Jade’s heart sank. She’d hurt him. She’d hurt Livie. Two of the most important relationships in her entire life had been bruised, possibly broken, in the span of five minutes . . . and all because Jade had been caught off guard. First by Cash’s declaration, then by the shock of her mother.
Not that Jade was putting the blame on anyone else. No, everything that happened had been completely her fault. She’d never been so confused, so scared. She was going to have to answer for so much and she couldn’t even begin to think of where to start.
Crazy how her friend and the man she’d been sleeping with had a closer bond with Jade than her mother, but that was the reality. Jade may not know what to say, but she knew who she had to spe
ak to first.
“I’m not going anywhere today,” Jade answered her mom, but focused on Livie. “I have a mess to clean up.”
* * *
He wasn’t pissed, he was hurt—which was worse.
Cash shoved one leg and then the other into his jeans and cursed himself. He’d vowed never to let a woman have even the possibility of breaking his heart again.
Yet here he was in Jade’s fancy bedroom staring at her fancy bed and hating the way he hadn’t spoken up for himself downstairs. He’d just stood there, shocked, stunned . . . broken.
Maybe he’d been waiting for her to come to him, loop her arm through his, confirm that they were something more than two people who looked like they’d just wrapped up a booty call.
But no. Jade had tried to backpedal and act like nothing was going on.
Cash turned from the rumpled bed. He didn’t want to see any reminders of how perfect they’d been together. Apparently, he’d been the only one to think so and he’d let his damn heart override common sense, despite all the promises he’d made to himself.
As he fastened his jeans, he scanned the floor for his shoes, then realized they were still in the kitchen. Fine. He could grab them on his way out the back door and get the hell out of here. No sense in staying where he wasn’t wanted.
Cash raked a hand through his hair and figured he should at least be thankful he hadn’t blurted out how he’d fallen in love with her while they’d been eating breakfast. He’d been damn close and he’d dropped a pretty heavy hint, but if she brought it up, Cash would blow it off. No way would he ever admit he’d been thinking or feeling anything akin to love.
Whatever they’d had, it was over. Love wasn’t something fleeting, but he could try like hell to suppress it and move on with his life.
Cash looked one last time to make sure he left nothing of his behind, then he spotted his cell on the nightstand on the side where he’d slept. He circled the bed and grabbed it just as Jade stepped through the doorway.
“Cash—”
“I need to get going.” Major understatement, but he didn’t take time to think. He had to get out of there. “Have fun with your mom.”
He started around the bed, but she met him at the end and blocked his path. Oh, he could go around her, but he wasn’t a complete jerk.
“Stop,” she said, holding up her hands.
Cash took a step back so she didn’t touch him. “Keep the shirt,” he said. “I have more at home.”
“That’s not why I told you to stop.”
He shoved his cell in his pocket and blew out a breath. “What do you want, Jade?”
“Jade? You never call me that.”
With a shrug, he said, “Things change.”
Her emerald eyes studied him and he pulled up every bit of his willpower not to reach for her. He wanted to shake some sense into her because he’d seen so much in her eyes, felt more than lust in her touch. She could lie to her mother, to her friends, but Jade had feelings for him. Maybe she didn’t realize it herself, but he wasn’t waiting for her to come to that conclusion. The damage had been done.
Cash wouldn’t beg and he wouldn’t let her come in here and apologize or try to defend what just happened. She’d chosen her words, chosen her pride over anything they’d had together. Cash saw quite clearly where he ranked in her life.
“So that’s it?” she asked, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “You’re just walking out of here?”
“I’m done being the dirty secret you’re keeping.”
Damn it. He hadn’t meant to let that slip out. His statement made it sound like he was bitter and angry. He was neither of those actually. The pain in his heart pretty much erased any other emotion. Maybe later, once he replayed every moment from when she walked into that hangar ready for her Nashville trip until this morning, he’d get bitter and angry.