She scoffed. “I already told you—I can’t. A lot of money is on the line—”

“Oh. I see.”

She continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted, raising her voice and angry now. “A lot of money and a lot of people’s jobs are on the line, including my own. I run a business, Maddie. I can’t do whatever I want.”

“Why not? Aren’t you the boss?”

She laughed. “I wish! Not with my board breathing down my neck. They’re just waiting for the chance to get rid of me.”

“Then why don’t you quit?”

“What?”

“It sounds like a nightmare. You own a company, and you don’t seem to control anything. What’s the point?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me!” Maddie said, nearly shouting. “I thought you cared about Stuart.”

“I do!”

“Then how could this be more important?”

“It’s not more important, but it is as important. To me, anyway. I’ve spent my entire adult life building this business. I’m not going to lose it. Not like this, and not without a fight.”

Maddie opened her mouth, and she knew what she was going to say. After all, she had just admitted that her job was her main priority. The implications for the two of them were clear. Almost as if reading her thoughts, Maddie’s mouth snapped closed. “I see.”

“Maddie, it’s not like I wanted to hurt you, or Stuart—”

Maddie held up a hand. “Look—let’s not argue about it. You’re right. Jobs are important. I get it.”

“You do?”

Maddie started to nod but stopped. “No. I mean, not really. I would never put a job before my friends or people I care about. But you’re not me, and I’m not you.”

“I’ll be back for the wedding!” She couldn’t keep the note of pleading out of her voice.

“Yeah? And then what?”

She didn’t respond, and the two of them stared at each other in silence. Finally, Maddie said, “That’s what I thought.”

Her eyes were red, and Ryann had a similar emotion trying to choke her. She turned and moved away, willing herself not to cry. After all, they would have had this conversation next week, anyway. Maybe it was better that they had it now, before things got even more complicated, and the feelings she already had for this woman deepened. Better to make a clean break of it now—exactly as she’d promised herself and Stuart yesterday.

Giorgio entered then, making them both jump.

“I’m so sorry, ladies,” he said. “Something in the back took longer than anticipated. Ready for the entrées and sides?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”