Moonlight In Vermont. Kacy Cross

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      When Fiona rushed into the swanky bar hosting Nathanial’s work party, her pulse hadn’t calmed down since her earlier phone call with Andy. “Late” did not begin to describe her tardiness, but the Morrisons would not be rushed, nor would she have forced them to cut short their tour of the home she’d found for them.

      They’d loved the brownstone, and as she’d expected, the location had sealed it for them. Their two kids could walk to the private school they attended, and no less than four restaurants occupied spaces on the corner. The couple had asked Fiona to put in an offer while they were in Europe, so the side trip had been worth it for the commission alone, but knowing she’d given them a home instead of a place to put their stuff—that was why she did what she could to put her clients first.

      Nate stood by the bar, looking handsome and devastating in a custom-made suit that fit him so well, her stomach fluttered. The culmination of a perfect evening. She could relax with Nate and tell him about her stellar day. He’d be proud, smiling down at her with his trademark eye twinkle that he reserved just for the lady in his life.

      “Nate, I am so sorry!” she called out with an apologetic smile for the man she’d been falling for all these months.

      She noted with a bit of trepidation that Nate was the only one in the room. It wasn’t that late. Barely nine-thirty. Where was everyone else?

      When Nate turned to face her, the first inkling that she’d messed up skated through her stomach. There was no trademark twinkle. He did not hug her as he usually did, choosing to stuff his hands in his pants pockets instead. He looked every inch the corporate powerhouse he personified at work...and nothing like the man she wished to spend the rest of the night unwinding with.

      “Fiona.” The frost in his voice set her back. “Finally.”

      Scrambling, Fiona shook her head. “My schedule was timed to the minute. But my Uber clipped a food truck and I had to get out and jog the last eight blocks. Listen, I know this was important to you.”

      Oh, man, was Nate ever annoyed. His lips tightened as he contemplated her. “The partners only meet twice a year.”

      She knew that, she really did. He’d told her many times how special tonight was. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. My schedule this time of year is just a blitz.”

      “We’re a great couple when we see each other.” Nate’s face became inaccessible with an expression she’d never seen before. “But I’m not dating your schedule, and lately it seems like you never have time for me.”

      “So I’ll make time—”

      “We are who we are. I just think maybe we want different things.”

      Dumbstruck, she stared at him. That sounded an awful lot like the precursor to a conversation she had not prepared for. He knew how important her career was. Right? And that when you worked in real estate, you had to be at the beck and call of your clients, many of whom worked during the day and required evening showings. Being available and flexible at all times was an integral part of her service.

      “Nate, what are you saying?”

      “That I’m tired of being just one more ball in your juggling act.”

      Fiona shook her head automatically, as if that could somehow ward off the awful direction of this conversation.

      “Yes, I may be juggling, but I’ve never dropped you.” And then it hit her that he wasn’t buying. His face had already closed in. “Are you…dropping me?”

      Her voice broke on the last word and that cued the prick of tears. Unacceptable. Emotions had no place here, and the less he saw how this bombshell was affecting her, the better. She blinked back the tears and stood there without a single way to deflect what she knew was coming.

      “I’m just doing what’s best for both of us.”

      His voice was gentle, but it didn’t matter. The words pierced through her like bullets. Without another word, she fled the bar and blindly searched for the Uber app on her phone, refusing to cry, refusing to feel. She hated being at the mercy of emotions, especially this sensation as if her chest was about to explode from too much pressure.

      This was why she avoided things that made her feel too much. Which meant it was time to lock it down.

      That condo near her office with the second bathroom СКАЧАТЬ