The Billionaire's Marriage Contract(42)

Amy couldn’t help but giggle as she waited for Ethan to look the other way. All of this was so unlike her. She never let herself get into situations like this, and she definitely never giggled. It was like her time alone with Ethan was rewiring her brain, making her into someone else. Amy couldn’t help but wonder if she liked this different version of herself: sexier, more fun. Then she heard the phone buzz again, and her old self came back, determined to check in, determined to know what was going on.

Ethan turned over and waited for Amy to give him the go-ahead. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you really have to get that?”

“This is the third time in ten minutes, Ethan,” Amy replied as she reached for the phone.

“Come on, can’t you leave the phone alone for just one night?”

“What if it’s Logan?” Amy joked, teasing Ethan. “I’m sure its work. It will just take a second. I’ll turn it off after.”

“Is that a promise?”

“I swear on my wedding band that I will not pick the phone back up after this.”

“What a solemn vow,” Ethan replied.

As Amy listened to the voicemail, Ethan watched as a look of concern spread across her face. She couldn’t help but check her phone, he thought. After everything he had told her about letting go and enjoying the moment and not worrying herself to death every moment of every day. She just couldn’t let go.

“What is it? Did some congressman get caught in bed with a farm animal?”

Amy listened to the message a second time. Callie had called her again and again, and she hoped more than anything that she had just misheard the message, but the second time through was the same as the first. Aunt Violet had a heart attack and was in serious condition. Amy’s blood ran cold as she imagined Violet alone on the kitchen floor clutching her chest, unable to call out for help, all alone.

“It’s my aunt. She had a heart attack. She’s in the hospital.” Amy’s head swirled as she thought about what Vi must be going through, what Callie must be going through waiting for her in the hospital. She had been selfish not to check her phone, she thought. She could already be halfway home. Hell, if she hadn’t gone to Wyoming, she’d be by Vi’s side at that very moment. She should have been there. Amy braced herself against the bureau and tried to breathe.

Ethan jumped out of the bed and walked over to Amy. He placed his hands on hers. “I’m so sorry. I never would have said—”

“I have to go, Ethan.”

“I can come back with you. We can head back in my plane. It’s not a problem. I’ll meet with Hank another time.”

Amy pushed Ethan’s hand away. “You don’t have to, Ethan. I don’t need you to solve my problems. It’s one thing for the two of us to play around and pretend that we’re people we aren’t, to pretend there’s something between us and that we’re the kind of people who can just forget about all of our responsibilities and relax, but you don’t have to pretend, ok? I know that isn’t the case. Today was wonderful. It was, but it’s a fantasy.”

“Oh,” Ethan replied, “I’m sorry. I didn’t— I mean, I’ll call down to the airport and see how soon I can get you a flight back to DC.” Ethan grabbed his phone and walked out of the room.

Amy sat down on the bed and wondered if she had upset Ethan, but she didn’t have time to worry about him. It was her family member who was sick. If she hadn’t been on the trip, she would already be there for her.

Half an hour later, Amy was dressed and had gathered the few things she wanted to take back with her. She looked at the suitcases full of clothes that Ethan had packed for her. They seemed like big, empty promises. She wondered if he just had multiples of them waiting for whatever woman he whisked away. It made her sick that she was even thinking about it when her aunt was fighting for her life back in Washington, but Amy couldn’t help it. She was angry and upset and she didn’t know what to do about it.

As she sat on the bed, trying to calm herself, Amy heard a knock on the door. “Hello?” she said, wondering why he felt a need to knock.

“I thought maybe you’d need a moment,” Ethan said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right. The jet is fueling now, and I’ll drive you down to the airport myself.”

“I’m sure someone else can take me,” Amy replied. “You should get some sleep. You have a big meeting with Hank tomorrow. Don’t let me get in the way of that.”#p#分页标题#e#