Page 134 of Nothing to Tell
Wasn’t that what he’d said to her?Her fingers curled tighter around the metal handrail that was currently holding her up, palmprint be damned.
“Yes,” Robyn said.“I did miss you.I missed you so much and… Don’t they say if you love something you should set it free?You set me free and this is me, coming back to you.It’s all right.This is the time.This is where our life together starts.Right now.”
“Robyn, we can’t—”
“You have your pride, I understand a man like you doesn’t like being spurned.I didn’t mean it like that; I didn’t mean to refuse or reject you.I just needed some time to get a little perspective.”There was that little laugh again.“A lot of perspective.”
“Things have changed.”
“It’ll take you time to trust me again.I’m willing to do whatever you need me—”
“This is not a punishment.You were right in everything you said then.”
“No, I’m right now.You were right.When we talked about marriage and a family, I got… I panicked.It’s silly, I am sorry.”
“The conversation was hypothetical.If we didn’t want the same things from the future, there was no point continuing the relationship.We agreed then, our expectations are different.”
“Not anymore.It doesn’t have to be hypothetical.It’s not hypothetical.I’m ready.I’m willing.I want this, Bastian.I want you.And we can have it all.You’ll do the proposal.We’ll throw a huge engagement party.Everything.I’ll involve Carolyn and Keely.We can be a family.All of us.”
“It shouldn’t be like that, Robyn.You shouldn’t have to consciously involve people against your will.Family should be family.You don’t have to like everyone a hundred percent of the time, but the love was never there between any of you.I’d have more respect if you’d just say you don’t like them—”
“I didn’t say that.I never said that!Your mother didn’t like me from the word go.Without her approval, it’s… I’ll do it.I’ll find a way.I’ll talk to her and apologize for hurting you.I know I’ll have to pay my dues.I’ll do that.Whatever it takes.”
Thing was, if Robyn didn’t have Carolyn, then she had no hope of winning her way into Keely’s good graces.The women were closer than any mother and daughter she’d ever known.And “family” to the Hunts was on a whole other level.
“I would never let a woman I love be mistreated.”
“They didn’t mistreat me,” Robyn said.“It’s a tough circle to crack.They’re close, really close and… I could never figure out my way in.”
Is that what it was like?A love interest had to wheedle their way in?Was there a dance?A specific combination of moves guaranteed to get through the proverbial door?That hadn’t been her experience with the Hunts.
Suppose that was a sign Carolyn and Keely never saw her as a serious contender.She hadn’t been shut out or left in the cold.It was hard to imagine those women doing that to anyone.Then again, they loved Bastian so much, it was only right they protect him from people entrusted with his heart.
“We didn’t split up because of my family.”
“No,” Robyn agreed.“Though I was intimidated.You’re talking about marriage and kids, and there’s your mom glaring at me.How could I be okay with the grandmother of my children disliking me so vehemently?”
Were they talking about the same woman?Carolyn didn’t vehemently dislike anyone.Was she capable of being anything but her warm, welcoming self?
“My family weren’t the reason we broke up.”
“That was part of it, those things add up.But it will be different this time, I promise.I won’t be scared of the future Carolyn wants for you.I’m ready to do it all.It’s time to figure out what’s important.That’s what you said.I’ve figured it out, and you’re what’s important.I want to be with you, Bastian.Forever with you.”
What was she doing?Her files would have to wait, or she’d start new files.She couldn’t go up there in case they saw her, and if they reunited there and then—God, she wanted to bleach that mental image from her thoughts.
Backing slowly down the stairs, she hoped more than ever that the cab was still waiting.She needed to get out of there.Fast.
FORTY-SIX
HER NIGHT IN the hotel was fitful.Because it wasn’t Bastian’s hotel?Maybe.Or it could be that she couldn’t stop playing the possible scenarios of his and Robyn’s reunion in her head.Did Bastian kiss Robyn first?Touch her?Who made the move?Did they make love in the bed that she and Bastian had—no, damnit, she was doing it again.
After her meeting that morning, she’d come straight to her parents’ house.The timing was great actually.Her mom, Adara, and Charissa had a standing weekly appointment at a beauty salon.The guys, her dad and Damon, should be at work.
Still, sneaking in, she didn’t dawdle.Through the front door, up the stairs, into her bedroom.A woman on a mission.
Why did she need to hang out with billionaires?God, this was a terrible plan.
Most of her things were at Bastian’s.Her daily things.Which was exactly where they’d stay.She wouldn’t risk going over there again.Knowing him like she did, there was every chance he and Robyn were still in his room, reuniting over and over and—argh!Enough!
