Page 15 of The Texas Ranger: Saddled Up
“I do want this. I’m willing to do anything to get it.”
She knew without doubt what he meant. “Are you ending things with me because of the pictures or is it because I don’t fit in a suitable mold that pleases Francine?”
His sigh resounded. “I don’t have a choice. You understand?”
Her laugh came out as a cackle. “That takes a lot of nerve.”
“Aasia—”
“Don’t,” she raised a hand to cut him off.
He straightened his spine. “I also think it’s best we no longer work together.”
She tilted her head as if she’d get a better view of him. “What? You’re firing me?”
He cleared his throat, all emotion gone from his features. “We should end all affiliation.”
She wanted to scream at him, throw her wine in his face, but all she could muster was a palpable silence.
“I guess I should go.” He was already standing and heading to the door.
“There’s nothing left for us to say to each other,” she said to his back. “I don’t want to ever see you again.”
He opened the door and stopped in the threshold to look back at her. “If it means anything, I did care for you.”
She stared in disbelief as the door clicked. What she wanted to do was throw the wine glass “just because” but reminded herself it wasn’t worth the mess she’d have to clean. She’d cleaned up enough messes where Bentley was concerned.
Getting up, she went into the bathroom to splash her face with cold water. She felt a sense of relief. She would have completely lost herself had she stayed in a relationship with Bentley. She knew for a long time it was over.
Aasia stared back at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. “Girl, count yourself lucky.” A rock had been lifted off her shoulders.
A knock came on the door.
Anger shot through her veins as she stomped down the hallway, through the living room, and whipped open the front door. “How dare you come back—” But the sentence trailed off as she made eye contact with her nemesis. Francine.
For the second time that night, Aasia was shocked into silence.
Chapter Five
Aasia watched Francine swivel on her expensive shoes as she took in the rustic vibe of the living room of the farmhouse. The fact that the woman smelled like eucalyptus added to Aasia’s stomach staging a full-on revolt.
“Why are you here?” Aasia cut to the chase. As far as she was concerned, she and Francine no longer needed to bother with exchanging pleasantries.
“To discuss my son,” her sharp eyes burrowed into Aasia.
“You just missed him.”
“That I did,” her voice was smooth, low and terrifyingly calm.
Aasia crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll save you some time. Bentley and I are no longer together. He and I are done.”
Francine walked toward Aasia, her heels clicking on the wood floor. “I’ve heard that before. My son is a bit…well, wishy-washy at times. I wanted to be sure he got the point across.”
Aasia swallowed the bile rising in her throat. The audacity of the Fletcher family!
“Just so we’re clear, wearedone.”
Francine made a sweeping motion with her eyes down Aasia, then said, “I’ve taught my son to appreciate beauty. I’ve also taught him that not everything that shines is meant to be held.” She paused, her beady gaze focused on the simple locket around Aasia’s neck. The one Pedora bought her for graduation. The only piece of nice jewelry Aasia owned. “Women like youcling to men like my son. He’s a lighthouse for waifs. Honestly, who could blame you? He’s a catch. He can turn the worthless into something grand, but unfortunately, he can’t waste time salvaging every heap of metal that comes along. He’s got big things in his future.”
