You Only (Cameron Farms Book 1) - Melanie Jayne Page 0,14
some people might be difficult to win over.”
Her eyes narrowed for a moment. “I am well aware of that. You could help me with that, to ease my path.”
He crowded her more with his body. “Why would I do that? You have never offered an apology or an explanation for leaving, Hale. Why should I do anything for you?” He didn’t mean to let that slip out. This version of Hale was smart and didn’t back down. He was rattled by how much he liked her and that weakened his hold on his temper.
A minute passed and her chest heaved with some emotion. “I’m not ready for this conversation, my emotions are still too raw, OK?” Tears started to fill her eyes. “But one day, when you want to go over that history with me, we will. Just be ready, Finn, you might not like what I have to say.” She scooted free without touching his body and walked to the exterior door.
Finn followed, mulling over what she had said.
At the door, she unlocked and opened it. “Thank you for stopping by.” She didn’t even try to smile.
Finn smirked as he passed though. “And thank you, Ms. Cameron, for your time. Oh and by the way, the years have been good to you, Hale. You look good, sexier.” He grinned as her face registered shock at his statement.
****
Hale closed the door behind him, making sure to control her emotions and not let it slam. She rested against it for a moment as her entire body shook.
She slowly walked to the kitchen to get another can of Diet Coke, or maybe something stronger.
She was sitting at the large farm table with her head in her hands when Ashley walked in with Jasmine.
“What are you doing here?” She hadn’t made plans with her friend for tonight.
Jasmine walked to the large commercial refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water before sitting in the chair across from her at the table. “Ashley called, so I’m guessing Finn’s visit didn’t go well.”
“You could say that.” Hale tried to smile. Ashley was still standing by the kitchen island. “Hey, are you heading out?”
“Yeah, I have class tonight.” She rocked onto her toes.
“Thanks for calling Jasmine. I appreciate it, Ash. You are too good to me.” Hale attempted to smile at her assistant. The girl was really great at reading her emotions and anticipating her needs.
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ashley waved her fingers and headed out the kitchen door.
Hale played with the condensation on the side of her Diet Coke can.
“So…” Jasmine broke the silence.
“I think we can say Finn won round one.” Hale continued staring at her fingers.
“Not surprising, words are his tools. You knew that he might still carry some anger toward you.” Jasmine reminded.
“I know that,” she snapped, and paused a moment to tamp down her anger. “I thought I was prepared for him. I had practiced what I was going to say, and I thought I could handle it.”
“Sweetie, Finn was trained to debate and argue. I don’t think you could ever be prepared for what he’s going to do.” Her friend was using her reasonable tone, the one that grated on Hale’s nerves.
She tried not to sound whiny. “I knew that sooner or later someone from his office would call. I thought this meeting would be all business, but he made it personal.”
Jasmine must have seen the pain in Hale’s eyes. “You aren’t ready for that yet.” She made it a proclamation. She took her friend’s hand. “Was he awful to you?”
“If I say yes, will you go beat him up?” Hale pulled her hand back and shook her head. “No, he backed off when I told him that I wasn’t ready to discuss our past. But it still hurt. I thought that he might not still carry the pain, that he would have put it behind him by now. I could see it, Jazz. I think he’ll always hate me for it.” That brief look that had crossed his face, so full of pain and anger, would haunt her forever.
“Finn loved you. He is a very proud man. You shocked him, and I’m not sure he’ll ever get over that. Knowing that you’re here and that he will be seeing you regularly has probably brought it all back.”
“I just thought…” Hoped, really, that he would tell her how happy he was, a ridiculous thought based on trying to assuage her guilt.