The intoxicating aroma of the coffee assaulted his senses, making him desperate for a swig. Derek yanked the mug out from under the Keurig, and liquid splashed over the edge.
He reached for the wet rag draped over the kitchen faucet and wiped up the spill. “And you just had to do all of this tonight?”
Ashley tapped her fingers along the edge of her mug, lips pursed. “They need to mail their invites this week. I couldn’t put it off.”
“Really?” His laughter had an edge to it. “Twelve hours was going to make that much of a difference?”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Ashley chewed her bottom lip, and he had to look away, to remember that whatever he felt for her, it was a chemical reaction. It didn’t mean what he’d thought it meant.
It couldn’t, or he’d be pulverized. Again.
“Okay, I admit it. Maybe I was scared.”
At that, his gaze snapped back to her.
She folded her arms around her middle. “Maybe I allowed this thing with the invitations to be an excuse. To put off talking with you.”
“Since when do I frighten you?”
“You don’t, but all the questions, the unknowns—those do.” Her shirt bunched beneath her fisted hands. “Derek, why did you kiss me in my office? Why do you want to explore things with me? What do you really feel for me?”
She was asking him this, after he’d ended his engagement for her? After he’d risked everything for the chance to be with her? “Are you serious? I thought this was what you wanted.”
Her face hardened, and she scrubbed a hand over her mouth. “Maybe we should talk about this when we’re both a bit more rested. Things will seem clearer in the morning.”
Who needed sleep? Things were pretty clear right about now. Ashley Baker hadn’t meant it when she’d claimed to love him. Love wasn’t just words. It was action. And her actions spoke loud and clear about her priorities and where her heart really stood.
A least one thing did seem clear—if he really loved her, then he’d attached his heart to a woman who was going to keep stomping all over it. Dangling him on a fish hook. A fickle woman just like his mother, who had told her family how much she loved them.
But when push came to shove, she’d left them.
No thanks.
If this is what love did to people, then he’d be just fine with leaving it in the dust.
“I think we were just kidding ourselves, Ashley.” He gestured between them. “This would never work.”
With his coffee untouched and growing cold on the countertop, Derek pivoted and headed for the door, letting it slam behind him.
Chapter 16
It wasn’t often that a woman came face-to-face with complete and utter failure.
But for Ashley, today was that day.
Steeling herself and swallowing hard, she lifted a hand to knock on Kyle’s office door.
“Come in.”
She pushed open the door to find her boss tucked over his morning cup of joe, two donuts from the Frosted Cake sitting on a plate next to his computer mouse.
“Good morning.”
Kyle glanced up, lifting a bushy eyebrow in her direction. “Is it?”
Sighing, Ashley plopped into the chair opposite him. She wasn’t going to pull one over on him, not with her bloodshot eyes that on other people might indicate a hangover. Well, she was hungover in one respect—she’d drunk a double shot of regret last night and chased it with a pint of heartache.
She shouldn’t have gone to the print shop last night. Derek was completely right on that one.
But maybe, in the end, it was better to focus on helping Ben and Bella have their happily ever after than chase her own. After all, the man she loved couldn’t even tell her why he wanted to be with her.
“I thought this was what you wanted.” Like he didn’t want it too. Or, at the very least, like he didn’t know if he did.
Kyle cleared his throat, and Ashley was back in the present. “Sorry.” She forced a thin smile. “I didn’t sleep much last night.” Or at all.
Her boss studied her, then pushed the plate across the desk. “Looks like you could use this more than me.”
The apple fritter did look heavenly, and Ashley wouldn’t mind the sugar infusion to steady her nerves. After all, she’d come here for a reason. “Thanks.” Pinching a bit off the pastry, she stuck it in her mouth. The glaze melted on her tongue.
“Now, tell me why you’re here at this ungodly hour.”
She stole a napkin from the stack on his desk. “Eight o’clock is ungodly?”
“It is for you.” Her boss fiddled with the end of his mustache. “Are you here to tell me what exactly happened with the Boivin-Campbell wedding?”
He’d been scouting an out-of-town venue with a couple yesterday when she’d learned the news, so Ashley hadn’t had a chance to fill him in on the details yet—just told him that the wedding was canceled. He deserved the truth, especially because it would likely reflect poorly on him that his wedding coordinator had essentially broken up a bride and groom. But right now, her shattered heart couldn’t take telling him.
What she’d actually come to say would negate all of that anyway.
“No.” Ashley tugged at the paper napkin in her lap, which split neatly at the seams. “I wanted to let you know I don’t want the business anymore.” She grimaced as she glanced up. “Well, that’s not exactly true. It’s not that I don’t want it as much as I can’t handle it. You were right. I’m too busy. I … I just can’t give it the priority that Cathy’s legacy deserves.”
“Hogwash.” Kyle yanked the plate back to his side of the desk.
“I’m sorry, Kyle. I didn’t mean to let you down.” To let everyone down.
The festival committee.
Madison and Shannon, friends who deserved more from her.
Then, the last straw—Ben and Bella, her family. If Ashley couldn’t be there for them, couldn’t show them love, then
