“Stop,” she said.
Kallie held up her hand and silenced Ash’s attempt at arguing with her. She was tired. Run down. She felt like a fool. An idiot for believing this was more than just a work trip. She felt stupid for believing she could have some final hoorah with Ash without him putting up a fight like this. She felt idiotic for even dreaming they could piece some semblance of a life together. James wanted her cooped up in a home while he went to work. While he interacted with the world. James wanted her to shove out children and keep herself pristine and have luncheons with other rich men’s wives. A trophy.
James wanted a trophy.
And so did Ash.
“This was always only temporary,” Kallie said.
“No, it wasn’t. It was in the beginning, but it isn’t now,” Ash said.
“Our lives are too different. You and I both know that. We have different goals. Different outcomes for our lives. I don’t want to spend my life hiding from the world. Hiding from the press. Hiding from other women who want to snatch you up for themselves. I don’t want to hide, Ash. I don’t want to be cooped up. I don’t want to be your trophy.”
“Is that what you think I’m asking of you?” he asked.
“We don’t have a good track record,” she said. “And being together won’t be good or healthy for either of us. It takes more than good sex to make a relationship work. We’ve got the sex part down, believe me.”
Kallie drew in a deep breath and let it out through her nose.
“But we aren’t good at any of the other stuff. Not together,” she said.
“I don’t want a trophy, Kallie. You’re misunderstanding me. I don’t want to coop you up and away from anyone.”
“It doesn’t matter what you want.”
“But what you want matters?” he asked.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then explain to me what you mean, Kallie. Because I lo—”
“Stop!”
Kallie shrieked it. Screamed it. So quickly and so violently that it tilted her world. She stumbled against the boat. Shrugged off Ash’s hands as she leaned against the side. She knew what he was about to say. And if he said it, she would be a goner. She’d morph into the one woman she promised never to become with James.
If she heard that phrase roll from those perfect lips, she’d stay.
And she couldn't.
She couldn't turn into that woman.
The woman so many people accused her of being.
“We need to return to the resort,” Kallie said.
“Just one night. That’s all I’m asking for is one—”
“Back. To the. Resort. It’s time for me to pack.”
Her eyes flashed with anger and Ash relented. With a heavy sigh and hollow eyes, he stalked off to the helm. Kallie sat on a chair and finished another glass of wine as the boat was slowly guided back to the harbor. She had no idea if Ash was going to keep the boat and she didn’t care. It was time for her to get back to work. Her week in Bali was up, and she had clients who needed her. Family who needed her. A best friend who would want to know how the trip went. She had a life to fix. A reputation to uphold. Memories to create and a mangled, scarred heart to fix.
Somehow.
Kallie rode in silence with Ash in the back of a car. They made their way back to the hotel resort and she walked quickly into her room. She didn’t want to talk to Ash any longer. All she wanted to do was pack. She wanted to get out of there as quickly as she could. Get back to her apartment and the life she was familiar with. She didn’t care about Ash’s testimonial any longer. All she wanted was to lie in her own bed, go to work, and pound the pavement like she was used to doing.
A simple life.
That was all Kallie wanted.