Chapter 10      

Abbie stewed all night after Rhett nearly outed their relationship on live television and in front of Dustin and Mac.

She’d seen the joyous look on his face and her heart had hammered in her chest at the realization that he was making a beeline to celebrate—with her. Not with Mac or Dustin. Her.

His hair was soaked from the champagne she’d seen him spray over his poker babes before dumping it on his own head. 

Dustin had laughed like a loon at the sight and said, “Whoa, I wish I could spray hot chicks with champagne.”

Her illusion had shattered. 

Rhett had meant what he’d said last night. He was who he was, both on the poker circuit and with her. But she couldn’t keep seeing him. Her son idolized him, but he wasn’t a good role model. And the sight of Rhett walking over to her, his poker babes wrapped around him, she’d realized he wasn’t a man she wanted to stand next to in public.

In that unguarded moment of victory, he’d obviously forgotten he wasn’t supposed to look at her that way or seek her out exclusively. But he must have seen it on her face, the way her skin had tightened up in fear, because he’d walked away.

She’d almost sagged against Mac in relief. But her heart had burned with pain, something she hadn’t expected to feel so keenly. She’d been falling in love with the man Rhett was with her. But since he wasn’t that man all the time, she was going to get her heart broken.

Fortunately, he hadn’t responded to her late-night text when she’d bowed out from seeing him after a long day. She needed to compose her speech for when she would see him next. It was time for this sexual sojourn to end, no matter how much it hurt.

If she waited any longer, it would only hurt more.

The sun was rising, the sky streaked with pink and orange light when she texted him again, this time asking to see him. They were leaving later today, and she wasn’t sure how she’d sneak away.

Sneak.

She hated that word, and she hated the part of her that had fallen for its allure. The part he’d described as wild.

 Her phone vibrated immediately.

Come on over. I’m awake.

Usually he partied long into the night after a massive poker win. Was he still enjoying his victory? She decided to put it out of her mind.

She dressed in a conservative navy suit and tan heels, then let herself out of the suite and made her way to his room. When she knocked, the door immediately opened.

He stood in the doorway, still in his clothes from the night before.

“Is the party still going?” she asked, scanning his face to see if he was drunk.

“Nope,” he said, letting her inside. “I didn’t do much of that, but I couldn’t sleep none. Appears you had the same problem from those blood-shot eyes of yours.”

He didn’t reach for her. Only turned around and walked to the sitting room without waiting for her. He was angry with her, and her gut tightened all the more as she closed the door and followed him. She’d hurt him, which she hadn’t wanted. The knowledge only confirmed her decision.

“Rhett, I didn’t get a chance to tell you congratulations.” 

She came to a stop behind the oatmeal-colored couch while he walked over to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“You played brilliantly,” she added when he tucked his fingers in his belt.

“Thank you, Abbie,” he said in a crisp tone. “It’s never easy to beat a friend like Mac, but it’s part of being on the circuit.”

“He never holds it against you,” she said, not knowing what to do with her hands, so she rested them on the back of the couch.

“I figure that’s not why you’re here,” he said. “Seems the moonlight serenade I arranged for you didn’t linger for very long, did it? Well, I suppose that was to be expected, given how different you think we are.”

Her breath caught in her throat at his coolness. He’d never acted like this with her, not in all the years they’d known each other. “We are different, but that’s not what makes this hard. Rhett, we both knew this couldn’t lead to anything.”

“I suppose we did,” he said, rocking on his heels. “And when a lady says the…arrangement has come to an end, a gentleman doesn’t argue with her. I’ll only say that we’re still friends—just like you wanted—and that I enjoyed every minute of it.”

She pressed her hand to her mouth as she considered his words. He was making this very easy, but then again, he had more experience with this sort of thing. “Of course we’re friends. That will never change. You know how important you are to Mac and Dustin.” 

She refrained from including herself in the list. How was he going to treat her after this? Cool like today? And how was she going to treat him? Could she look at him in her kitchen and not remember what it had been like to come in his arms? 

“And you’re always welcome in Arizona,” she added, “although Mac is talking about looking for a place to build another hotel.”

“In Colorado,” Rhett added, nodding. “Maverick has always been more than a poker player. Only Mac can wear an Italian suit on the circuit and not get laughed at.”

Abbie forced a smile, hearing the slight dig in his words. She just couldn’t tell if it was at her or himself.

“Rhett, I’m sorry if I hurt you last night,” she whispered. “I was afraid—”

“I’d pluck you up off the ground in front of the crowd and kiss you senseless,” he finished for her. “You were right to be afraid. I plumb lost my mind. But we won’t have to worry about that again, will we? Parting ways is likely for the best.”

She let her gaze catalogue the angles of his face, the line of his jaw, and the way his golden hair curled against his forehead. “I don’t know what exactly one says in this situation.”

“What do you want to say?” he asked sharply.

She met his eyes. They were as golden as his hair, and she felt a little stab in her heart at the memory of how they’d always sparkled a little brighter after they made love—a brilliance of color that was only for her. “I want to say thank you. I…until you, I’d never enjoyed…you know.”

“I’m glad,” he said quickly. “I enjoyed it as well, Abbie. You take care of yourself, you hear.”

Her throat tightened. He made it sound like it was going to be a long while until they saw each other again. She supposed that might be true. And even if they did see each other, they wouldn’t have any reason to spend time alone. She would never wear his Eli Manning jersey again or walk with him in the moonlight.

“You take care too, Rhett,” she said, forcing a smile. “I guess I’ll be getting back.”

His nod was crisp, and he walked her to the door. Her legs felt lined with lead. The closer she got to leaving him, the heavier everything in her body became, including her heart.

“We just can’t stop time, can we?” she whispered as she reached for the doorknob.

He covered her hand, and she let herself lean into his chest one last time. There was such warmth and strength there. She would miss it. She would miss him.

“No,” he said quietly, “but we can be grateful for the moonlight while it lasted. Goodbye, Abbie.”

She took one final inhale of him, the scent of man and fading cologne mixed with something exclusive to him. “Goodbye, Rhett.”

A gentle whisper touched her cheek, and she realized too late it was his lips. Then the door was open, and it was closing behind her, and she regretted not stealing one final kiss to remember him by.