride.
* * *
Julien stared at Indigo’s profile, transfixed, as she gazed off into the distance, the pain of her admission clear in her face. She looked younger and more vulnerable without the benefit of her make-up and the sight of it touched something in his heart.
There was a tight pressure in his chest as he reflected on all that she’d told him. She blamed herself for the breakup of her relationship, which was patently ridiculous. It sounded like the guy hadn’t been man enough to handle someone as headstrong as Indigo and, instead of having an honest conversation with her, he’d lied and cheated as a way to escape from a situation he couldn’t control.
A raging sense of injustice made him move closer to her on the sofa and slide his hand under her jaw, gently urging her to turn back and face him. He wanted to say something, do something to take that look from her face.
‘It never would have worked with Gavin, you know,’ he said, shocked by the force of his words as they left his lips.
She blanched, her eyes widening, clearly surprised by the vehemence of his statement. ‘You don’t think so?’
‘Non.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because you emasculated him.’
‘What? What do you mean?’ Pulling away from his touch, she stood up and took a step away from him.
He stood up too and held out a placating hand. ‘I mean he sounds like the type of guy that needs his partner to dote on him to make him feel powerful.’ He hadn’t meant to alarm her, but he could tell from her body language that he had.
She blinked at him, hurt flashing in her eyes. ‘You think I took his power away?’
‘Not intentionally, I’m sure. Lots of men can’t handle being with smart, assertive women.’
‘Great. So what you’re telling me is that, basically, if I want to run my own business, I’m destined to be single forever.’
He made a move towards her, then stopped himself. ‘I didn’t say that.’
Her foot slid a little on the deck as she took another step backwards. ‘I can’t change the way I am, Julien.’
‘You don’t have to.’
He moved so he was standing right in front of her, barely inches away, and waited until she looked him in the eye again before he spoke. He felt a fierce, instinctive desire to let her know what an incredible person she was.
‘Indigo, you’re a very attractive woman. Clever, courageous, generous. You’ll have no problem finding the right person to love you. Your ex was a fool not to appreciate you.’
She swallowed hard. ‘You think? None of those things seem to impress you enough either. You can’t even bring yourself to kiss me.’ Folding her arms across her chest, she stared down at the floor.
He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. ‘That’s because things are complicated for me at the moment.’
She raised a hand. ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to make an excuse. I get it.’
