“No.” Her throat clogged as she shook her head. “I don’t believe it.” That was a lie. She saw by the set of his jaw that he meant business, and she knew from dealing with him how stubborn he could be.

“I think we’ve said enough.”

Oh, God, he wasn’t budging. She bit her lip and felt tears start in her eyes. “Don’t do this. Not now.”

He didn’t respond. Didn’t back down. “Good night, Sophia.” He started to close the door. “Go home.”

The door shut in her face, and she heard the click of the dead bolt.

She sagged a bit.

Never before had he been able to resist her.

But then her spine stiffened, and she reached up to start pounding on the door, her fist tight. She would make him see!

You still have the upper hand. He just doesn’t know it yet.

She held her fist back, poised, taking a moment. She had to be careful. She couldn’t ruin this, and she did have an ace up her sleeve. She hadn’t been sure when to play it, but now was definitely not the time.

Stepping off the porch, she flung a dark look over her shoulder, half-expecting James to have changed his mind, but the door stayed firmly shut.

You son of a bitch.

You miserable, two-timing prick!

Her jaw clenched, and she wanted to pound on the door or, better yet, use her own key and sneak in, find him in bed again, and change his mind with sensual ministrations of her lips and tongue on his body. But not now. She needed to back off. To make him want her. Becoming a hysterical female at this point would only drive him further away.

But the rage that was always simmering in her blood threatened to overtake her. Who was he—so privileged, so entitled—to break it off? He had no idea of her struggles, how she’d had to scrape and climb, how hard her life had been, how loneliness had been her only friend, while he’d grown up knowing in the back of his mind that no matter what, he had a legacy, a fortune waiting for him.

She felt that little telltale tic start near her eye, and she was determined he would never see it, never have a glimpse of the other side of her.

Gritting her teeth, she strode back to her car, breaking new tracks in the snow while telling herself this wasn’t the end, was not the last time she’d see him. They were meant to be together, and he’d realize it soon enough.

She’d make him see.

But she would have to bide her time.