What is she saying?
“So you’re going to believe him?” I gesture to Bruce. “The guy who hired a fake mob and skulked outside your door?”
“I didn’t say that. But I just realized that everything is happening too fast. You happened too fast. I thought I was open to love again, but clearly I’m not ready to gamble the rest of my life on someone I’ve known for two days.”
I have one last card, and if what’s in my heart doesn’t reach her, then I’m fucking played out. And I’m going to wind up alone—probably for good. “Do you even care that I love you?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, as if she’s trying to protect herself. More tears fall. “If you really do, then you should have kept your promise. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m ready to love you back.”
“So that’s it? You’re going to choose Bruce and—”
“I didn’t say I was choosing him.”
“But you’re going to,” the other guy insists. “I came all the way to Hawaii and spent days here, dedicated to you and—”
“Pretending to stalk me so I’d be scared enough to fly back to New York and right into your arms? Do you think that’s love?”
“No. I’m saying this all wrong. But actions speak louder, don’t they? I’m prepared to slip a ring on your finger right now. I even brought it with me.” He reaches into his pocket and plucks out a plush box in dark blue with a stylish HW on the front. “See? I’m serious. I know I’ve screwed everything up, and I’m sorry. I didn’t know how else to be your hero so you’d fall for me. Let me start over, sweetheart. I promise I’ll make you happy.” He pries the little box open to reveal a giant oval cut diamond. “It’s five carats from Harry Winston. Just say yes.”
She gasps, staring at the glimmering stones. “Oh, my gosh!”
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It is—”
“Then let me put it on your finger. Say yes.”
My gut grinds with tension. Diamonds and a pretty proposal won’t sway Mandy, right? “You’re not seriously thinking about marrying him, are you?”
“What are you still doing here?” Bruce scowls. “She said she doesn’t want you. It’s time for you to leave.”
I turn to Mandy. “Baby?”
“You should go. Find someone who hasn’t already had her heart broken.” Then she lifts her chin, and I feel the invisible wall she erects between us. “Twice.”
Fuck if that doesn’t hurt.
“Mandy…”
“It’s Amanda now. Goodbye. I’ll make sure you get compensated for your time because I keep my promises.”
Ouch. “I don’t want your money.”
She shrugs. “I’m still going to make sure you get it. Look on the bright side. At least we know there’s no one on the island out to hurt me.”
I’m relieved by that but… “So you’re not even going to give us a chance?”
“Tanner, I found myself falling for you too hard and too fast. But one thing I know: if you’re not with me, you can’t hurt me.”
“I also can’t comfort, love, or protect you. I can’t be that man you’ve always wanted.” Every word hurts so fucking bad. “But maybe that’s all right since you’ve decided not to be the brave, ballsy woman I know you can be. Oh, and in case you thought I was nothing but a mercenary prick”—I yank out the check Bruce stuffed in my pocket and tear it until it’s confetti—“I’m not. Goodbye.”
Chapter Eleven
The next day, I’m awakened just like I was three days ago—by my cell phone chiming a lousy breakup song I’ve assigned as my ex’s ringtone. But this time it’s not Bon Jovi warning me that Ellie is up in my business. Gwen Stefani voicing No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” tells me it’s Mandy calling.
Excuse me, Amanda.
She told me to take a hike less than twelve hours ago, and I assigned her that tune because it honestly felt like she didn’t want to hear me. Or couldn’t. Not a single word I said. She listened to her fear, not to the man who wanted to love her for life. And I lost. So what does she want now that we’re over?
I almost don’t answer until I hear a groan on the other side of the small apartment. “Are you going to get that or just let it wake me up again?”
Shit. It’s Joe. I banged on his door when I left the villa and asked to crash on his sofa for the night. He must have seen how messed up I was. If my mood didn’t tell him, the bottle in my fist—which I proceeded to drain—surely clued him in.
“Sorry.” I sit up and reach for my phone to silence it. And I instantly regret it. My head hurts like a bitch.
“Answer it already. Whoever that is has called three times in ten minutes.”
She has? Apparently, and I didn’t hear it.
“All right. Sorry. Go back to sleep.” I creep from the sofa, grateful I’m wearing my shorts, then head out to the balcony, phone in hand, squinting against the morning light. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I answer the call. “Are you in danger?”
“N-no. Tanner, I—”
“Are you all right?”
“Physically, yes, but—”
“Then we don’t have anything else to say. You made yourself pretty clear last night.”
“Actually, I didn’t,” she says softly. “Would you come by the villa this morning? Please.”
I tense. My head pounds unmercifully. I don’t dare get my hopes up. “Why?”
“I just want to talk. Ten minutes. I won’t keep you longer than that.”
On the one hand, I don’t want to give her the opportunity to hurt me again. I told her I loved her and I meant it. Despite everything between us, she didn’t choose me. Hell, she didn’t even bat an eye when I said the words. On the other hand…I want to see her so fucking badly, even if it’s going to hurt like hell. I doubt she’ll realize she’s made a mistake, but that doesn’t
