reason and one reason only—to impress your family. Because you were tired of them making you feel like you weren’t good enough. Do you really think that’s going to happen now?” Her throat tightened painfully. “If they were disappointed by you, a billionaire tech mogul who dates Oscar-winning actresses, just how thrilled do you think they’re going to be that you’ve brought home a potential gold-digging daughter of an ex-convict?”
Gabe took a half-step back, and she could see his thoughts flying through his eyes, making them more a dark gray than green. He had to be desperate to win their approval. With the Elkin family, there would be no greater prize than earning a spot in their ranks. Gabe would want their good opinion of him far more than he’d want to spend his life trying to convince them that she was also worthy. Lines of tension deepened across his forehead. He’d come to the same conclusion and knew she was right.
“Why would you go to bat for me in the face of all that?” she asked when he remained silent. Anna braced for the final blow now that the question hung in the air between them. She knew it was coming. On some level, she’d known all along this was how it would end. Eventually, there came a point when people could no longer ignore all that her family represented. It was the end of the line for her.
But it didn’t stop Gabe’s hesitation from hurting. Painfully so. Like a knife in her heart. She put a hand to her chest before she could stop herself. “I’m leaving, Gabe. Please step out of the way.” He stepped back, but the movement was stiff. Her skin ached for him to touch her, or to reach out and stop her—but he didn’t. She twisted off her ring and handed it to him. “We won’t be seeing each other again.”
The walk down to the lobby was the longest walk of her life. Her heart thudded wildly, as she waited for him to run after her, to shout after her, but nothing of the sort happened and the holiday cheer of the reception area continued all around her. The huge tree in the middle of the lobby twinkled and shone with all its decorations. Soft Christmas carols played over the in-house sound system, moving into all the empty spaces like water. She barely noticed Freddie and his family on a set of low couches at the opposite end of the room, mumbling to each other and exchanging dark looks.
Anna had pushed open the door by the time she realized she hadn’t put on her coat. She shrugged it on, snowflakes landing on her eyelashes, and cast around. Okay—so she hadn’t thought this part through. It would have been smarter to call for a car first thing before she started packing. It was cold outside, but she wouldn’t let that stop her. The last thing she wanted was to feel the Elk Lodge’s warmth wiping away the chill that was already settling on her cheeks and into her feet. And asking the front desk for help getting a ride to the airport was entirely out of the question.
Luckily, one lone taxicab idled at the far end of the building under the last of the covered entrance. Anna hoisted her purse higher on her shoulder, curled a hand around the handle of the suitcase, and marched toward it.
This was it—this was the last chance. If Gabe came running out after her now, she might not be able to tell him no. Out in the snow and cold, the bitter flakes freezing her skin, she desperately wanted to be back in that suite with him, preferably tucked under the covers. One step at a time, each one taking her closer to the cab. The driver rolled down the window before she could knock. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“Just waiting for the snow to taper off. Some guy called, but my car wasn’t big enough for his group.” The driver peered out the window. “It looks light enough to drive now, I think.”
“Could you take me to the airport?”
“Sure thing.”
He got out and helped her get her things into the trunk, and then Anna collapsed into the backseat. The heat was on at full blast and it felt like falling into a warm cocoon. Tears threatened again, but she fought them back. She could break down when she got back to Las Vegas, in the privacy of