Billionaire Bachelors 8 : Unexpected Treasure(65)

*****

Haley's Cinderella-size feet enjoyed their shoeless freedom, relishing the feel of the cool wet sand between their toes. She left a pattern behind her as she walked lazily along the beach. She'd gone several miles and it was past time to turn around, but she couldn't bring herself to do it just yet. Last night had been special, something that she could remember Crew by.

She loved him. How could she not when he'd been nothing but kind to her, done nothing but show her how to be a better person? Everything he'd done so far had been about her, for her, and now she owed him his freedom.

She'd be OK. She didn't know how, but she would make it through this. He'd taught her how to respect herself, to be comfortable with the person she was inside. He'd taught her that she was a beautiful woman. Though it wouldn't come easily for her, she would never put on a dunce cap and stand in a corner again. That was all thanks to Crew Storm.

In the far recesses of her mind, she knew she was running away. She knew she was far more afraid of his rejection - of actually hearing him say the words that he didn't want her anymore. If she were the one to walk away, maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't hurt as badly.

After all they'd been through together, if he turned on her, pushed her away from him, she would have a hard time getting past it. She'd been rejected her entire life by those who should have been the first to embrace her. She deserved to be a little weak just this once, didn't she? If she found love ever again - doubtful - and met again with failure - more likely - she would try to face up to rejection head on.

After another half mile, Haley turned around. The sun was rising in the sky, and the last of the morning fog was dissipating, bringing a beautiful new day to the rest of the people on the island. Haley wished the fog around her heart would clear as well, leaving her ready to begin a new life.

She picked up her pace for her return toward the Catalina Couture Resort. It was best to just get this over with. She'd rip off the bandage and then she and Crew could both move forward.

What she wanted next she just didn't know, whether it was to get back into school, move, or keep things the way they'd been before coming to this small paradise. But after their conversation, she simply couldn't stay here any longer. To see him would be heartbreak. Maybe she'd go to Italy and be a tourist, find a job in a small café and try her hand at art.

As she reached the resort and stepped inside the lobby's beautiful French doors, her heart thudded. No matter how she'd tried to prepare herself for what was to come, her heart still ached, and fear climbed higher in her throat.

Somehow she put one foot in front of the other and managed to return the kind smiles of the front-desk associates, and then she walked down the short hallway to his office. Maybe he wouldn't be there and she could just leave him a note, take the coward's way out.

No. She wouldn't do that. After all he'd done for her, he deserved to hear her say goodbye to his face.

Crew was sitting at his desk, his phone held to his ear, when he looked up and saw her in the doorway. A wide grin spreading across his face, he motioned for her to enter.




 

 

Why did he have to be so perfect? Why was it that every muscle in her body was urging her to rush into his arms? If he'd been cruel even once, this wouldn't be so difficult.

But then, if he'd been cruel, her heart wouldn't be breaking right now. Trying her best to look upbeat, she moved forward and sat down, crossing her legs and leaning back as she waited for his call to end.

"Sorry about that, Haley. I was planning on looking for you this morning, but then I got called down for an early staff meeting. Since then, I haven't been able to get off the phone for more than five minutes at a time. Where did you go?"

"Oh, I needed to take a walk. It was no big deal. Now I just need to speak to you, for only a minute," she said, adopting a cheerful yet businesslike tone.

"Let me switch the phones over and I'll take you for a late breakfast," he said as he stood up.

"We don't need to do that, Crew. This won't take long. I just wanted to let you know I'm leaving tomorrow. I have everything arranged already and didn't want to take up too much of your time today. I know you have a lot going on with the sale. I need to spend the rest of the day packing, and then I'll be out of your hair before you know it," she said. She refused to acknowledge the tears burning at the bottom of her throat, let alone give in to them.

Crew went from smiling to stone-faced in the span of two seconds. She couldn't read anything in his eyes as he refused to let her look down - refused to break their gaze.

"Would you care to explain further?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, deciding it easiest to play dumb.