Page 95 of A Very Merry Mistake

“That sounds great.”

“Wanna come with me?” I ask, knowing a lot went down. “I understand if you don’t.”

“If I can stay here, I’d prefer it. I need to decompress and call my sister to let her know what happened.”

“Okay, just lock the doors when I leave, and if you see anything suspicious, call the sheriff. I don’t think he’ll be back, though. Not after that.”

“You’re right. He’s got a huge ego, but he’s a coward. What I ever saw in that man is beyond me. I was sad for myself when he broke it off. Now I’m just sad for him.”

“That’s progress, darlin’,” I say, standing and smacking a quick kiss on her lips before I leave. I turn back to glance at her. “Maybe I’ll pick up a bottle of wine, too?”

“That’d be nice. Can’t wait. Miss you already,” she says, grabbing her book from the coffee table and getting comfortable. She’s almost to the twist, and I can’t wait to see how she reacts.

On the way to the grocery store, I stop by the local florist and grab a dozen roses. Trish, one of the florists, lifts a brow. “For your new girlfriend?”

I don’t deny it at this point. “Yes, ma’am.”

“She’s a lucky lady.” She gives me the total.

“The only problem is she doesn’t know that yet,” I say, tapping my card against the machine to pay.

“Sure she does. Sometimes, it just takes someone a little bit longer to realize it,” she says. “Need anything else?”

I shake my head, grab the flowers, and walk to my truck. Just as I reach for my door, Lacy rushes out of the coffee shop.

“Jake!”

I roll my eyes. “Today just keeps gettin’ better,” I mutter.

“Listen, I need to talk to you,” she says, looking around. “In private.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I don’t want to do this out here where everyone can see,” she whispers, but I hear the snippiness in her tone.

“You had zero problems doing it in front of everyone when I proposed,” I remind her.

“Fine.” Her mouth straightens into a firm line as she steadily types away on her phone. A few seconds later, she twists it around, and I see a picture of Claire in New York, wearing a white blouse and a black skirt. She looks gorgeous. She looks important.

“I figured out who your girlfriend is and where I recognized her from,” she says, her chest puffed out like she wants a pat on the fucking back. “I’m honestly disappointed in you, Jake. Claire Manchester? The heiress of Manchester Hotels? Have you not read the rumors that have been posted online?”

My mind is moving at a million miles per hour. “Excuse me?”

“The rumor about her coming here to buy your family’s property at auction? I knew things were bad, but…” She shakes her head. “Get a hold of yourself. This is low, even for you.”

The flowers I’m holding fall to the ground with a bounce, pink petals breaking loose from a few. Everything around me moves in slow motion. I can hear my heart throbbing in my chest, and Lacy’s voice sounds like it’s coming from a different dimension.

“I’ve gotta go,” I say, not able to control my shaking hand.

“Disappointing that you’d choose her over your family. I thought you were better than that.” Lacy glares at me, throws her hands up, and then walks back to the coffee shop. I get in the truck, leave the flowers on the sidewalk, and stare at the gray sky. Leaning forward to rest my head against the steering wheel, I replay everything Claire ever said about her father, being in real estate, and her overwhelming need to do everything perfectly. The sailing, golf, and ballroom dancing make sense. So does boarding school, and Paris and her dickhead ex with his designer suit.

I hold my chest, feeling like my heart might explode as the betrayal takes over.

“Claire Manchester,” I whisper, shaking my head and burying my face in my hands.

She took advantage of me. Of my kindness. Of my family. Allowed me to take her around to meet everyone so she could look them all in the eye, knowing she would singlehandedly ruin our lives.

This can’t be happening.

---