“Does it help to make the words pretty?”
His gaze narrowed. “Does it make you feel better to make them ugly?”
She stiffened. “I’m not the one who did anything wrong here. I’m not the one who protected a potential felon.”
“You’re being dramatic,” he said.
“Do you really think the world is a better place because Fawn is free to steal at will?”
“Would it be better with her in jail?”
“Maybe it wouldn’t but it would be really nice if every now and then people were reminded there are consequences for their actions. Maybe the world can’t be improved, but maybe Fawn would take her problem a lot more seriously if she suffered a little instead of heading off to another five-star luxury rehab facility.”
He flushed slightly.
“So that’s it,” she said, telling herself not to be surprised. “Fawn will be readmitted to whatever program has already failed to help her.”
He nodded.
“Is that why you ended the engagement?” she asked.
“What makes you think I ended it?”
Because Fawn had walked into his arms with the certainty of a woman who knows she was going to be welcomed. And if she’d dumped him, she wouldn’t have been sure. Garth wasn’t the type to forgive and forget.
“Am I wrong?” she asked.
“No,” he said, looking away. “I found out about her stealing and I finally knew why her father was so anxious to marry her off. While I believe Fawn cared about me, I think she cared a lot more about finding someone to take care of her. She wasn’t big on taking responsibility.”
Dana wanted to say that she still wasn’t but that seemed like a cheap shot.
“I broke the engagement and she went away. I haven’t seen her since.”
Dana had so many other questions. Like did he still love Fawn? If she’d been cured would he want to be with her now? Did he have any regrets? Did he want another chance with her?
“So she’s the one who got away,” she said, hoping her voice sounded light and casual.
“That’s making it more than it was.”
“You weren’t sorry to see her.”
“No, but I wasn’t happy, either. I’m sorry she’s still having problems. She probably will all her life. It’s why she had to give up playing professionally. She couldn’t go on tour and not steal. Apparently the compulsion hasn’t gone away.” He stared at her. “If I’d known we would run into her, I would have said something. Warned you.”
“Why? Don’t you have ex-girlfriends at most of the parties you go to? There are dozens and dozens of them out there.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
She tried to smile and wasn’t sure she succeeded. “Come on, Garth. I looked you up on the Internet. You’ve done more than your share of dating in the past dozen or so years. Models, actresses, women who come from money. I will say you don’t have a physical type. I guess that keeps things interesting.”
He looked more wary than annoyed. “I’m a single guy. Dating is allowed.”
“You’re right.” She moved around so the sofa was between them. “I really appreciate you coming here and explaining all this. Now I know who Fawn is and what she means to you-”
“She doesn’t mean anything.”
“Whatever.”
“You’re pissed.”
Actually, she wasn’t, which was too bad. Pissed would feel really good right about now. Pissed would give her energy and maybe stop the ache she felt inside. The pain was general, rather than specific, and as she didn’t know what had caused it, she didn’t know how to make it stop. She just knew the longer she talked to Garth, the worse she felt. It was as if…As if…
As if she was devastated that he’d wanted to marry Fawn because she was so different from her. A man who had been in love with Fawn could never love Dana. Never marry her.
The thought slammed into her. If she hadn’t already been leaning against the back of the sofa, she might have fallen over in shock. What a ridiculous idea. She didn’t want to marry Garth and she certainly didn’t care what he thought about her. She was with him because of her personal safety and maybe because the sex was good. But she wasn’t interested in him as anything other than a guy in her bed. He didn’t
“Dana? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just fine. What were we talking about?”
“You being pissed.”
“I’m not. Everything is great. Thanks for telling me about Fawn. I appreciate knowing the story. She’s, um, very pretty. Don’t you think she’s pretty?”
He stared at her as if she’d grown another head. “Do you feel okay?”
“Uh-huh.” She bobbed her head as she spoke. “Anything else or do you have to go?”
Please let him have to leave, she thought. The faster he was out of here, the quicker she could bang her head against a wall and knock some sense into herself. There was no way on this planet or any other that she was so damn stupid that she had fallen for a man like Garth Duncan. Not like him, she reminded herself. Him exactly.
“You haven’t said if you’re coming back with me.”
His place. That’s what this was all about. Keeping her safe from Jed because he felt responsible for what was happening. She’d agreed because it made sense and she didn’t want her friends to worry. And maybe because she’d wanted to.
So now what? Go back and stay with him, knowing that she could never be…never be Fawn. That she was trapped being herself and even if she could change that, she probably wouldn’t.
“If you’d rather stay with Lexi and Cruz, I’ll understand,” he said quietly.
But his dark eyes said he wouldn’t understand at all. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part.
It would be safer for her emotional self to put distance between herself and Garth. But there was more at stake here. Did she really want to impose on her friend and Cruz? Getting a bodyguard was also an option, but how would she pay for that? Garth would insist on covering the expense and that would freak her out.
Or she could go back with him.
It was what she wanted. She was self-aware enough to know that. She wanted to be with him because…well, better not to go there. But to risk everything she had on a man who would never be interested in her for more than something temporary?
“I’ll come back,” she said slowly. “To the condo. Not to your bed.”
Nothing about his expression changed. She had no idea what he was thinking, nor did she ask.
“When?”
She drew in a breath. “It will only take me a minute to pack.”
JED READ THE SINGLE-PAGE report a second time, then looked over the sheet at his chief financial officer.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked.
“They’ve already filed with the SEC,” Brock told him, looking worried. “They’re following the law to the letter and they’re not being quiet about their intentions. They’re buying up shares with the idea of forcing you out. I’m getting calls from some of the institutional stockholders. Jed, this isn’t good.”
Not something he wanted to hear, Jed thought furiously. His own daughters turning against him. How could they, after all he’d done for them? He was their father, for God’s sake. What happened to family loyalty?
“Do you know why the girls are doing this?” Brock asked tentatively.
Jed thought about the explosion that had injured Izzy. “Women,” he muttered. “Who knows why they do anything?”
“A couple of financial reporters have been trying to get me to comment,” Brock admitted. “They’re wondering if the federal charges are the reasons. If your daughters think you’re going to jail and you aren’t willing to hand the reins over to them directly. So they’re being forced to take control on their own.” He shifted uncomfortably. “The problem is they’re family, Jed. This doesn’t look good.”
