Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,132
that the Harmony Falls bank manager would only give me because he owed Gideon a goddamn favour.”
“What does that matter?” Addison said. “I can’t even afford a crappy second-hand car. Do you think I’m less because of that?”
“It isn’t the same!” he shouted. “You will never understand why and I’m glad you won’t. You shouldn’t live your life with someone like me. I’m no fucking good, Addison.”
“You are,” she said. “You’re the best man I know, Simon Wells, and I think I’m in love with you.”
He froze, his lungs seizing and his brain going blank. After a few minutes, Addison said, “Say something, Simon. Please.”
“You’re not in love with me.”
“I am,” she said. He voice was full of certainty, of utter surety and belief.
“Your family will hate me,” he said. “This isn’t some goddamn Hallmark movie, remember? What do you think your folks will say when you tell them you’re in love with an ex-convict?”
“Well, maybe that won’t be the first thing I tell them about you, but my parents are good people and they won’t judge you for your past.”
“They will,” he said. “You’re their baby girl and you being with someone like me will destroy your relationship with them.”
“You haven’t even met them.” There was the slightest tinge of anger in her voice. “Don’t judge them the way you think they’ll judge you when you haven’t even met them yet. Give them a chance, okay? Give us a chance. Please. I know you feel something for me more than just lust. Don’t be afraid, okay? Be with me.”
He wanted to agree with her. He wanted to fall to his knees and tell her he loved her, and fucking beg her to never leave him. But what good would that do? Over time, when the relationship with her parents was fractured, when that prick Harrison spread his past to the rest of the town and he and Addison were the fucking town gossip for the next decade, her love for him would dim. She’d find someone who was worthy of her, and Preacher would be left with nothing but her memory.
He took a deep breath. “It won’t work, Sunshine. You and me? We’re finished. Do me a favour and lose my number.”
Her bottom lip trembled, and he could see the shine of tears in her eyes. She swallowed hard and walked toward the door. She paused in the doorway and looked back at him, searing him with her gaze. “I never took you for a coward, Simon.”
The door shut behind her and he watched the only woman he’d ever love walk out of his life forever.
Chapter Thirty-One
“What are you doing here?” Gideon pulled up short in the doorway of the kitchen.
“Gideon,” Grace said, “don’t.”
“It’s fine,” Addison said. She knew that Gideon would be angry with her. He was Preacher’s best friend, and she’d be disappointed with him if he wasn’t kind of an asshole to her.
“I came by to talk and ask you for a favour,” Addison said.
“I’m not asking Preacher to forgive you,” Gideon said. “Not when you fucked him over the way you did.”
“Gideon!” Grace’s look was half-exasperation and half-love. “I know Preacher is your best friend, but don’t be a dick, okay?”
“It’s fine,” Addison repeated. “Grace, honey, can you give me and Gideon a minute?”
Grace nodded and stood up before calling for Tank who was sitting in Addie’s lap. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”
The big dog lumbered out of the kitchen, but Grace paused in the doorway next to Gideon. She cupped his jaw and tugged his head down before pressing a kiss against his mouth and then whispering into his ear.
He nodded and while Addison couldn’t hear what Grace had said to him, the look of anger on Gideon’s face dimmed a little. He even sat down next to her at the table as Grace left the kitchen.
“How is he?” Addison said.
“Since you broke his goddam heart a week ago? Not so fucking hot, to tell you the truth,” Gideon said. “Tell me something, Addie, did you give him any chance to explain his past, or did you immediately tell him the two of you were finished as soon as your prick of a fiancé told you and the rest of the goddamn town he was an ex-convict?”
“Ex-fiancé,” she said. “How do you know he told other people in town?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the dozens of phone calls from people asking me if what Harrison said is true and