He runs his hands through his dark hair and tugs at the strands. “Honesty has burned me in the past. As much as I want you to stay with me forever, I also have to protect myself too.”
My eyes narrow. “So, you don’t trust me?”
“When people find out about the money and the family title, they change. I trust you, Milly, but I didn’t want to be disappointed.”
“That’s really unfair.”
“I’m sorry,” he offers but his words sound hollow.
I shift on the bed and swing my legs over the edge before standing up. “There’s one dream that money can’t buy.”
“What’s that?”
“Unconditional love.”
Ben
Things with Milly are completely fucked. Right after our argument, she booked her return flight to the States.Weeks in advance.
“This is so unfair,” I tell her as she packs her suitcases. “You haven’t even given me the chance to make things right between us.”
She stops, her chestnut brown locks swinging, and purses her lips. “And you never gave me the chance to accept you for who you really are!”
“Stop being so bloody stubborn!” I roar, reaching for the suitcase closest to me. I flip it open and start taking out the clothes she just spent hours neatly folding. “Just give me a fucking chance!”
Milly stomps her way to me and snatches the clothing from my hands and shoves them back into the suitcase. “You had all the chances in the world!”
All I want to do is pick her up, hold her tight and kiss some sense into her. But being a barbarian never solved anything.
“Fine, Milly. Go on and run away.” I brush past her and leave the bedroom. “Coward.”
I grab my jacket off the back of a chair and leave the flat. I have absolutely no idea where I’m headed but there’s no point in staying only to keep arguing with her. And I couldn’t keep watching her pack. A hand reflexively tugs at my shirt, right above my heart. She might have packed it with her clothes and knickers because it belongs to her now, whether she wants it or not.
My feet keep going as I wander aimlessly through my neighborhood. I feel restless because there’s only one place I want to be – with her. Why is it so hard for her to see that we belong together? Fate brought us together the moment she walked into my pub.
My mobile rings, distracting me from my thoughts, and I reach for it in my pocket, hopeful Milly is calling. But it’s my stupid brother Alistair, the one who’ll inherit the bloody title.
“Hello Al,” I answer coolly.
“Benjamin,” he replies tersely. “Just calling to see if you’re coming up for mum and dad’s anniversary party this weekend.”
“Shit! I completely forgot about that,” I admit. “Sorry, Al. Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. And can I finally get your approval on expanding the estate?”
I grit my teeth. “Absolutely not.” Alistair and I inherited our family’s estate, Waterstone Hall, from our grandparents but any improvements or expansions need approval from both of us. The land Alistair wants to purchase would expand the lodge park on the estate, but it would also mean demolishing the neighboring property.
“Ben, this is for the best. I don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn.”
“Because it means George will lose his home.”
“Yes, and he can buy another one. A much, much bigger one.”
“George has worked for our family for years. He doesn’t deserve what you’re proposing.”
Alistair scoffs. “God, you’re such a bore. We’ll discuss it this weekend.”
The call ends just as abruptly as it began but that’s typical Alistair. He’s all business, very little pleasure. When he calls, there’s a reason and he gets straight to the point. He doesn’t do idle chit-chat.
