He felt so hollow this time.
The betrayal was so much worse when he wasn’t prepared.
“No explanation?” he asked.
“An accident,” she managed in a halting rasp. “I didn’t mean-”
“Yeah. An accidental pregnancy. Oldest trick in the book.”
She shook her head.
“I guess I’ll see you in court.” He shook his head, turning for the door.
“Alec.” His name seemed torn from her soul.
But he didn’t turn back. As he made for the door, fury bubbled up inside him, both at her and at himself. He’d been a fool, and it was going to cost his family big-time.
It was all Charlotte could do to say upright. Her legs were wobbling and her broken heart was shooting pain to every corner of her being.
She’d expected to Alec to be angry.
She certainly hadn’t expected him to declare his love and propose marriage. Although a small corner of her soul had hoped for that. But she hadn’t expected his accusations. And she’d been completely unprepared for his cruelty.
She gripped the corner of a Mercedes. She had to walk out of here. There were a hundred people making a movie on the front lawn. Somehow, she had to hold her head up and make her way back to her room.
There, she’d pack. Hopefully, she wouldn’t see anyone before she could call a taxi and make it to the airport. Home to Monte Allegro. She’d explain to her grandfather, quit her job and disappear. There was absolutely no way she’d be meeting Alec in court or anywhere else.
He could take his money and choke on it.
She heard a sound. Then Raine and Cece appeared. They rushed to her side.
“Oh, dear,” said Cece.
“Bad?” asked Raine.
Charlotte nodded, valiantly fighting her tears. “I have to get back to my room. He thinks I got pregnant on purpose.”
Both women gasped.
Raine growled. “I am going to-”
“No!” Charlotte grabbed Raine’s arm. “Please don’t say anything to him! Just let me leave. All I want to do is go home.”
Raine searched Charlotte’s expression for a long moment. Then she nodded. “You should go home. Take care of yourself. I’ll ream my brother out later.”
Alec couldn’t get Charlotte’s image out of his head, her tears, her confusion, her vulnerability. Obviously, she’d been certain her plan would work. Just as obviously, he couldn’t let it. Even if he had been plagued with second thoughts for the past two hours.
He brought his fist down hard on the desktop.
He couldn’t marry a woman who’d set him up, no matter how much he wished it could work between them. And what kind of a fool was he for even considering it?
Suddenly, his office door burst open. He spun around, ready to shout. Not even Kiefer and Raine walked in on him without knocking.
It was Jack, and before Alec could react to the shock, Jack drew back his fist.
Alec’s first reaction was to duck the punch. But he forced himself to hold his ground, taking the shot straight to his jaw.
He grunted at the pain, which felt strangely good. Setup or not, he’d slept with Jack’s sister and made her pregnant, and he deserved the other man’s anger.
Jack stepped back, shaking out his hand, blue eyes near black with anger. “You son of a bitch,” he spat.
“Yeah,” Alec agreed, staring levelly into Jack’s eyes.
“We’ll see you in court.”
Alec shook his head. “You won’t have to. Your niece or nephew will have everything they could ever possibly need.”
Jack snorted. “Except for a father.” Then he turned for the door, and a pain worse than a cracked jaw shot through Alec.
His child would have a fractured family. Just like Charlotte. Damn.
He hated this.
He hated every single thing about it.
“Do me a favor,” he called to Jack.
Jack halted. After a moment, he turned, looking ready to throw another punch.
“Tell her you decked me for it.”
Jack’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
Alec inhaled, taking a moment to make sure he said it right. “Because Charlotte doesn’t believe you love her. She’s been waiting twenty-one years for you to start acting like a big brother.”
Ten
Charlotte stared at the pile of designer clothes on the bed. Half of her wanted to forget Alec ever existed. The other half wanted to cling to every scrap of a memory.
She ran her fingertips over the gold, beaded dress she’d worn the first time they made love. Then she lifted the strap of the evening gown she’d worn to the Royal Ballet. Alec had booked the director’s box, and their seats were second only to the royal family.
They’d eaten dinner overlooking the Thames, danced to an orchestra, then laughed their way through sweet treats in their bedroom at the Ritz. Alec was convinced she’d fallen in love with his lifestyle. Truth was, she’d fallen in love with Alec. She’d wear rags and live in a hut if it proved it to him.
She heard the bedroom door open, but she didn’t bother turning around. It would be Raine, back with a bigger suitcase. But it didn’t matter. Charlotte had pretty much decided to leave the clothes behind.
The bed creaked, and she realized it was Jack sitting down beside her.
She hurriedly swiped her cheeks, pasting a smile on her face. “Leaving a little early,” she said, gesturing to the scattered clothes. “Raine’s out looking for a bigger-”
Jack’s strong arm curled around her shoulders. “Oh, Charlotte.”
Charlotte gasped out a sob.
Jack’s other arm went around her, and he pulled her close, rocking her against his broad chest. “Cece told me. I am
Charlotte shook her head, embarrassed by the fresh tears. “It’s okay.” She sucked a painful breath into her burning chest. “I knew…It wouldn’t…” She gave up trying to talk.
Silence rose between them.
“I have loved you,” Jack finally said, emotion thick in his voice, “every second of every day since they took you away from me.”
Charlotte stilled.
“You were my baby sister. I thought they’d bring you back. I thought he’d-” Jack struggled with a breath. “I thought he’d come to his senses. I mean, how could anybody not love you?”
Charlotte clung to her brother, pressing her cheek against his chest while he stroked her hair. Her chest burned even more painfully. “I love you, Jack.”
“I’ll always love you, Charlotte. I’m here. For anything,
Charlotte nodded, a small sigh of relief coming through her wall of pain.
“I punched him out,” said Jack.
Charlotte drew back.
