Page 55 of Dream Date With the Millionaire
“There must be a bug in the code.” Dani stared down her nose at him. “I need someone who respects my independence.”
His eyes darkened, the green turning into that of a stormy sea. “You care more about your damn independence than our relationship.”
“What relationship?” she countered, crossing her apartment to put much-needed distance between them. “You want me to trust your judgment about James and my job, but there’s no commitment between us. You’ve said we’re dating, but you’ve never called me your girlfriend or asked us to be exclusive or said…”
“Those are just words.” He took a step toward her, then stopped. “What I do is more important than what I say. I did what I thought was best for you today.”
Tears choked Dani. “You have no idea what’s best for me.”
A muscle throbbed at his temples. “I can fix this.”
“You’ve done enough.” She stood in one corner with an ocean of room separating her from Bryce. “I’ve fallen in love with you, but being with you has never been about what your wealth and influence could do for me. By going to James the way you did, you acted as if it was. As if I were no different than any of the women your father marries and divorces.”
Bryce’s nostrils flared. “I’m nothing like my father.”
“No, you’re like mine. Promising one thing and doing another.”
He made a fist with his hands, then stretched out his fingers. “You won’t let me do anything for you.”
“That’s because you want to do everything for me.”
Dani waited for him to deny it. He didn’t.
“I…” Her voice cracked. “I want you to go.”
Bryce’s jaw clenched. “I know I overstepped, Dani, but is this what you really want?”
No. She wanted him to say he loved her, even though she was angry with him. She wanted him to say he would never leave her, even though she’d told him to go away.
She wanted…the impossible.
Her pounding heart felt as if it might explode.
Dani might want those things from Bryce; she might want him. But she didn’t need him; she didn’t need anyone.
She raised her chin. “Yes, I want you to go.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
DANI took a deep breath. Her fingers trembled on her laptop keyboard. She typed…
To: “Grace”, “Marissa”
From: “Dani”
Subject: Hey!
Thanks for the e-mails and IMs. I knew you guys would understand why I had to cancel my Blinddatebrides account and make a clean break. My landlord found someone who wanted an apartment ASAP so I packed up and rented a truck. I’m now at my mom’s trying to regroup. Sorry I can’t chat. Dial-up sucks. Hope you both are well. Miss you! TTYS.
Love,
Dani
She hit “send” and logged off so her mom could receive phone calls. No DSL or cable to connect to the Internet at her mom’s trailer.
It was strange being back on the farm.
Dani had been here two days. It felt like two years the way time was passing so slowly, and she was hurting so badly.
She’d gone from standing on the edge of forever, of having the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow within her grasp, to falling into an endless spiral of regrets, heartache and tears.
Lots and lots of tears.
She missed Bryce more than she’d thought possible. And she felt as if she had only herself to blame.
Something clanged outside.
Dani rose from the kitchen table and walked to the window. Outside, the wind chime they’d made out of silverware for their mom on Mother’s Day hung on a rusted nail. A fork with missing tines blew into a bended spoon. She laughed.
“Now that’s a sound I like to hear.” Dolly Bennett spoke with a Southern accent even though she’d only spent the first twenty years of her life in Mississippi. “There hasn’t been enough laughter around here since you all moved away.”
“I can’t believe you kept that old wind chime, Mom.”
“That’s a masterpiece, darlin’. No way could I get rid of it.” Her mom handed Dani a plate with freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies. “I know these are your favorites. Maybe they’ll help you find that beautiful smile of yours.”
Dani set the plate on the table behind her and took a bite of one. The still warm chocolate chips melted in her mouth. “Thanks, Mom. For the cookies. For letting me come here and stay.”
“No thanks are necessary. You always have a place here.” Her mother smoothed Dani’s hair. “This is your home, no matter where you end up making your mark on the world.”
“Home.”
