Chapter 22

As perfect as Claude’s place had been, this townhome seemed even more perfect. Beyond even what I could imagine. The layout resembled Claude’s except reversed, and rather than heavy curtains and dark furniture, the place had simple roll-down shades, light-toned furniture, and a newer feel. I fell instantly in love.

“That’s it,” Jillian said, looking around the living room with a huge grin. “I’m moving here with you.”

“I’d love that,” I said honestly. “Lexi, too, if she wants.”

Alexis shrugged. “No offense, but if I were to settle down somewhere in Europe, it wouldn’t be here. There’s a lot you haven’t seen yet.”

As excited as I felt by the idea of Jillian living here with me, I kept imagining Hunter in this house—the two of us cooking together in the kitchen, eating together at the table, and sitting together on the sofa. Even the neighborhood felt just as charming and romantic as it had the first time. The only drawback would be Claude living around the corner, but with Hunter here, that wouldn’t be a problem. I imagined the two men facing off again and chuckled inwardly.

As my sisters whispered between themselves, still wandering the house, I sat across the table from Claude and the landlord as they exchanged a stack of papers. Then Claude slid it in front of me, pointing to a line here and there and handing me a pen.

This was it. Everything I ever wanted hovered in my future, finally within reach.

My cell phone rang. I whipped it out and hit the button. “Hunter. Is everything okay?”

“It’s been better, but that’s no excuse for this morning. I’m sorry for leaving you in the lurch. Something came up that I needed to deal with.”

His voice sounded odd. Tight and higher pitched than usual. I buried my fears and tried to stay calm. “What happened?”

And then I heard it—an unfamiliar voice in the background. A female voice.

Could it be the TV? No, Hunter didn’t have a TV. A movie, perhaps?

“Put that down and talk to me, Hunter,” the woman said. “You owe me an explanation.”

“Uh, I’ll have to call you back,” Hunter said. A click, and my phone displayed its wallpaper once again.

I stared at my phone, my worry growing into something more.

“Is there a problem?” Claude asked. He wore a smooth expression, but I could see the impatience in his stance. The man probably had a hundred places to be. Lots of single American tourists to “help,” surely.

He’d been a different person today. Stiff and distant. It seemed the charming womanizer remained in the past now that he knew I would no longer fall for his act. Fine with me.

“No problem at all.” I picked up the pen and read through the contract again. It was in English, fortunately.

The vision of Hunter and I spending time here dimmed a bit. Did I dare rent a home when things were up in the air between us? Could I plan a future with him if I couldn’t even have a conversation with him? Could I make plans knowing he was with another woman right this second?

Put that down and talk to me, Hunter. You owe me an explanation.

It had to be Collette. Nobody else would talk to him like that. Were they discussing his moving out? But no, he said they had an agreement. So why did the woman sound upset? Unless his understanding of their status differed from hers.

Unless they hadn’t broken up after all.

But the ring, I thought desperately. I found it in that drawer. She’d be wearing it if they were still engaged. Wouldn’t she?

A half dozen scenarios played out in my mind, none of which ended well, and I found myself looking around this beautiful dining room in this beautiful city, asking myself an important question.

Did I love Paris enough to live here without Hunter?

I loved Paris, and I loved Hunter. I wanted both. But could I truly enjoy Paris without thinking about him at every turn, overcome by memories of him? Could I live a normal life while watching over my shoulder, hoping I wouldn’t run into him but also secretly hoping I would? Knowing every word he said to me yesterday was a lie? Trying to start over while still tethered to the past in the biggest way possible?

Stop it, I ordered myself. Jillian was right. I tended to get dramatic about things. Hunter and I were in love, and that required trust. I would let him sort everything out and come back when he was ready.

“Do you have any questions?” Claude asked, checking his expensive watch .

I trust you, Hunter. Don’t let me down.

“No, I’m fine.” I skipped to the last page of the document and signed my name in scrolling cursive, then dated it.

Done.

“Excellent,” Claude said. “You must have your bank transfer the deposit and rent to the account on the contract within twenty-four hours to keep it. Once that has been received, the townhouse will be yours after the first of the month.”

To my surprise, Alexis appeared at my side. “Time for a trip to the café nearby to celebrate. My treat.”

When we reached the hotel lobby, my sisters and I chattered with excitement. Not until we saw Hunter standing across the room did our conversation die a horrible, sudden death.

“They’re holding our baggage for us in the back,” I told them, meeting Hunter’s solemn stare. “I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”

My sisters disappeared, and we found ourselves alone.

“Did you really go off with Claude this morning?” he hissed. “And you brought your sisters along, no less. Do you know how dangerous that could have been?”

“It’s kind of hard to tour homes without physically being there,” I pointed out. “Claude was a perfect gentleman, and I made sure none of us were alone for a second.”

“Even so. You know what I think of him.”

I folded my arms. “At least Claude showed up when he said he would.”

Hunter’s eyes flashed, and I reminded myself that we were getting on a plane soon. I didn’t want to spend our last moments fighting.

I let the anger fizzle away. “Look, Claude found the perfect place for me, and I signed the contract. I’m moving here next month.”

His mouth tightened.

That was it.

No smile, no congratulations. No hug or exuberant spilling of future plans together. Just pursed lips that said he felt displeased.

“Kennedy . . .” He swallowed.

Definitely unhappy about my announcement. I could only think of one reason he would be unhappy about my moving here, and it made my anger flare to a whole new level.

I lifted my chin, gathering every ounce of strength I had even while my heart felt newly torn to shreds. “Collette showed up last night, didn’t she?”

His eyes widened. “Of course not. Why do you—oh. The woman you heard on the phone. You didn’t recognize Jen’s voice?”

His married older sister. Duh. “She was here?”

“Passing through on her way home, she and her husband. They went to Italy for their anniversary, but then they heard the news. Kennedy, my dad’s had a stroke. He’s in the hospital.”

I gaped at him, feeling all the anger and suspicion of the past few hours crash down into guilt. If anyone knew how he felt right now, I did. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. ”

“I got the call in the middle of the night. I’ve been making arrangements all morning. Forgive me for not being excited about your rental. I am, but the timing isn’t great. I need to go home for a while.”

Just when I was ready to stay, fate yanked him home again. This felt like a cruel game.

He must have seen my expression because he said, “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you. It’s just that my father needs me right now. And I know you’re on a trip with your sisters, so I’ll understand if you can’t join me.”

A statement that felt like a question. All at once, our situations were reversed—Hunter wishing I would stay at his side when he needed me most when grief and worry threatened everything else. I could see the pleading in his eyes.

I could do it. I could send my sisters on without me and go home with him. We would be together no matter what happened. I could find happiness anywhere as long as we had each other.

But the terms of my grandfather’s inheritance were clear. If I left, my sisters and I wouldn’t get a penny. Which I’d be fine with, but I couldn’t do that to Alexis and Jillian. They were holding up their end of the bargain. I couldn’t disappoint them now.

Worse, I couldn’t explain why, and that killed me more than anything.

“I can’t come with you,” I told him a second time, my heart breaking with each word. “I can’t abandon my sisters.”

Hurt flared in his eyes. “They’re in their twenties, Kennedy. Alexis has traveled the world by herself, for goodness’ sake. They’ll be fine. But if you don’t want to come, just say so.”

“I do. More than anything. You told me once you would always be there for me when Mom got sick?—”

“And I wasn’t.”

I tried again. “I want to be there for you, too, helping you get through this stuff with your dad.”

“But you won’t.” The hurt turned to anger.

Emotion constricted my throat until I could barely speak. “Hunter, I can’t. Not right now.”

“I’m getting really sick of that line.” He stalked toward the exit. “There’s a taxi out front, waiting to take you to the train station. I’ve already tipped the driver for your bags.”

Was he really going to leave? Just like that? “Hunter, don’t do this. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

“You know what? Maybe it’s better if you don’t.”

He strode out the door.