little trouble and I actually thought about doing exactly that—until I got a look at the determination on Jacqui's face.
I wasn't going anywhere, not unless they let me. Fine. I'd just have to do some fast-talking and convince them to do just that. "Guys, this shouldn't come as any big surprise. It's past time I leave, everyone knows that."
"Does Dylan?"
I looked over at Addy and opened my mouth to say of course, but the lie stuck in my throat. Sympathy filled her dark eyes and I thought that maybe she'd step out of the way and let me leave.
Until she spoke.
"But you love him!"
"No, I don't." My denial came out too quick, the words too sharp and high-pitched. I cleared my throat, ready to repeat them with more certainty, but Jacqui spoke over me.
"Does this have anything to do with that battle-axe you saw last night?"
I didn't bother to hide my surprise, not when Jacqui would see right through it. She waved one of her hands in the air with a quick roll of her eyes.
"Please, cher. It was pretty obvious. Now who is she?"
I hesitated, not sure how much to tell them. Maybe if they knew who she was, they'd understand and let me leave. At least, that was my hope.
"She's my ex-fiancé's mother."
"So?"
I gaped at Jacqui. "What do you mean, so?"
"Just that. He's your ex. Why would you care if you ran into her again? She's out of your life, right?"
"It's not that simple."
"And why is that?"
"Because..." I trailed off, wondering how much to tell them. Nobody knew the whole story of what had happened, why Brandon had asked me to marry him or why I couldn't go through with it. Maybe if they knew why...no, I couldn't tell them. Not without betraying Brandon's secrets. That was something I wasn't prepared to do.
"Well, cher? Why?"
I looked over at Addy, hoping she'd come to my defense. It was a futile hope because she was watching me as intently as Jacqui was, waiting for an answer. And I still didn't like the sympathy I saw in the depths of her dark eyes, or the words she had thrown at me.
But you love him!
No, I wouldn't get any help from Addy. If I was going to escape, I'd have to do it on my own.
I ran a hand through my hair, partly to stall and partly to figure out what to say. Maybe some half-truths would work. I could certainly give them details about the woman without betraying Brandon.
"I don't think she sees it that way. Me being out of her life, I mean. She's, um, vindictive. As far as she's concerned, I ruined her son and embarrassed her in front of her friends. Honestly, she's probably angrier about her own embarrassment than anything else."
"One of those, hm?"
"You have no idea. I have a feeling vindictive isn't quite strong enough to describe her."
"Fair enough."
"Good. You understand. I can leave now—"
"Not so fast, cher."
"But—"
"I understand vindictive, probably more than you do. What I don't understand is why you're afraid of her. What is it she could possibly do to you to make you want to run?"
"Especially without telling Dylan."
I frowned at Addy, wondering about her sudden obsession with Dylan's feelings. Maybe she was only guessing at things but her guesses were entirely too close to home. If anything, that made me more nervous than Jacqui's line of questions.
But Jacqui's questions were easier to answer so that was what I focused on. "I told you, she's vindictive. There's nothing more she'd like to do than get even. I have no idea how, but she will. I can't take that chance."
"But what is it she could possibly do to you?"
"Make trouble for me. Make life miserable. Harass me. She could even make trouble for—" I caught myself before I said Dylan's name but something told me it didn't matter. I had a feeling both women knew exactly what I'd been ready to say.
Jacqui's dark brows shot up in mocking disbelief. "So you're leaving Dylan in order to protect him? Hmm. How...thoughtful."
"That's not what I said."
"You didn't have to, cher, not when it was so perfectly clear in what you didn't say. Now tell me, who is this woman that you think is so powerful?"
"You don't need to know."
"Well I certainly didn't recognize her."
I looked back at Addy. "So?"
"So, she probably isn't as well connected as you think she is. I've never seen her in Daddy's social circles and Daddy knows just about everyone who's