I don’t answer her.
“I know you fucked her before you came here, and let me tell you right now that was the last time. I will not have a mockery of a marriage. You will remain faithful to me from this point forward.”
I look at her and shake my head. Even if Macey and I did have sex before I arrived, how would Brandy know she’s . . .
It all comes back to me in a flurry: Brandy stepping closer, trying to get me to kiss her before she left to use the restroom. She must’ve seen Macey and pounced, sending the woman I’m in love with . . .
In love?
Do I love Macey?
Yeah, I think I do. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face and then Brandy’s. She thinks she’s won, when in fact I’m about to destroy everything.
Brandy’s words and actions leave me no choice. I sidestep her and holler out for people to give me their attention. “Excuse me. I have an announcement to make.”
Brandy steps next to me, her smile lighting up the room.
“It’s with great pleasure that I announce . . . well, that I tell you that Brandy Kramer is a fucking snake. I know she’s going around telling everyone we’re engaged. We’re not. She bought the ring for herself.”
Brandy slaps me just as the people in the room gasp and I love every minute of it.
“Finn?” Her father says my name as if he doesn’t understand what’s going on.
“Sorry, Mr. Kramer, but I’m not marrying your daughter. She’s trying to blackmail me, telling me that if I don’t marry her you’ll pull the funding for my hotel and the thing is . . . what I’ve been trying to tell you all night is that I don’t need your money to finish it, but your support would be appreciated.”
I don’t give him a chance to say anything. I turn and walk away, barely making eye contact with the rest of the guests. I’ve probably sealed my fate by this, but I don’t care.
Behind me I can hear Brandy crying and her constant “oh Daddy” ringing out as I exit the room. I hail a cab and pray that when I get to my apartment Macey will still be there. It’s not the first time she’s walked out on me, but I’m hoping to make it the last.
The elevator ride seems to take forever, but when it finally dings at my floor I jump off and barge through the door. The apartment is quiet when I walk in, and one look down the hall shows me that my bedroom door is shut. I decide to see if Morgan is upstairs or not.
Her door is open and the lamp on her dresser is on.
“Hey, Daddy,” she says as she sits up.
“I like that name,” I tell her as I go in and sit on her bed.
“I don’t want to call you Finn and you’re my dad.”
“That I am.” I kiss her on her forehead, pushing her wild hair out of her face. “I came home as soon as I got your message. What’s wrong with Mommy?” I don’t say her mommy, pushing home the fact that somewhere along the lines my feelings for Macey have changed drastically.
Morgan shrugs. “She got all pretty to go see you and came back crying. Big tears too, like I have when I scrape my knee.”
I nod, wondering how I’m going to fix this. Truth is, I probably can’t. Macey has no reason to trust me.
“Get some sleep. I’m going to go talk to her.” I kiss her again and tuck her into bed. I take one last look at my daughter before I close her door and make my way back downstairs. I knock twice before I let myself into my room.
Macey is on her side of the bed, facing the windows. I can’t tell if she’s awake or not. I want to go to her, but I want to change first. My tuxedo has Brandy smell on it and that’s the last thing I want touching Macey.
Clad only in my boxers, I turn off the light in the closet and make my way to the bed. The slow dip of the mattress has her moving.
“Get out, Finn.”
I ignore her and move in behind her, keeping barely enough space between our bodies. She sniffles, breaking my heart in the process.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were there?”
“You were busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you, Macey.” I try to touch her, but she shies away from me.
“Please leave.”
“Please look at me, Macey.” I tug on her shoulder and am met with resistance. She’s never fought me this hard before and as much as I hate to admit it, it turns me on.
“Macey?” I try again, but to no avail.