away, aware of the dull, heavy ache in her chest. She turned to Brad, outrage sharpening her voice, "You don't have the right to ask me that, especially in that way. What do you think you're doing, coming into my place like this?"
He took a deep breath, putting out his hand. Carefully, she turned away and avoided the contact. Right now, she didn’t want anyone touching her.
"Look―" He expelled his breath harshly, waving a hand, "-- I'm sorry, I was out of line. I shouldn't have stuck my nose in. I’ll go after him and apologize."
"You had no right...have no rights where I'm concerned."
"I know," he agreed, throwing himself into the chair on top of his jacket. His mouth turned down. "I just lost it, I guess. I couldn't believe..."
She felt the color rising to her cheeks. She turned to look out the window, trying not to imagine how it looked to Brad walking in on them. How it was. "You had no right to barge in here."
"I know, I know, I wasn't thinking. Truth is, after I talked to you the other day, I was worried about you. You sounded so distant. I admit I didn't handle things well after the accident―"
"Brad, please." She put her fingers to her temples, rubbing the skin soothingly. "Let's not go over this. Right now I can't handle a post mortem on the past." Not after watching Sloan walk away.
"I know, but I have to...I-I feel like I have to make it up to you. I know I let you down."
"Forget it. As you said, it was a shock. People react differently in shock."
"No, I should have seen the whole picture. I was wracked with guilt, fear, a claustrophobic feeling," his voice thinned. It made her uncomfortable to hear it.
"That day at Angel Falls, I should have let you take the time to check your parachute once more. I make no excuse for it. I can't forgive myself, much less expect you to forgive me.
"That time I came to the hospital, Con wanted to kill me, he would have if your father hadn't gotten between us."
"Leave them out of it," she said tersely. If not for her father, her brothers would have had a free-for-all with Brad. "You can't expect my family to feel otherwise about you."
"I regret walking out on you."
"I got over it, it's time you did, too. I want you to leave right now."
"I can't forget it, I feel like it's there between us, this insurmountable wall."
"There is no wall," she said sadly. Then, more strongly, "There is no us."
"Jacie, please, give me another chance." Strangely, she sensed a real desperation in his voice. "I still love you."
His words shocked her, made her hesitate. She walked to the door. "Brad, don't do this."
He came to his feet, his handsome face hard and determined. "You can't say it's over. We had something really great, we clicked, how can you say you won't even consider trying again?"
Irritated now, she spun to face him. "I lied Brad. It did hurt, your rejection. I don't trust you anymore. I feel like I never really knew you. I thought we would get married and at the first sign of trouble, you bolt."
"You can't turn me away. I won't let you. I'll wear down your resistance," he said urgently. "I’ll show you how much I care. I'll never let you down again. Say you'll at least give it a chance."
"Brad, you're going to leave now. I don't want to be pushed, and that's what you're doing."
He put a hand up, immediately backing off. "Fine, fine. I won't push. I've got some time off, I'm. . .er. . .in between jobs, maybe I could stick around for a bit―"
"No!"
"I won't get in the way. This place looks interesting. Hiking, swimming, riding. I haven't ridden since...since I was a kid. The place is big enough, you'll have your space." He paused, then back-pedaled and said, "What's with you and the cowboy?"
"Leave." The hackles rose as he referred to Sloan as "the cowboy."
"I'd just like to know where I stand."
Disbelieving, she stared at him incredulously. "You and I stand in the same place now as that last day I saw you," she told him baldly. "There is no us." Her words sounded hollow, even to her. What was the matter with her?
"Okay, okay. If I can get a room here for a couple days, can we just go easy, part as friends, at least?"
She wanted to finish this part