"We’re twins," Becca informs him.
We always looked a bit different, and now more than ever. With Becca’s hair growing back in, it just reaches the tops of her shoulders and she wears it wavy and messy. My hair falls like a thick curtain down my back and is as straight as an arrow. She’s also about fifteen pounds thinner than me. Chemo will do that to you.
"Mmm," Pace growls, his eyes wandering between us. "I’ve always had a secret twin fantasy." The hungry look in his eyes is enough to bring a woman to her knees. Becca stands zero chance against his charms.
Colton steps closer to my side, his fists tightening as he shoots an evil glare toward Pace. "Don’t make me kill you as soon as we’ve landed. It would really dampen the trip."
"Don’t make me confiscate your balls. Now go talk to your woman," Pace challenges.
I open my mouth to correct him. I am no one’s woman, but my brain flashes back to that fateful night when Colton purchased me from the auction. I accepted the money–and spent a good chunk of it. Does that mean I still belong to him despite finding out he’s married?
I cursed the stupid contract, I cursed the man himself for holding my heart captive. That was never part of the plan.
When I meet his eyes again, he looks lost, broken, and it tugs at something deep inside me. As much anger as I felt discovering that he’d lied to me the entire time we were together, I still have feelings for him. I can’t just turn them off. Despite his obvious shortcomings, he helped my sister, and he made me feel alive. He was everything I never knew I wanted.
"Can we go out into the hall and talk for a minute?" Colton asks, his voice whisper soft.
"Hear him out, kid. Do it for me," Pace says, dimples out in full force, like he knows they’re impossible to refuse. The jerk.
I swallow and give an imperceptible nod before following him into the hall. He flew halfway around the world; the least I could do was listen to his explanation. Maybe it will give me some much needed closure. Maybe I can get the answers I need to move on and also figure out where we stand with respect to the large chunk of money exchanged between us. He never collected on his end of the bargain after all, I am still a virgin.
Once we’re out in the hall, Colton stands before me, looking directly into my eyes. "So, that’s Becca, huh?" He tips his head toward the door.
"Yeah."
"She looks good – healthy, I mean."
I nod. "Yeah, the treatment worked – so far. She goes in for another round in two weeks, but with everything that’s happened, it seemed like a good time to get away – for both of us." She and I have never done anything like this, but it was part of my plan to start actually living.
He nods. "I see."
We’re silent for several seconds and Colton’s hand twitches like he wants to touch me, but he doesn’t. Thank God.
"And would your running away to another country have anything to do with…Stella?"
I flinch involuntarily. I hate that he’s just said her name. It immediately conjures images of that day in the pool, when my whole little world shattered. In the country of Italy, her name should not exist.
"Will you tell me the story?" I ask.
"Anything you want to know."
"Are you getting divorced?"
"That’s up for debate."’
"Then I’m leaving." I turn for the door, my hand gripping the knob.
"No. Stay. Please hear me out," Colton pleads, prying my fingers from the door handle.
His hand on my skin sends a flash of heat through me at the memory of what those hands can do. He’s still the only man who’s made me come. I shudder as though the memory singes some part of me.
I hear a wave of girly laughter behind the door. It warms me to hear Becca enjoying herself, and it grounds me in the moment. Turning to face Colton again, I draw a deep, calming breath. "Do you love her?"
"No." His voice is sure, steady. "I never loved her like I should have."
My shoulders relax just slightly. Even if my body wants to run, and my head is screaming at me to flee, my heart has grown attached to this man. And for better or worse, part of me needs to hear him out, to understand this messy situation I’ve found myself in. Maybe if I can make sense of it, then I can move on.
"Please let me explain, that’s all I’m asking." He raises his palms in a placating gesture.
I’ve never seen him look so devastated and broken. Dark circles line his eyes and he hasn’t shaved in days. Even though I’ve agreed to hear him out, a wave of nausea washes through me. Am I prepared to handle whatever he’s about to tell me? I fasten one hand against the wall for support. "I just need a minute…"