More Than Protect You (More Than Words #6.5) - Shayla Black Page 0,62
were turned on until I switched them off last night.”
“You snooped through my phone?”
Shit, that clearly made her mad.
“No. I opened your settings just long enough to turn off your location services. That would have been the end of it if your wannabe boyfriend hadn’t started texting you. You want me to admit that I read your message string with him? Okay. Fine. I did. I was afraid he would upset you. So far, it seems like I’ve been proven right. I didn’t mention it because it was the middle of the fucking night and you were asleep.”
She presses her lips together like she’s trying to decide if she believes my story. “And you couldn’t tell me this morning?”
“I forgot.” That’s the truth.
Bruce jumps in. “Bullshit. He texted your dad a couple of hours ago and told him where I could find you. He also said how much he was looking forward to the fat, juicy paycheck and being rid of you.”
“Shut up.” I whirl on him. “Shut your fucking lying mouth. Here.” I yank my phone from my pocket and open my texts before shoving the device in front of her. “Look through every last one of them. You won’t see a single one to your father. He called the other day, but I told you about that. He texted all day, making demands and—”
“He must have deleted the text he sent back to your dad,” Bruce insists.
“I didn’t delete a damn thing,” I growl. “We both know it.”
“Even if you’re telling the truth, you didn’t reply to my father.” Mandy looks at me like I’ve betrayed her. “You didn’t tell him to pound sand.”
Immediately, I know what she’s thinking. “Not because I wanted to sell you out to him, but because I didn’t think he deserved an answer simply for demanding one.”
When tears fill her eyes, I know my explanation falls short.
I fucked up.
“You said you would. You promised.” Her face twists, and tears fall down her cheeks. “And I believed you.”
I grab her shoulders and will her to look at me. “I swear I didn’t betray you, baby. If you believe nothing else, believe that. Please.”
Mandy doesn’t answer for a really long time. The anger bleeds from her face. “Maybe you didn’t. I don’t know. I really don’t. But this tells me I’m not ready to trust you.”
What is she saying?
“So you’re going to believe him?” I gesture to Bruce. “The guy who hired a fake mob and skulked outside your door?”
“I didn’t say that. But I just realized that everything is happening too fast. You happened too fast. I thought I was open to love again, but clearly I’m not ready to gamble the rest of my life on someone I’ve known for two days.”
I have one last card, and if what’s in my heart doesn’t reach her, then I’m fucking played out. And I’m going to wind up alone—probably for good. “Do you even care that I love you?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, as if she’s trying to protect herself. More tears fall. “If you really do, then you should have kept your promise. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m ready to love you back.”
“So that’s it? You’re going to choose Bruce and—”
“I didn’t say I was choosing him.”
“But you’re going to,” the other guy insists. “I came all the way to Hawaii and spent days here, dedicated to you and—”
“Pretending to stalk me so I’d be scared enough to fly back to New York and right into your arms? Do you think that’s love?”
“No. I’m saying this all wrong. But actions speak louder, don’t they? I’m prepared to slip a ring on your finger right now. I even brought it with me.” He reaches into his pocket and plucks out a plush box in dark blue with a stylish HW on the front. “See? I’m serious. I know I’ve screwed everything up, and I’m sorry. I didn’t know how else to be your hero so you’d fall for me. Let me start over, sweetheart. I promise I’ll make you happy.” He pries the little box open to reveal a giant oval cut diamond. “It’s five carats from Harry Winston. Just say yes.”
She gasps, staring at the glimmering stones. “Oh, my gosh!”
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It is—”
“Then let me put it on your finger. Say yes.”
My gut grinds with tension. Diamonds and a pretty proposal won’t sway Mandy, right? “You’re not seriously thinking about marrying him, are you?”