Some Kind of Wonderful (Puffin Island 2)

Almost as horrible as realising what a mistake she’d made.

She felt humiliated, and a little betrayed, but most of all she felt foolish because she’d tried so hard to believe in something that didn’t exist.

She wasn’t the sun, moon and stars to him. She wasn’t even a speck of cosmic dust on the bottom of his shoe.

‘Maybe it is just one day, but it’s an important day, and this year I’d like to spend it with my friends.’

‘Precisely—they’re your friends. They’re no use to me.’

‘Friends aren’t supposed to be of use.’ She heard her voice rise and tried to control it. ‘That isn’t what friendship is. It’s about giving, not taking.’

‘What can they possibly give you? Your situation is nothing like theirs. You have family—they don’t. Emily had an alcoholic mother, Brittany’s mother clearly knew nothing about responsibility, and don’t even get me started on Zachary Flynn. But I can tell you I don’t want to risk my reputation by being in the same place as him. Can you imagine what the media could do with that story?’

It was like looking at a stranger, and she realised he’d carefully shown her the side of himself he’d wanted her to see. Even with her he’d controlled his image. The only time it had slipped were the occasions when he’d lost his temper.

‘If you’re forcing me to make a choice between you and my friends, there’s no contest.’

He relaxed slightly. ‘That’s good to know. Obviously you’d pick me.’

‘No! I’d pick them. I love my friends.’

And she was incensed by what he’d said. Incensed, deeply hurt, and furious with herself for being so deluded.

‘A friend would never do what you just did.’

She knew now there was no going back. No fixing.

‘I know you love your friends, and that love makes you blind. It’s thanks to them you’ve lost sight of what’s important in life. We’re going to your parents for Christmas. They want the best for you. And so do I.’

She felt numb. Disconnected.

How could she have possibly thought this might be love?

‘I’m the one who will decide what’s best for me.’

‘That’s the theory—but you always make the wrong choices.’

Anger flickered to life inside her. ‘Thank you for making it easy for me to say no to the question you didn’t ask.’

‘Oh, for—’ He bit off the word and inhaled deeply. ‘Skylar Tempest, will you marry me?’

‘Again—no!’ Her voice sounded strangely flat. ‘And I can’t believe you’re still asking after the conversation we’ve just had. You wanted me to choose. I’ve chosen. Now, get out.’

He swore under his breath. ‘My flight leaves tomorrow and I have to be back in DC on Monday. I don’t have time to play games. I want to spend the next twenty-four hours celebrating, not fighting. All I want to hear is two words—that’s all. Yes, Richard.’

‘I’m not playing games. We don’t want the same things. Apparently we never did, but I’m only now realising that. And even if we did have a single thing in common, I can’t be with someone who is so rude about the friends I love. They’re too important to me. It’s over, Richard.’

Her words fell into a simmering silence.

She saw the change in him and her heart kicked hard against her chest. She’d been with him long enough to be familiar with every shift in his mood. It was like watching the sky darken over Puffin Island, heralding an approaching storm.

His temper was the thing she liked least about him.

‘I propose to you in public and your response is to break up with me? That’s not happening.’ His tone had thickened. ‘You’ve humiliated me. Next time we step out there it will be together and you’ll be smiling. This time you are going to make the right decision.’

‘If you really knew me you’d know that being proposed to in public would be the last thing I’d ever want. I don’t believe in fairy tales, Richard, but I do believe two people should be together because they love each other—not because it suits their career ambitions or because it’s part of a five-year plan.’ She saw him take a step forward but she stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. ‘You need to go now. If you’re worried about being seen then you can use the rear exit.’

‘I’m virtually a member of your family.’ His voice was an ugly growl. ‘Your father loves me.’