Free Fairy Tale Weddings by Debbie Macomber Page B

drain from her face. Good. He wanted her to experience just a taste of the hell she’d put him through.
    She caught her breath and nodded, saying without words that she understood.
    He set the soup on the coffee table and slumped onto the white leather sofa. “I won’t apologize for the mess, but as you’ve heard, I haven’t been feeling well.” He motioned toward the matching chair across from him. “I know what you want.”
    Surprise widened her deep blue eyes. “You do?”
    â€œIt’s the comb, isn’t it?”
    Cindy nodded and sat on the edge of the cushion, folding her hands primly in her lap. She clasped her fingers tightly together. “It was my mother’s…You have it?”
    â€œYes.”
    She sighed with relief. “I thought I’d lost it.”
    â€œYou knew very well that I had it.”
    Cindy opened her mouth to argue with him but quickly closed it. He couldn’t believe anything but the worst, and she couldn’t blame him.
    â€œWhat? No heated defense?”
    â€œNone. You have the right to hate me. I lied to you, but not in the way you think.”
    â€œYou’re no secretary.”
    â€œNo, but if you’ll remember, I never said I was.”
    â€œBut you didn’t stop me from thinking that.”
    Cindy dropped her eyes to her clenched hands. “As I said before, you have every right to be angry, but if it’s any consolation to you—I am deeply and truly sorry.”
    His gaze narrowed, condemning her. “Such innocent eyes. Who would have guessed that such deception lay just below the surface?”
    Cindy clamped her teeth together with such force that her jaw ached. Every word was a slap in the face and it hurt. His eyes were so cold and full of contempt. “If I could have the comb…I’ll be on my way.”
    â€œNot quite yet.” He stood and joined her, pulling her to her feet. “You owe me something for all the lies you told…for deceiving me into thinking you were kind and good.” For filling his head with dreams and breaking her unspoken promises…
    Cindy drew back sharply.
    His eyes narrowed on her flushed face and his hands tightened around her upper arms. He pulled her against him and slanted his mouth over hers.
    Cindy went still but didn’t resist.
    Thorne felt her submission and he loosened his grip, drawing slowly back. She’d gone deathly pale, and he instantly felt overwhelming regret. He dropped his hands and watched as she took a stumbling step away from him.
    â€œI apologize for that,” he said hoarsely. He was wrong about her. She wasn’t cold and calculating, but warm and generous. It was all there for him to read in her clear, blue eyes. Her chin shook slightly and those magical eyes stared up at him, glimmering with hurt. He longed to soothe away the pain he’d inflicted. Utterly defeated, he turned and walked away. “I’ll get the comb.”
    Thorne stumbled halfway down the hall that led to his bedroom. The floor seemed to pitch and heave under him, and he sagged against the wall to keep from falling. He knew it was the medication—the doctor had warned him about the dizzying effect.
    â€œThorne…” Cindy was at his side, wrapping an arm around his waist.
    â€œI’ll be fine in a minute.”
    Her hold tightened. “You’re sick.”
    His breathless chuckle revealed his amusement. “Are you always so perceptive?”
    â€œNo.” She tried to support him. “Let me get you into bed.”
    â€œThose are misleading words, Cinderella. I’m sure your fairy godmother would be shocked.”
    â€œQuit joking, I’m serious.”
    He turned his head and his gaze pinned hers. “So am I.”
    â€œThorne!” Her face heated. As best she could, Cindy directed him into the bedroom. The huge king-size bed dominated the middle of the room and was a mess of tangled