“No. It’s not cool.” He unbuttoned the collar of his dress shirt and yanked on it for good measure. “I called, but you wouldn’t talk to me. I even got in an argument with Peg about it.” His tone lightened, wanting to play it off. On another day . . . maybe another easier life, I would have laughed it off with him and teased about Peg letting him have it about calling all the dang time.

“I have had my hands too full to be on the phone,” I told the half-truth.

“I’ve tried talking you into coming out to the lake house for the last two years. You cannot hold it against me for being shocked at finding you there for the first time.”

“I don’t.”

“Good.” He moved closer again, and the late-afternoon light glanced off the green of his eyes. “How about coming back this Wednesday? We’re taking the boat out again. That way I can properly introduce you.” Hope joined the light in his gaze, sparkling even, but it needed to be extinguished.

“Nah. Not my scene.” My tone remained detached even though I was livid. How could he play off his reaction to me in front of his posh friends? How could he not have chased after me? How had he not picked up on the fact that I was distraught? But then I wanted to kick myself, for two reasons. One, we weren’t some stupid romantic tale where the hero saves the heroine. Two, I’m ashamed to admit that I’d become somewhat better at lying and camouflaging my feelings. That second point was about to come into play.

“They’re nice once you get to know them. You’ll see.”

“I’m sure they are, but I’m not interested.”

“Not interested? Not interested in making an effort for me?” Vance snorted a haughty laugh and jabbed a finger toward his shiny truck and then the newly planted field. “Yet all this time I’ve found interest in every aspect of your world!”

“You playing Farmer Joe for kicks and giggles at your convenience is not showing interest. More on the lines of you finding this poor girl and farming entertaining and a break from your posh lifestyle. I think you get a thrill out of getting dirty every now and then, but news flash, Mr. Mayor’s Son, I’m always dirty. This is my world and it ain’t changing.”

“I’m not asking you to change. You won’t completely let me in your world. That’s on you!” Now his finger jabbed in my direction.

“And there you just hit the nail on the head. Our worlds are too different and it’s too much work trying to fit into each other’s. It’s exhausting, and I’m over it, quite frankly.”

Vance’s brow furrowed. “Austin —”

“This has been our problem from the start.”