Page 84 of Porter's Angel

“Just let me go, Porter. I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

“You’re sorry? That’s it? You were just going to sneak away from here without saying anything to me?”

Yeah, she’d been an utter coward. Cadence had led him on, but part of that washisfault. He had to know that! “I got attached to you before I knew that you had no idea about me,” she said.

“Oh, and you didn’t think that I’d approve? You’ve got that right.” He pushed a familiar-looking manila envelope into her hand. “You forgot this.”

Her heart skipped when she realized what it was. That would be WhiteBoulder’s plots on how to acquire large portions of Harvest Ranch. Nash must’ve told him all about his shady business deals. They’d drive up the prices and then drive out his neighbors too. What must he think of her?

“Lacy Lynch is a real piece of work,” he said. “How do you live with yourself?”

She gulped. She couldn’t blame him for questioning her judgment for getting together with such a man, but he didn’t have to be so harsh. She was already beating herself up that he was the father of her baby. “I didn’t know what kind of man he was.”

“No way,” he snapped. “Not a chance. How long have you been working for him? And you didn’t know?”

“A year…” her voice broke. Yeah, she’d been stupid. She should’ve known that he was crooked, as well as a creep. He’d been really slick, but notabsolutelyamazing at hiding what he was doing… she’d ignored the red flags because he’d made her feel so good.

“But now that you know what he is, you’re still going through with it?” Porter asked.

Her stomach lurched. Porter too?

Was he actually suggesting what she thought he was? Of all people, he should understand why she’d want to keep her baby. Her temper snapped. “Youreallyfeel that way?”

“Yes.” He sounded indignant. “We canstillbe together.”

Notthatway they couldn’t. He’d want to wipe away her past like it never happened. How could he? He’d just bulldoze over her and this child so that they could live together in a lie. This route might be easier for him, but not for her. It was wrong! “I never really knew you, did I?” she said.

“Cadence.” Her name sounded blessed on her ears and also like a curse as he reached for her. His hands ran down her arms, shooting goosebumps over her skin. “You know me.”

“No!” She jerked away. “Get away from me. I don’t need Lacy and I don’t need you. I’m going through with this. I’ve made up my mind. Get out of here! I can do this on my own!”

He stilled as she wrenched open the door. “Dowhaton your own?” he asked.

She pointed out into the hallway. “Leave. I swear I will scream.”

“You can’t do this. Cadence, I love you.”

Her world halted then spun as he echoed the words that she felt for him, but after what he’d suggested, they broke her in half. She loved him so much, and what they had together was ruined. Ruined! “How can you say that you love…?” She choked on the words.

“Because I do. I love you.” He came for her again, and she melted at his touch. He wasn’t smooth like Lacy, but… his eyes appealed to her more, and that’s what made him more dangerous. “Please stay. We’ll work this out. You don’t have to do this.”

This was just like him, to expect her to throw out all responsibility for a little fun with him. “I never should’ve let you talk me into riding all over this county with you or floating down the river with you all day or–or being so irresponsible. I can’t be like you!”

“And what am I?” he asked.

“Does it matter? I refuse to think about myself anymore. I’ve got someone else to think about.”

His jaw tightened. He stepped back from her. The warmth in his eyes from seconds before turned cold with the pain that she saw there. Oh, why did his eyes have to be so expressive? She rolled her hands into fists to fight against running into his arms and begging for forgiveness.

She knew that she’d lose everything. She knew that it would hurt. She just hadn’t known how much she’d hurt him too.

He left her then.

It was as physical a separation as much as it was emotional.

He’d never come after her again. It was for the best. Years from now, she’d think wistfully of their days together, but that was it.

She had to get out of here. Cadence picked up the box that she’d packed up and went out the door. She didn’t have her hands free to wipe at her eyes, so she let her tears fall freely. Her emotions were strangling her. The staircase was long and twisted, and she felt dizzy making her way down as she thought over everything that she’d lost.

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