The Engagement Arrangement (Boots and Bouquets #2) - Jaci Burton Page 0,97
when you and I got together it was like a dream to me. Your sassiness, your laugh, all of that wrapped around me and made me the happiest man around. And I thought—okay, we’ve got a chance, you and I. A chance to have something amazing together. But you never really gave me the chance, Brenna, because you were too afraid of your past to build a future with me.
“And if you want out, then I feel bad for you because I’m the best damn thing to ever happen to you. You go live your life and I’ll go live mine. Good-bye, Brenna.”
He turned and walked down the steps of the porch, Murphy wagging his tail as he followed behind him.
Brenna waited for the words to come out to yell at Finn to stop, to tell him that she’d made a huge mistake. But the words never came. She just stood there and watched him drive away while she rubbed the naked spot on her finger where Finn’s ring used to be, those sweet words he’d said to her still ringing in her ears, still wrapped around her heart. And she still couldn’t move her feet, couldn’t take those steps to stop him.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she went inside, closed and locked the door and walked upstairs to her room. She sat on the bed, feeling as empty as she had ever felt in her life, as if there were a hole right through the center of her heart.
What had she done?
CHAPTER
• • • • • •
thirty
WAIT . . . WHAT? SHE broke up with you?”
Finn nodded at Jason and took another long chug of his ale.
“What the hell did she do that for?” Clay asked.
“I guess she doesn’t feel the same way I do.”
“That’s bullshit,” Owen said. “Hang on, I’ve got a customer.”
Owen wandered off while the rest of them sat at a table at the Screaming Hawk.
“Okay,” Jason said. “Tell us everything that happened.”
He went over it again, step-by-step—at least the steps he could piece together since none of it made sense to him.
“But you love her,” Owen said.
He stared miserably into his glass. “Yeah.”
“Then fight for her,” Jason said. “Don’t let her go that easily.”
“Brenna’s stubborn. She thinks she knows what she wants.”
“Then . . . maybe make it harder for her to have you,” Clay said.
Finn frowned. “What? Nah. I don’t play games like that. She either wants to be with me or she doesn’t. That’s her choice. The last thing I’m gonna do is start dating other women and parade them in front of her. That would hurt her and I don’t want to do that.”
“No, I don’t mean it like that. You’ve been there at the vineyard the whole time, since you were eighteen. She knew you were always there for her. If she changes her mind, you’ll be right there. Like always.”
“Oh, I get it,” Owen said. “What if you weren’t there, ready to take her back in a hot minute?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “You know what they say about absence. What if you’re not there when she decides she wants to talk this all out? Make her realize what she’s missing. Who she’s missing.”
Maybe not a terrible idea. And Finn could use a break. Clear his head. He never took time off. And he had just the location in mind.
He looked up at his friends and smiled for the first time in days. “You’re all very smart.”
“We have to be,” Owen said. “Because you’re a dumbass.”
He laughed, and started to formulate a plan in his mind.
* * *
• • • • • •
IT HAD BEEN a week since Brenna had broken up with Finn. Three days since she’d even seen him wandering around the property. She appreciated that he hadn’t come around to talk to her, that he’d given her space.
But did she really appreciate it, or was she just trying to convince herself of that? Because the next day she figured he’d come around and tell her again what a colossal mistake she’d made. And then they’d talk and she’d agree with him, tell him yes, she’d been afraid and she’d apologize. She’d beg him to take her back. He’d forgive her, they’d kiss and make up and all would be right again.
Instead, he’d been nowhere to be found. Or the day after that or the day after that. Not that she’d gone looking for him or anything, because she wouldn’t do that. After all, they were broken up. And