By the time I pull up in front of Banks Properties, I’m second-guessing my impulsive decision. Looking over the passenger seat, I see the new contract, and anger slices through me. To hell with it. The jerk has some explaining to do. Before I lose my nerve, I grab a stack of papers and take a deep breath. Telling myself I can do this, I walk into the lobby and stop dead. Wow.
As a temporary headquarters, this office building is spectacular. Glancing around, I realize my work uniform of khaki pants and a button-down shirt sticks out in here. The guard at the front desk looks up and scrutinizes me. “Can I help you?”
“I’d like to see Mr. Banks.” I stare at him confidently.
A smirk crosses over his face, and he lifts the phone to his right ear. “I’ll need your name to verify your appointment with Mr. Banks.”
I answer him, “Please tell him Addelyn Edwards is here to see him.”
The guard’s eyes narrow for a second before he dials the phone. He has a brief conversation and then mumbles, “Please take the middle elevator to the top floor. Mr. Banks’ assistant will show you where to go when you get there.”
After thanking him, I step onto the glass and metal elevator. When it stops on the fourth floor, a skyscraper by Chestnut Landing standards, the door opens to reveal another stunning lobby. An older, gray-haired lady is sitting at an antique desk, and she stands to greet me. “Addelyn, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Sheila, Roan’s assistant.” Her warm smile eases some of the tension running through my stomach. “Please, follow me. I’ll take you straight to his office.”
She stops at the end of the hall and knocks on a huge wooden door. My heart nearly pounds out of my chest when Roan calls for her to enter, and she pushes the door open. God, this was a horrible idea. Sheila steps in and pauses for me to walk by her. I take a deep breath and slip into the room without looking past her. She smiles and turns to leave. When she reaches me, she leans over to whisper, “I hope to see a lot more of you. Give him hell, then have mercy on the big dufus. Men are idiots.” She slips out before closing the door behind her.
Standing frozen, I stare at the gray and black marble floor. Roan finally breaks the uncomfortable silence. “You came to see me. You could at least look at me.” His voice sends shivers down my spine, and a tiny part of me wants to forget the last two weeks and run to his arms.
I peer into his stormy eyes and hold up the papers. “What’s this?”
He crosses his hands over his chest. “Did you read them?”
Blinking, I look from the contracts back to him. “Yes, and I want to know why you suddenly decided to do the right thing.”
Roan rubs the back of his neck and walks toward me. He reaches for me, but I step away. After dropping his hand, he sighs. “Your pleas got to me. I looked at the emails you’d been sending all along and decided that the current tenants of Main Street Row deserve to stay in the new Main Street Landing.”
“Sure. And trying to buy my forgiveness had nothing to do with it.” I give a bitter laugh.
“Not buying your forgiveness.” He shakes his head. “You made me see what’s important. And it’s not money. You are. You’re everything to me.”
My heart is begging me to forget the pain and jump into his arms as my mind reminds me of his deception. “You lied to me.”
“I should’ve been honest,” he agrees while inching closer. “I know it, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Stepping back, I square my shoulders. “No, you won’t.” Surprise flashes across his face as I grab the doorknob and turn to look at him sadly. “I’m not giving you the chance to lie to me again.”
He slams his hand onto the door over my head, and chills run down my body as his breath brushes the back of my neck. He growls, “I love you. I can’t let you walk away from me.”
Closing my eyes, I draw on all my strength and push back against him. He allows me to step away, and I slip through the door. Turning, I nearly fall apart while declaring, “You can’t stop me.”
Chapter Seven
Addie
Over the next two weeks, Roan sends something daily, either flowers or a gift. The shops in Main Street Row love the extra business, but I’m slowly dying. Every day, I wake up hoping my heart has healed overnight. The pain is eating away at my soul, and I’m terrified this is a permanent situation.
Rena, my assistant, glances over at me and frowns. Trying to cheer me up, she’s brought in donuts and sweets every time she works. As I feed my sorrows, my hips are expanding. “If you want to take a break, I can handle the store.” She smiles at me, and I realize I’ve been wiping the same case for the last fifteen minutes.
My response dies on my lips when the bell over the door jingles. A stunning older woman breezes into the shop. I’ve lived in Chestnut Landing my entire life, and I know everyone in this tiny town. She isn’t a local resident. And, her designer suit and diamonds definitely scream money. I’m sure her elegant hairstyle didn’t come from The Cut Above in Main Street Row. Her piercing blue eyes move around the room and stop on me. “My goodness. You’re even more beautiful than Sheila described. That son of mine is an idiot.”
Of course, she’s Mrs. Banks. Swallowing, I attempt to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace. Walking around the counter, I hold out my hand and lie. “You must be Roan’s mother. How nice to meet you.”
As she pulls me close for a hug, her perfume causes my eyes to water. She steps back and shakes her head. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unannounced. I wanted to meet you and see if I could talk to you on my idiot son’s behalf.”
Freaking great. “Mrs. Banks, I’m sorry...” I begin, but she holds up her hand and cuts me off.
“Please, call me Gloria.” She clasps her hands together and asks, “Would you have lunch with me so we can discuss this?” How can I get out of this? I look over at Rena and silently beg her to help me.
My assistant ignores my plea and smiles at our visitor. “I can handle the store. Have a great time at lunch.”
Shooting her a disappointed glare, I hesitantly agree. “Let me grab my purse. I’ll be right back.”
I spend the next hour and a half listening to Gloria describe all the wonderful things her two sons have done. Evidently, Roan has a twin brother named Rome, which is news to me. I guess we didn’t have a chance to become very well-acquainted before I discovered his lies. She shares funny stories from their childhoods and attempts to sneak in reasons I should forgive her oldest son. By the time I make up an excuse to head back to the store, my heart is stinging from all the reminders of Roan. As I promise Gloria we’ll have another lunch before she leaves town, I know I’m lying. Seeing her brings too many memories of Roan. What the heck? He was in my life for a few days. How can I miss him this much?
I’m still recovering from lunch when the door opens, and Rena gasps. I turn to find Roan strolling into Soap Addiction. Wait. He may look exactly like Roan, but my heart isn’t racing and my panties aren’t wet. He must be Rome. I smile at him. “Can I help you?”