Fight Like You've Never Lost (Summer Lake #14) - S.J. McCoy Page 0,41

the way it made her feel. Just how much she’d loved him.

She looked into his eyes and he gave her a rueful smile. “You started this.”

She wanted to come back at him, say something about how he’d ended it. But she couldn’t. She brought her hand up to her brow and tried to soothe the frown lines away. “I thought we were closing the door?”

He held her gaze for a moment longer before he nodded. “You’re right. We are.” He turned on his heel and she expected him to stalk out of there, but he didn’t. He waited for her to go with him.

“Do you want anything?”

“No. I’m fine.” It was a lie. She was a long way from fine. And she did want something. She wanted a time machine. She wanted to go back to that first time they’d been together. She wanted to say goodbye to him in the morning and then be strong and never see him again. Either that or go back to the last time … no, even with a time machine, she’d only be able to change her own actions. She couldn’t change what he’d done.

He held the door open for her to go back outside. The driver had parked close to the doors, so they didn’t have far to go. But every step made her heart hurt as he walked beside her. She sure as hell didn’t want him to hold her hand. She hated him! She blinked rapidly. She did. It wasn’t not being with him that made her sad. It was what he’d done. He’d promised her he wouldn’t hurt her. Promised her that she could trust him no matter what. He’d wormed his way into her life and her heart and when he’d finally dismantled all her defenses, he’d destroyed her.

When they reached the car, she hurried around to the other side. She didn’t want him opening the door for her. He used to do that, too. And he’d kiss her lips as she got in.

Once they were both settled, the driver turned to check on them. “Are we good to go?”

“Yep,” Ryan said.

Leanne nodded.

“Okay. It should take us about an hour and a half from here.”

And hour and a half? Leanne’s heart sank. They’d only been on the road for half an hour so far? She couldn’t wait for this ride to be over.

She jumped when her phone buzzed with a text. She fished it out of her purse.

Hey, boss lady. When are you coming back?

She had to smile. Her assistant, Donovan, hadn’t been happy about her taking this trip. He was the only person at the firm who knew what it might mean. And he didn’t want to see her go. She glanced at Ryan. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to move to Summer Lake now anyway.

I’m not even there yet! What do you need?

She felt as though Ryan was watching her. Not that it mattered. But she still tilted her phone away from him. It was none of his business.

I need you back! I can’t survive here without you. Don’t leave me.

She bit back a smile. Perhaps it would have been better to let Ryan see that. She wondered what he’d make of it.

What’s going on?

Anderson wants me to help out on the Pinnacle files.

Leanne blew out a sigh.

I hope you told him no.

I tried. I told him you asked me to keep working on Essenden. But …

But what?

He said you’re not here and he is.

Leanne scowled. Stupid man. Anderson was the biggest pain in her ass. She was tempted to call him and give him a piece of her mind. But that would only leave Donovan in a difficult situation.

She could feel Ryan watching her. She snuck a glance at him, but of course, he caught her.

“Boyfriend?” he asked.

She opened her mouth, about to tell him that it was none of his damned business. But she caught herself and nodded instead. Donovan might be able to make her life easier—and if she brought him up to the lake, she’d make his easier, too. Anderson would eat him alive if she left him there to fend for himself.

She looked back down at her phone. She had considered bringing him up to the lake if she moved here. She wasn’t sure that she’d need an assistant, but Donovan was the best she’d ever worked with.

I’ll talk to him.

She knew from the long silence that he was probably worried by that. So, she put him out of his