“You’re not mine,” I say, then I run after Will.

My bare feet slap against the cold hardwood as I rush after Will. He’s fast. He’s almost to the front door in the wide, formal receiving room. He’s dressed in a tight t-shirt, jeans and leather shoes. His hair is sleep mussed and there’s a love bite on his neck.

My love bite.

“Will. Wait.”

He doesn’t turn. I grab his arm when he reaches for the brass door handle. I pull him around.

“It doesn’t matter what Erma says. I told you that it doesn’t matter to me,” I say.

He looks me over, and I’m suddenly uncomfortably aware that I’m in a wrinkled dress, covered in orange juice.

“You claim that, but the first chance you got you kissed my brother and confirmed with him and Erma that he’s your ‘soul mate,’” he says in that precise, clipped and distant voice.

“He’s not! I didn’t.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“I mean yes, I did. He kissed me, I didn’t kiss him. He misunderstood and thought that just because Erma said he and I are soul mates that I’d want him. I don’t. I want you.”

Hesitantly, I reach out and put my hand on his chest. It’s as hard and unmoving as stone.

I look up at him and as scared as I am, I reach out. “I love you,” I whisper.

I feel his chest shake beneath my hand. Then he steps back, out of my reach.

“It was a game,” he says in a cold voice.

What? I stare at him. Shake my head in denial.

“You were right. I’d do anything to save the merger and keep you from ruining my brother’s life.”

I shake my head. “No.”

He nods. “It was a game. Looks like I lost.” He gives me a cold smile.

“No,” I say again, my lips are numb.

He doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns and walks away, shuts the door.

I stare at the door in shock. Then I sink to the floor, wrap my hands around my knees and cry.

17

Will

It’s a tense car ride to the Duportes’ bed and breakfast. No one speaks, not even when I drop them off and they climb out of the car. I park in the lot. I have no idea what to do or where to go.

I lost her.

My mind keeps replaying the loop of Jessie and Gavin kissing, then Jessie on the phone, her expression removing all doubt.

I lost her.

I lost her. I lost her.

When I let the Duportes in and led them toward the savory breakfast smells and the quiet voices in the kitchen, I was thinking about leaving the entertaining of the Duportes to Gavin. I wanted to grab Jessie, pull her back upstairs and spend a full day in bed.