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“So, in the end, you chose him.” The ice around my heart that had started to thaw, froze again.
“No. I figured your father was lending him enough that we could manage. We’d be in a different spot, but it would be a start.”
I stared at him, wanting not to believe him. “So what happened?”
“Your father walked in, saying he’d not only pull the plug on the club, but he’d disinherit you.”
“What?” My father had always been a difficult man, and Ben had been his favorite. But I never thought he’d do something like that.
“He might have just been saying that, but I was twenty-one staring down two larger than life men that had terrified me most of my life. He said… and I’ll never forget this… ‘You’re a smart boy, Ash, and I like you. Maybe someday in the future, you and my Beth can be together. In fact, what a powerful family we’d become, wouldn’t we Cam?’ My father wasn’t so much on board with that idea because, at the time, he was telling us that the only thing in life that mattered was the company.” Ash ran his fingers through his hair. “He once told us that love was for suckers.”
I flinched.
“Anyway, your dad was determined that I not see you. He said you were too young to get involved. You had school and a future with his company. That came first.” He let out a derisive laugh. “On that, our fathers agreed.” He let out a breath and it was like all the strength left him. “After that, I just…folded.” He looked down like he was ashamed. When he looked up, I could see the regret in his eyes and my heart went out to him. “I wanted to tell you but my dad had me on a helicopter twenty minutes later heading back to the city.”
My mind whirled at the news. “My father wouldn’t have disinherited me.” At least I didn’t think so. He didn’t when he found out I was pregnant.
“Should I have risked it?” He shook his head and then downed his wine, looking like he wished it was something stronger. “It took me a few days to feel like my mind hadn’t been blown and then I tried to contact you, but you changed your number and when I tried to call your house, I was told you were gone.”
“Ben knew where I was.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I figured if we were busted, why tell him about us?”
I scoffed. “Because you were worried about your business.”
“And our friendship. Look, I know I fucked up, Beth. If I could go back, I’d do it differently. But I can’t. All I can do is apologize and move forward.”
What did move forward mean for him? I couldn’t deny that this news changed my opinion about what happened, but could he be trusted? My father never said a word to me about Ash, even after I told him I was pregnant. He seemed to have bought the idea that it was some boy I met on the beach. But if he knew about us, then he’d have known Ash was Hannah’s father. Now him pulling away from Cam Raven made more sense.
What would have happened had Ash handled things differently? Would my father have disinherited me or was he just scaring Ash? The fact that Ash believed it suggested he didn’t want to risk my security. That was good, wasn’t it?
“The truth is Beth; I’ve never stopped thinking about you since that summer.”
“That summer was a long time ago,” I finally said. “A lot has changed.”
“Not everything has changed.” His gaze was intent, making me shiver. He had to mean his feelings or our chemistry hadn’t changed, but we couldn’t go there.
“We were very young,” I said.
He gave a small laugh. “You sound like my mother.”
“Mothers are wise.”
He looked down. “So, you moved on. What we had was just a young summer romance?” he asked.
No. “Well, yes.”
His jaw tightened and for a moment he looked away. When he looked back, he said, “Then perhaps it was best that I left.”
I felt his words like a stab in the heart, but I’d brought it on myself. I inhaled, both loving and hating what he was saying. I liked knowing that I meant something to him and that there was a reason, albeit not a great one, that he left without a word. But I was too invested in hating him. Our time had come and passed. I couldn’t let his confession derail my mission or soften my heart. There was too much at risk. I needed him to sign the papers and let me go.
Did I accept his apology and be done with it? It didn’t seem like he was in any hurry to sign. As the waiter brought soup, I realized we were having a full French seven-course meal. We were going to be here for a while.
