Perfectly Ms. Matched(51)

He stood to pace the room, so she swiveled around in her chair to watch him.

He finally said, “Shelby knew I had some empty retail space. She asked if I would let you rent it and also arrange for the financing you guys needed.” He sat in his chair again and opened a drawer in the credenza. He pulled out a piece of paper and laid it in front of her. “Look familiar?”

When she spotted the logo on the piece of letterhead, all the air left her lungs. He might as well have punched her in the gut. She’d been sending rent and loan payments to TwelveCorp Properties since she opened.

Now the odd name made sense. Chad was number twelve on the field.

Her hands shook as she laid the paper back down. “Did the fact that I asked you to stay out of my life forever, Chad, give you even a moment of pause? Are you really that self-absorbed?”

“Of course it did. But Shelby and I knew you’d never do business with me if you knew where the money had come from. The location is perfect, and I had faith in you guys being a success. I never stopped wanting the best for you, Jo.”

Now it was Jo’s turn to hop up and pace. All the efforts she’d been so proud of were all based on a lie? When no one would lend them the money they needed, she thought a venture capitalist had stepped in to help. The money allowed her the opportunity to prove to her father that she could make her restaurant a success. But she hadn’t done it on her own. Chad had been the one writing the checks.

And Shelby had lied to her too? Her best friend, who she trusted with her life.

Then a thought hit her, and she headed back to her chair. “That’s how you had the plans all ready to go to suck me all the way into your little scheme? What would you have done if I’d refused to rehab you, Chad? Threaten to kick me and my restaurant off your property?”

“Probably.” He closed his eyes. “I’m not proud of it, but I want to be honest with you.”

“You’d do that, all so you could get back out on the field to please your coaches and fans? With no regard for my feelings?” That just chapped her ass. That after he’d tricked her, made her look like a fool, he’d still resort to blackmail if he’d had to. Her teeth hurt from clenching her jaw so tight.

“Luckily, I didn’t have to use that threat.” He reached out to grab her hand, but she evaded. “I also wanted a reason to spend time with you, Jo. I wanted you to know how sorry I was. For everything. I care about you, and Ryan, just as much as I do football.”

She bit her bottom lip to stop her tears. That was the final dagger to her heart. “And you don’t even see how wrong that statement was do you, Chad? Football is a job. Ryan and I are people with feelings you apparently aren’t capable of having. I’ll return your money and figure out something else so I can make your damned balloon payment next year.” What, she had no idea, but determination to make her restaurant a success had just become her first priority. She’d show her father that she could do it on her own even if it killed her. And she’d show Chad she didn’t need him or his money.

What she needed was to leave.

“Wait.” He held up a hand to stop her rise from the chair. “What if I forgave the debt on the balloon payment, and you closed the restaurant? You could open a new one in San Diego. Then we could be together, Jo.”

“So I should give up my dream job here because it isn’t as important as yours? The world doesn’t revolve around you, Chad.” She crossed her arms to refrain from punching some sense into him. Football had always been the other woman in their relationship, it had nothing to do with her moving to San Diego because he clearly hadn’t changed. “Besides, Shelby has invested a lot of her own money, and I’d never do that to her. I might never talk to her again, but I’d never screw her over like she did me.”

“Shelby didn’t screw you over. She kept it a secret because she knew you’d run out of options. Because she knew the café was your dream. I’d happily pay back her investment. We both only had your best interests in mind.”

Her best interests? She’d never have used the money Chad had earned from football to invest in her café. Shelby knew that.

Chad’s phone rang with Heather’s ringtone. “Please, just wait a second.”

Jo wavered between anger, hurt, and betrayal as he picked up the phone. What was she going to do now?

He answered with, “Hi, Heather. What’s up?”

He listened for a moment before fury sparked in his eyes. “How long ago? And why the hell did you let her take him?”

Chad’s jaw clenched as he listened. “I don’t care if she’s his mother. Didn’t you think it was odd that she called— Never mind, I have to get on this.” He ended the call and dialed another number. After a moment, Chad barked into his phone, “Linda, what the hell are you doing with Ryan?”