When I first moved, I’d unpacked the necessities, but I hadn’t bought anything for the walls or accents for the windows and furniture. We’d picked up more clients this week and I felt more comfortable spending money.
There was nothing like retail therapy to get over a guy—one who was out of my reach. I leaned back in the chair and watched a couple wander the path by the water. Would I ever have something like that? My doorbell rang. I was surprised someone was at the door. My heart sped up, thinking it could be Cade since he was the only one who’d been here.
I placed my tea on the end table. I walked through the apartment to answer the door not wanting whoever was at the door to know the porch extended from the front door to my bedroom. It wasn’t entirely safe for a single-woman living alone but I’d fallen in love the wrap-around porch when I saw the pictures online.
I pulled open the door, my heart lifting thinking it was Cade. Instead, Layton stood there in a suit and tie, his hair slicked back with gel, and a town car parked on the curb.
“Layton? What are you doing here?” I kept my hand on the doorknob, not stepping back to let him inside.
“We need to talk. You’ve been ignoring my messages.”
“I think I was clear when I said no to your proposal and in our messages since. I don’t want to date you much less marry you.” I allowed the frustration and anger to seep into my words.
He stepped forward as if to enter my apartment.
I shook my head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“You want to talk about this on your porch where anyone could hear?”
He was appealing to the manners drilled into my head since birth. Sometimes, protecting yourself was more important than appearances or reputation. “Anything you have to say to me, you can say out here.”
His lips tipped down in a sneer.
I stepped forward and pulled the door shut behind me. I raised my brow. “If you want to talk to me, this is your opportunity.”
“Fine. I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation with your dad’s business. If my dad doesn’t invest, then your dad has to declare bankruptcy.”
“So, invest.” I tried to appear nonchalant even though my heart was beating fast and my palms were slick with nerves.
He laughed and shook his head. “After everything your father did for you, this is how you repay him? You walk away when he needs you.”
“If it were a true emergency, it would be different. It’s my dad’s business. It has nothing to do with me.”
“It has everything to do with you. You’re the key to fixing this.”
I opened my mouth to disagree.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Cade’s voice came from behind Layton.
Relief flooded my brain. I’d somehow missed the tread of boots on the steps. When he reached the porch, his eyes darted from me to Layton.
“You’re not interrupting anything. Layton was just leaving.”
Cade shot me a disbelieving look before offering his hand to Layton. “I’m Cade Morrison and you are—”
“You’re fucking someone else?” Layton’s accusing eyes swung to mine as he ignored Cade’s hand.
Rage filled me. “Don’t talk to me like that. You have no right to come here and accuse me of anything. You proposed. I turned you down.”
Cade’s concerned eyes rested on mine as if waiting for a signal to step in.
“You can’t be serious?” Layton asked.
I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t bother correcting his assumption. If he thought I was with Cade, maybe he’d back off.
“You need to come back and smooth things over. Everyone’s been talking about you walking away from my proposal.”
“That seems like your problem, not mine. When you ask someone to marry them, you take the risk they’ll say no. I’m not a part of your world anymore. You’re manipulative, you’re entitled, and you don’t know the meaning of the word no. I can’t control who my dad is, but I decide who I marry. I dictate my future and I don’t want you.”
Layton edged closer and lowered his voice to shut Cade out of the conversation. “You’re willing to risk the future of Kids Speak?”
I faltered at that. I didn’t want to risk my nonprofit. “You don’t care about Kids Speak. You’re only out for yourself. You’ve proven that over and over again.”
“You owe me.”
Anger pulsed through my body. “I don’t owe you anything.”
“Enough. You need to leave.” Cade edged between us and directed his words to Layton, who ignored him.
Cade was so close my shoulder brushed his arm.
I wanted to reach and grab his arm for support. “You shouldn’t have come here.” My voice was tight.
“You’ll be sorry. I could have made things easier for you.” His disgusted gaze swung from me to Cade before Layton turned and jogged down the steps.
I let out the breath I’d been holding. My back ached from the stiff way I’d held my spine and shoulders during the confrontation.
When Layton slid into the back seat of the town car and pulled away from the curb, Cade asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure.” I was proud of the way I handled Layton, but embarrassed Cade had seen it.
Cade touched my elbow lightly and pushed open the door to my apartment. “Let’s get you inside.”
I allowed Cade to steer me inside and to the couch. I didn’t trust Layton in my space, a man I’d dated for three months, but I trusted Cade.
“That was the ex.” He shook his head and tilted his head toward the door.
“Yeah—that was him. I’m embarrassed that I ever dated him.” My dad would never approve of me dating a contractor.
“Don’t be. We all make mistakes. At least you figured it out before you were married to him.”
I smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood.
