“I’m not a heartless jerk who took advantage,” he stated, needing to plead his case, but not just to make himself look better. He wanted her to truly know he valued her.
“I know exactly how this looks,” he went on. “But I swear to you that I didn’t know who you were until a few days ago.”
“A few days. Plenty of time for you to tell me, but you chose to deceive and lie and talk me into marriage.”
Harper turned her attention back to him, and Ethan forced himself to look at her. He needed to take his penance; he needed to see her pain to drive home exactly how he’d damaged this innocent woman. All she’d wanted was to honor her sister’s memory, to build her career, and he’d turned her life inside out.
And they were having a baby. There was no way to dodge that lifetime bond, and he didn’t want to. He just hated the thought that they wouldn’t be able to raise the child together, the way he’d wanted to. But he’d have to put that dream away now. All he could hope was that at some point, Harper came to see that even though his actions might have shown otherwise, he really did care for her.
Ethan reached out and took the ring, purposely brushing his fingers along hers. Harper snatched her hand back, and he knew in that instant that all was not lost here. She still cared, she still wanted him, but she was angry with herself...angry with him.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me right now—”
“Or ever.”
He nodded to acknowledge that he was actually listening to her, even if he didn’t like what she was saying.
“Maybe once you have some time to think, you’ll see where I was coming from,” he went on. “More than anything, I need you to see that you weren’t just a pawn in this. You were a victim, yes, but by the time I realized you were caught in the middle, there was nothing I could do about it. I swear to you—I wanted to protect you. I thought I could. I’m sorry I failed.”
Harper came to her feet and crossed the balcony to the railing. She curled her fingers around the bar and glanced down to her hands.
The smart move would be for Ethan to remain in his seat and give her the space she clearly needed...but he’d already committed the ultimate sin of betrayal, so what if he added gluttony to the list?
He rose and came to stand at her side, ignoring the twinge of pain when she stiffened at his touch.
“No matter what happens, I’ll make sure you’re paid for your work on the resort,” he vowed. “My attorneys will make sure this ends up in my name. It may take time, but I want you to move ahead just like you had planned.”
Harper sighed. “I can’t even think about that right now—but I don’t really have a choice, do I? My team is due next week and I need this project. I’ve put too much time into it, and the future of Two Sisters is riding on a successful design. The snowball effect Mirage would have on future work is immeasurable.”
That’s why he wanted her to know he had her back where the resort redesign was concerned. She might be pissed at him for personal reasons, but she still had a career that she loved and wanted to nurture. She had a legacy to continue...one that tied right in with his own.
“I understand your need to do everything to honor your sister,” he told her, reaching for her hand and sliding his thumb across the top of her knuckles. “That’s just another thing we have in common. I came here to fulfill my mother’s wishes. That’s all. The only person I ever intended to hurt was Robert.”
“My father,” she murmured.
At least she hadn’t jerked away from his hand, but he still didn’t like the empty space on her ring finger.
“He’s not a nice man, Harper.” Surely she understood that. “You even said that he had been distant and not much of a father figure in your life. When I told you the story of my stepfather, you agreed he should be brought to justice. This is the same man we’re talking about.”
He stared at her profile, his heart clenching when her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She turned her head in the opposite direction, but Ethan was having none of that.
“Look at me.” He reached around and cupped the side of her face, easing her back to focus on him. “Don’t hide your feelings from me. I know you’re hurting, and I know I caused a lot of that. I’m trying to fix this mess as best as I can.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
Wayward curls blew around, caressing his hand. He didn’t realize how much he craved her touch until now...until he was faced with the possibility of never having it again.
“Anything is possible,” he replied.
Then he did the most difficult thing he’d ever done. Ethan released her and took a step back.
“You stay here tonight,” he told her. “I’ll give you space and time to think.”
Her eyes widened as she turned to face him. “Where are you going? There are no more rooms.”
Like he’d be able to sleep or relax without her at his side? But the fact that she was concerned for him despite everything was only another added factor on the growing list of reasons he shouldn’t just let her go. They both wanted to be together, but the damned outside forces were determined to pull them apart.
Ethan turned and left her on the balcony. The sniff and soft cry as he walked away gutted him. For all the time, the years, the money and everything else he and Dane had put into finding leverage they could use against Robert, Ethan was starting to wonder if any of this was worth it.