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“Why didn’t I see it? Mike and I went straight back to the house and had iced tea with my mama.”
“Isn’t that nice,” he sneered. “Your dad probably had the truck moved by one of his ranch hands as soon as he and I walked to the barn. He was texting somebody. I was in such a hurry to get to you I left the keys in the ignition.”
“My dad is not some devil who had it out for you!”
“Yes he is. He’s a pompous hypocrite masquerading as a devoted father and pastor. Look up the definition of deceitful con-artist and you’ll find Pastor Sheldon Ralphs’s picture.”
“How … you …” She was so angry she couldn’t form a coherent sentence. Jagger looked justified saying his spiteful, bitter words, and he was obviously as angry as she felt. No way could she betray her beloved and devoted parents and back down at this moment. “You’re a cocky jerk, a liar, and I hate you!”
She whirled and ran through the sand. Jagger followed her, which fueled her anger even more. He didn’t move to touch or stop her this time.
The two of them made it to the bark-lined trail below the beach house. She didn’t waste the time putting on the sandals she’d left by the trail. She ran up the path, the bark stinging the bottom of her feet. She didn’t care.
Racing across the patio, she yanked open one of the glass doors. Jagger caught and held it. She glared back at him. His dark eyes were full of anger, and that made her more angry.
“Bee,” he ground out. “You have to listen to me. You have to believe me, or we’ll never have a chance.”
“I’ll never believe you,” she screamed at him. “And I don’t want a chance with you. I want nothing to do with you!”
She whirled and pounded into the main room. Paul wasn’t there, but Hays had his phone in hand. Was he already back from the store? He was on his feet, staring at them as if a horror film had come to life in the living room.
“Is … everything all right?” he asked.
“No,” they both shouted, dripping salt water on the hardwood floor.
Hays gripped his phone. He blinked at the two of them, a statue of a tough yet kind military man with no idea how to help his friend or respond to either of them.
His phone. She had to talk to her dad. Right now.
“Give me that phone,” she demanded, storming up to Hays.
Hays looked from her to Jagger. “Um … you aren’t supposed to have any contact with the outside world. You’d have to forfeit the money.” Hays shifted his weight and grimaced. “I’m sorry. You signed a release form.”
“I know what I signed. This is an emergency!”
“Jag?” Hays questioned.
“I don’t know what to do.” Jagger lifted his hands.
She whirled on him. “If, in your twisted mind, you somehow believe you are telling the truth, you would want me to make this phone call and talk to my parents.”
Jagger held her gaze steadily. “They’ve been lying to you for fourteen years. What makes you think they’ll own up to the truth now?”
“How dare you,” she hollered at him. “My parents have never lied to me, and I’m going to trust them now and forever. You know what? I don’t even need to call them. There is no world where they would lie to me.” She pointed at him. “But I don’t even know you anymore. You’re a hardened, lying, jerky, selfish, mean, warped version of the man I used to love.”
Jagger slowly walked toward her. His shirt and shorts clung to his muscular body. He looked strong and manly and irresistible, but he wasn’t. He was a hardened liar. She couldn’t look away from his dark gaze and she refused to retreat or cower to him.
“I am hardened and a jerk,” he said in a deceptively soft voice. “But I have never lied to you. Ever.”
Part of Belinda wanted to believe him. They’d reconnected minutes ago, shared heart-stopping kisses and embraces and joy even better than she’d dreamed of for years. She’d believed for those moments that her heart, soul, and long-lost love had been restored.
But there was no world where her beloved parents would do the things he was claiming. The two people who had never turned their backs on her, who’d been there for her every step of the way, were her mom and dad. They consistently put her happiness and needs above their own, helping with her charity in any way they could, doing extra to ease her burdens. They adored her. Their faces lit up when she walked into the room.
She could never believe they would lie to her. Never.
Belinda didn’t scream or punch Jagger or tell him how twisted and wrong and evil he was. She hated him and his petty words and accusations. It was a huge exercise in self-restraint when she simply pivoted, ran up the stairs, and slammed herself into her suite. She threw herself on the bed, her wet dress soaking into the beautiful bedspread, and sobbed.
She sobbed for all she’d lost. Again.
