He watched as she crossed her arms over her chest and angled her head to stare up at him, determination and fire in her beautiful eyes.
“It’s my camper and my tree. I get to pick.”
He couldn’t argue that. “Fine. Have it your way. But you know one ornament might make it fall over.”
A giggle burst out of her, and his heart warmed at the sound. This woman…
“Good thing I just want lights on it then, huh?”
Exasperated and yet willing to go along with whatever made her smile, he stretched out a hand and palmed her face, holding her still for a firm kiss. “Have it your way. But since the present is nearly as big as the tree, I want you to go ahead and open it.”
“Now? You said I had to wait.”
“I changed my mind. Open it.” He watched as she held the package in one hand and carefully unwrapped the box. “It reminded me of you, beautiful and sparkling and unique.”
A softooohbubbled out of her when she spied the gemmed raccoon. At least until a second passed and her expression faltered.
“The perfect keepsake to remind me of the humbling moment I askedyouif your money was real.”
He frowned at her tone, at the shift in expression from pleased and surprised to…disgruntled as she stared at the gift. “Do you not like it?”
“It’s very pretty,” she said, her tone forced.
He stretched out a hand and stroked his fingers across her cheek. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of you that night.”
Sara blinked and inhaled before shifting her gaze to stare up at him. “Rhys…”
She sounded uncomfortable, and once again, he could see her physically withdrawing from him. But why? “The gift isn’t expensive if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It’s not.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
A huff left her, full of recriminations and sadness. “It just—reminded me of how different we are. Opposites. And how none of this is real.”
He frowned at her words, taken aback by the vehemence behind them. “What do you mean?”
“This. Whateverthisis, whatever’s happening between us… It’snotreal. I-I think I need to stop this before it’s too late. It’s time we both remember who we are. That I remember whoyouare.”
He stepped toward her, but she backed away from him, shaking her head, fingers white over the raccoon in her hand.
“I’m sorry, Rhys. You should go. I-I can’t keep pretending in fairytales o-or that this is more than you…passing time.”
“Passing time? You think that’s all this is?”
“Isn’t it?”
“You’re seriously thatbiasedagainst me? Because I’m rich? Sara, I’ve worked hard to have what I have, and that’s withoutmy family’s wealth.”
“I’m not arguing that.”
“But you think what’s happening between us isn’t real because of who I am? That I’m somehow less deserving of love because I have money?”
“No!”
“Then what is this really about? The truth, Sara.”
The way she stared into his dark gaze broke his heart, and Rhys fisted his hands at the expression on her face. “Sara.”
