“We wouldn’t have.”
“According to who?” This didn’t feel right. He acted almost as if he wanted to…protect someone? Or was she way off base and reading into his words too much?
“According to your…” He clamped his lips shut and shook his head, as if he was about to reveal something she didn’t want to hear but then decided against it.
It all became clear. She knew the answer. And she didn’t want to hear it. “Don’t tell me my dad said something to make you break up with me.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you.” He shrugged nonchalantly, looking anything but nonchalant.
“Which means he did.” Closing her eyes, she hung her head again, breathing deep. Trying to gather her messy emotions before they spilled all over the place. “Right?”
He was silent for so long, she cracked open her eyes to find him watching her, his mouth hard, his eyes dark. He looked furious. “He found out about us a week before we split. Kept hounding me, telling me to leave you alone and end it. And when I didn’t make a move, he said he would end it for me by going to you himself.”
Swallowing hard, she tried to speak, but the words were clogged in her throat.
“So I did it. As much
as it killed me, I broke it off. I didn’t want him making up whatever lies to get you to leave me first. He told me again and again I wasn’t worth shit and if I knew what was good for me, I’d get my dirty paws off his daughter and never talk to her again. I guess after hearing it enough, I started to believe it.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m sure he wasn’t that harsh.”
“Darlin’, trust me. I’m sugarcoating it for you.”
She stared at him in disbelief, and he stared back, not saying a word. Not denying his words or her father’s either. “Why would he do that?” she finally asked, her voice a harsh whisper.
“He didn’t like me.” He shrugged. “He was trying to protect you? You’re his only child. Can’t blame him I guess.”
“I don’t understand why he would hate you so much and want us apart.” She slowly shook her head. “He deals with athletes all the time.” Realization dawned the moment the words fell from her lips.
Of course her father didn’t like them. The majority of his clients were professional athletes. His opinion of them wasn’t always the best because he knew what they were really like. Having one involved with his too young daughter had probably set him off. He’d always been so protective. She was his only child; her mother was never a part of the picture. They were all each other ever had—besides his string of ex-wives, and they really didn’t count.
And she’d done her best to keep her relationship with Nick a secret. Even from her best friend. She knew her involvement with him would earn their disapproval.
Hell, she still did it now. Sneaking around, hoping like crazy her dad wouldn’t find out she was seeing Nick again. Why couldn’t she be honest with him?
“I don’t think he’s much of a fan of my peers, if you know what I mean,” Nick drawled. “He deals with us. Takes our money if we need his help. And I’ll give it to him: Walter Cavanaugh is a damn good lawyer. He just doesn’t like the thought of ‘my kind’ messing with his little girl.”
How backwards could her father be? All these years she blamed Nick—callous, cold-hearted, love ’em and leave ’em Nick—when all along, her father had been behind their breakup. “So you left me because my father made you. And now you’re back, bound and determined to use whatever you have to get back into my bed.” Pain lanced through her, sharp and deep.
“No. Hell, no. I was hurt. Pissed,” Nick said, his voice scary soft. “Us being together has nothing to do with your father and everything to do with me and you. You know this, right? I mean, come on. You gotta know this. Or do you think I’m set on getting back at your dad by toying with you again? Because if you do, then you don’t know me at all.”
“I don’t know what to think. I’m scared, Nick. Scared to hand you my heart only for you to stomp all over it again.” She scooted away from him, wishing he would leave. Her skin was cold, her heart broken. She couldn’t trust him, ever. He hurt her every single time they were together.
How could she be so stupid?
“I don’t know how many times I can tell you that I’m a changed man before you believe me. But maybe you’ll never believe me. You act like you don’t want anyone to know about us being together anyway, so what did I expect?”
Nick was right. They hadn’t hid any of their dates, not really. But she hadn’t announced they were together either, of course. She’d seen people she knew when they were out, which wasn’t much, since they spent the majority of their time behind closed doors naked. And of course, they’d indulged in their one crazy night together at the Wharf, when he’d taken her on the roof of that restaurant where anyone could’ve seen them, for the love of God. She’d ignored the risks of getting caught, forgetting everything but the way he made her feel.
And God, could he make her feel.
Had he done it on purpose, though? Convincing her to have sex in a public place…all in the hopes that maybe her father—or anyone, for that matter—would somehow find out about it? Not that locals hung out on the Wharf or anything, but still.
“You’re ashamed of me,” he said, his voice deathly quiet. “Don’t bother denying it. You’re hiding this from your dad, from everyone.”
“That’s not true,” she started, but he silenced her with a look.
“I want you in my life but not like this. Not if we’re keeping secrets from each other still,” he said.