had been with me for the last hour and sharpened with each passing minute. Maybe it was just nerves. Maybe it was guilt.
Maybe it was simply my heart telling me I was getting ready to make the biggest mistake of my life—
Or that I'd already made that mistake.
I'd let my defenses down, including the wall I'd carefully built around my heart over the years. And somehow, some way, Dylan had found his way in and I'd done the stupidest thing I'd ever done, in a long line of stupid things.
I'd fallen in love with Dylan.
At least, I think I loved him. I'd never loved anyone before so I had no idea how it felt but every instinct was screaming that it was the L-word. Even if it wasn't actually love, I was definitely on the fast track to falling—hard.
Under any other circumstances, it wouldn't freak me out so much...maybe. But after seeing Mrs. Young last night—
Dread washed over me at just thinking her name. I wasn't sure if she saw me, or if she even recognized me if she did—my hair was a little different and I'd been with Addy and Jacqui. I'd never been so thankful to be with other women than I had been last night, for the simple reason that all eyes focused on Jacqui wherever she went—which meant that attention wasn't focused on me.
I had a feeling that was probably just wishful thinking on my part, though. Mrs. Young had been watching me through the narrow slits of her cold eyes, like she was trying to place me. Then I saw her push away from the table and I nearly panicked and dragged Dylan out the door. The second-to-last thing I wanted was to come face-to-face with the woman.
And the very last thing I wanted was for my ex-fiancé's mother coming face-to-face with Dylan. My imagination had no trouble coming up with what she would say to me. If I'd been by myself, I could probably handle it. But to have her say those things in front of Dylan?
No, I couldn't chance it.
And now that she knew I was still here in New Orleans, she wouldn't stop looking for me, I was certain of it. Brandon had warned me that she could be vindictive. And controlling. And mean. Why else would he even consider a sham marriage just to appease her?
I simply couldn't risk running into her. Maybe it was cowardly on my part but I didn't think so. The survival instincts I'd honed over the years were screaming and I couldn't ignore them.
I reached the door and looked over my shoulder one last time, memorizing everything around me and wondering for the hundredth time if I should leave a note. Part of me wanted to but what could I say that would make Dylan understand?
Nothing.
Besides, he'd probably forget me. Part of me hoped he would despite the flash of hurt the thought caused—which was all the more reason to leave now.
I pulled open the door with a little more force than I had intended then almost fell backward with a small scream. Two sets of eyes stared at me then at my duffle bag then back to me—in unison. One woman wore an expression of satisfaction; the second wore an expression of surprise and dismay.
"I told you she was going to run."
Addy's narrowed gaze fixed on Jacqui then slid to me. "But she can't!"
I wasn't as surprised to see them as I should have been but that didn't mean I had time for this. An odd sense of urgency coupled with a certainty that doom was fast approaching moved me forward. I'd push past them if I had to then hope for the best.
"I need to leave."
"Why?"
"I just do." I stepped through the door and started to pull it closed behind me but Jacqui blocked me—literally. Before I knew it, she had control of my duffel bag and was forcing me back inside simply by stepping toward me.
"You're not going anywhere, cher."
"Jacqui, please. I need to leave." The desperation I felt was clear in my voice. Both women stopped to look at me—really look at me—and the concern I saw in their gazes brought tears to my eyes. I blinked them back and reached for my duffle bag. "Please."
"Not until you tell us what's going on."
"Nothing, I just—I need to leave. That's all."
Addy closed the door and leaned against it, like she thought that would somehow stop me. I could probably get past her with