Momentary Marriage(90)

Kelsey shrugged, trying to keep the misery out of her expression. “Whatever. I’m married and separated in less than a month.”

“But should you be? Separated, I mean?” Amy’s gaze searched her face.

“I…I think so,” Kelsey groped for a way to explain her fears. She loved Jared and not being with him was like dying inside, but each day they had contact the bond between them seemed to grow stronger. If she didn’t cut it now, the eventual, inevitable loss would kill her.

Loving him and living with him would be like giving him carte blanche to trample on her heart. When he left—which she knew would happen—what would be left of her?

Kelsey opened her mouth to try and explain to her sister, “He doesn’t really love me. I can’t trust him.”

“That can’t be true,” Amy said instantly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

Shaking her head, Kelsey said, “He—Jared is used to getting what he wants. He’s ruthless, at times, and manipulative. I-I just can’t trust him to—to always be there for me.”

Covering her face with her hands as if to hold the tears inside, Kelsey stopped.

Amy got out of her chair and came around the desk to hug her. “I think you’re wrong. He does love you, even if he’s not perfect. But I know you have to sort it out yourself. Remember, I love you, no matter what.”

“Yes,” Kelsey agreed, hugging her back, tears swimming in her eyes at her sister’s support.

“Of course, the roses had to have made an impact,” Amy said, glancing at her sister for confirmation. “Didn’t you keep any of them?”

“No.” Her throat felt tight.

“Well, the women in the office thank you, even if Jared didn’t mean for them to get his peace offering.”

“I’m glad they like them,” Kelsey said bleakly. In other circumstances, she’d have been enchanted herself. Roses might not be her very favorite flower, but they weren’t chopped liver, either.

“So if the flowers didn’t do the trick, what will?” her sister asked.

“Nothing. It’s over.”

“Too bad. Jared’s been such a good friend.” Amy shook her head, her face sad.

Kelsey looked at her, puzzled at the comment. “Jared’s been a good friend…to you?”

“Yes, I can’t get over how right he was about Doug,” Amy said, taking another sip.

“In what way?” Kelsey heard the foreboding in her own voice. When had Jared ever said anything to her sister about Doug?

Amy shook her head and laughed. “When Jared first offered me that job in London, I thought he was nuts. I was convinced that Doug really wouldn’t care if I left town. But Jared said he just needed a little push and that my leaving would do the trick. Of course, I didn’t need to leave because you guys got married.”

Kelsey stared at her sister in shock. “Jared offered you the job in London? Actually encouraged you to move?”

“Sure,” Amy said, surprise in her voice. “And then you guys got engaged and I didn’t need to move. I wondered if my talking about moving away kind of made you and Jared go public with your relationship. Maybe, it nudged you into making a commitment.”

“Something like that,” Kelsey admitted, feeling dazed. For a moment, she had an urge to confess the truth to Amy about her marriage. But she knew she couldn’t. Not now when she was so miserably unhappy. Amy would feel responsible and her guilt might taint the very happiness Kelsey had bought for her.

“Anyway,” Amy said, “I think Jared really loves you, even if he is less than perfect, and maybe you ought to give him another chance. Try to work things out.”

“Jared was the person getting the job in London,” Kelsey repeated slowly, the roaring in her ears growing louder.

“Yes. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No,” Kelsey said, her mind whirling, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. All this time, she’d been working to keep her sister close by and…Jared had been enticing her away?

The bastard! How could he have done such a cruel thing? She’d told him how she felt about Amy leaving, yet he’d still left his offer open.

Amy laughed. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he didn’t say anything. Jared knows how to keep his own counsel.”

Outrage spilled through Kelsey, sparking through her mind like the spray of current from an electrical short.

Jared had prompted Amy to shake Doug up? Had actually offered her a job overseas and kept the fact a secret all this time?

She couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t imagine why he’d urge her sister to do something so drastic, something so hurtful to Kelsey as suggesting Amy leave the continent. Why would he have done it?