Mack sighed. “He needs time, Richard. What happened with Graciela nearly destroyed him.”
Richard frowned. “It wasn’t his fault.”
“He blames himself anyway.”
“He needs to listen to reason,” Richard said impatiently. “You’ve told him that. I’ve told him that. I’m sure Destiny has repeated it ad nauseam. Maybe I should have another talk with him.”
“No,” Mack said with surprising vehemence. “Destiny’s right about this one. Ben needs to heal at his own pace. He doesn’t have your thick skin or my cavalier attitude toward life. One day he’ll wake up and put the entire tragedy into perspective, but it won’t happen until he’s ready. If we push him, he’ll just dig his heels in deeper. Next thing we know, he’ll put a lock on the front gate out there and refuse to let any of us in.”
Richard knew Mack was right, but his heart still ached for Ben. Graciela Lofton hadn’t been worth all this pain and anguish. No woman was, he thought until he caught a glimpse of Melanie laughing at something Destiny had said. He found himself sighing.
Maybe one woman was worth it, he conceded. Melanie was smarter than he’d initially given her credit for being, sexier than hell and a good sport. It was an admirable combination, one he hadn’t run into often.
So why the hell was he so dead set on pushing her out of his life just to make some elaborate point with Destiny?
For a few hours Melanie allowed herself to get caught up in the fantasy. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the disgustingly ostentatious ring that Richard had slipped on her finger. A part of her actually felt this awful kind of letdown that it was only there temporarily.
Not that she wanted this particular ring, not that she even wanted to be engaged to Richard for real, she told herself staunchly, but it would be nice to have that kind of permanent connection to somebody. To know that he’d be there for her in a crisis, to fall asleep in his arms, to make love to. When was the last time she’d had that? During her ill-fated affair with yet another boss and the closeness then had been as much of an illusion as her supposed engagement to Richard was. She sighed heavily, drawing Richard’s attention.
“Are you okay?” Richard asked, glancing at her quickly as he drove toward her place.
“Just tired,” she said. “Trying to keep all the threads of our story straight wore me out.”
He nodded, his jaw tight. “I can relate to that.”
“How? You spent most of the afternoon huddled with Mack. He knows we’re lying. I was with Destiny, who had a million and one questions about our plans.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you caught me completely off guard today, that we have no plans.”
“Sounds reasonable. What was so tricky about that?”
She gave him a withering look. “Are you kidding? Ever heard about nature abhorring a vacuum? Well, Destiny has nothing on nature. She now has lists of her lists.”
“Lists?” Richard echoed, his expression dire. “Oh, God.”
She grinned despite her own trepidations. “I see you’re familiar with her list-making skills. Frankly, I was in awe, and I consider myself to be a halfway decent organizer.”
“What sort of lists was she making?” Richard asked warily.
“Guest lists, caterers, florists, photographers, bridal salons, gift registries. I believe there is also a short list of preferable wedding dates to be checked first thing in the morning with your church. I lost track after that one.” She gave him a plaintive look. “She wants to book the church. Isn’t it some kind of sin to book a church for a wedding you know will never take place?”
Richard forced a grim laugh. “Probably not a sin, but definitely a complication we could live without. You haven’t met our minister. He would not be amused.”
“Oh, and did I mention Destiny has also drafted the engagement announcement for your approval, though I wouldn’t count on her waiting? She seems a bit eager to get it into print.”
“Maybe Mack is right,” Richard muttered under his breath, his gloomy expression deepening.
“What?”
“Mack,” he said. “He thinks she’s on to us and is now determined to push us beyond the brink so there will be no turning back.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Melanie said glumly. She regarded him hopefully. “When can we break up?”
Richard didn’t respond. He merely pulled the car to a stop at the side of the road and set the brake.
“Richard? Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Well?”