You Betrayed Me (The Cahills #3) - Lisa Jackson Page 0,120
going to make him say the words, actually spit them out.
“You know,” he said, his gaze finding hers.
“I don’t,” she said stubbornly.
“We can’t see each other anymore, Sophia.”
“Are you kidding me?” After everything she’d given up to be with him? He was really, seriously ending it? “Why?” she asked, inching up her chin. “After all I’ve done for you. I even spent all day cleaning, Willow and I, but it was my idea to make this house perfect for you. We’ve shared so much, you and I. I can’t believe . . . why, James?”
“We both know it’s just not right. Megan’s still missing—”
“That—she—her being gone—has nothing to do with us,” Sophia argued, starting to feel the first bit of desperation.
“The police seem to think I might have had something to do with it.”
“Did you?”
He stared at her as if she’d gone mad. “Of course not.”
“Then what’s to worry about?” she asked, trying to tamp down the anger that was starting to pulse through her. “We’ll get through it,” she said calmly, though her hands fisted and rage that he would even consider breaking up with her pulsed through her brain. But she couldn’t let it get the better of her. She reached forward to touch his arm. “Couples have their ups and downs.”
She let her hand fall away under his stony glare and barely noticed as a lock of hair escaped the braided plait beneath her cap. “We can get through this, James. Trust me.”
Did he falter a bit? Was she getting to him? God, she hoped so. After all, she’d staked her entire future on James Cahill. He was the one. The only one.
“It’s not just that,” he said.
“Then what?”
“I think it’s time we both moved on, Sophia.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You’re really breaking up with me?”
He didn’t answer.
But she got it. Finally. And fury seared through her. “It’s because of Rebecca Travers!” she said, spitting out the name. “She got to you, didn’t she? All of her concern over her sister. I should have seen that coming. What a bitch! You know it’s not real, don’t you? She doesn’t care about Megan. She never did!”
“How do you know that?”
“Come on, James. You and Megan were seeing each other on the sly, weren’t you? While you were still ‘going with’ Rebecca?” She glared at him as a cold wind cut across the porch and rattled the branches of a nearby tree, blowing snow over the railing. That stupid strand of hair blew over her eyes again. Angrily, she took off her cap and tucked that irritating lock under her braid.
Damn it all to hell! Didn’t he see? Didn’t he know they were supposed to be together? She wanted to scream at him, but she forced her anger back.
“Don’t do this now,” she advised, returning her hat to her head, her hair now secure. “You’ve been through a lot.” She reached up and touched the still visible claw marks in his beard. “Everything is . . . strange right now. Weird. But it’ll be better.” She forced a tremulous smile. “I can make it better.”
He pushed her gloved hand away, and when she stepped a little closer, intent on passing into the hallway behind him, he shifted, making it impossible for her to enter. Frantic, she spied the dog behind him, staring at her through the small space between James’s waist and the door frame, appearing no more welcoming than his owner.
“James,” she whispered, heartbroken.
“It’s over,” he said firmly.
“No.” Her throat clogged as she shook her head. “I don’t believe it.” That was a lie. She saw by the set of his jaw that he meant business, and she knew from dealing with him how stubborn he could be.
“I think we’ve said enough.”
Oh, God, he wasn’t budging. She bit her lip and felt tears start in her eyes. “Don’t do this. Not now.”
He didn’t respond. Didn’t back down. “Good night, Sophia.” He started to close the door. “Go home.”
The door shut in her face, and she heard the click of the dead bolt.
She sagged a bit.
Never before had he been able to resist her.
But then her spine stiffened, and she reached up to start pounding on the door, her fist tight. She would make him see!
You still have the upper hand. He just doesn’t know it yet.
She held her fist back, poised, taking a moment. She had to be careful. She couldn’t ruin this, and she did have an ace up her sleeve. She hadn’t been sure when