Free Candlelight Conspiracy by Dana Volney

an empty table behind him. “Can we talk?”
    He nodded as his mind went in a hundred different directions.
Is her dad okay? Is she in trouble? Did I keep something of hers by accident?
Their last conversation had consisted of her telling him she no longer loved him and calling off the wedding two days before it was supposed to happen. It had been very clear they didn’t have a future or need to ever communicate again. She scooted in the dark wooden chair, and he pulled out a chair and sat farther away from the table. He didn’t know what was coming next, but his instinct to run was growing. She’d left him, and he’d started all over—they were sitting in the very place that defined his new life.
    “Why are you here?” Yeah, he was the asshole who didn’t want to ask or answer any fake pleasantries. Felicia hadn’t traveled hundreds of miles to ask about his damn day.
    “Okay, let’s just dive right in then.” She shifted slightly in her seat, revealing one toned leg crossing over the other.
    He didn’t want to have a conversation with or even sit across from her. He wanted to get back to Sizzo’s—the restaurant he owned by himself and was going to make successful by himself. No partner or fiancée needed.
Ah, hell, she’s not my enemy
. She was someone he’d once committed his life to. A long time ago.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, making sure there wasn’t a scowl on his face. “How’ve you been? You look good.”
    “I’m well. Thank you.” She glanced around the dining room that was nearly cleared of patrons. “I like your place.”
    He took stock of what Felicia was seeing: his modern design with the hardwood floors, tables to match, and 3D metallic artwork made a fun, relaxed environment for his diverse cuisine.
    Curiosity for her motive was chewing at his throat. “I’ve been open for three months.”
    Anger flitted across her eyes as they fixed back on him. “You didn’t fight for me,” she said with a quiet rage he’d never heard in her voice before.
    Now we’re getting somewhere.
“You made it clear you were done,” he said, matching the quiet strength in her voice.
    Felicia’s words that day five months ago—her tone, her inflection, all of it—were forever burned into his mind.
    “I don’t love you.” He had looked up from slicing a rack of lamb to see Felicia. He hadn’t even assumed she was talking to him—why would he? They were two days away from getting married. They’d been dating for three years. But the moment he saw her darkened blue eyes well with unshed tears, he knew. He knew they were over. He knew her love alone wasn’t enough. He’d held back—something had always stopped him from going all in with Felicia. Yes, he’d asked her to marry him; it felt like the right thing to do. The restaurant with her dad was going well, she was great, and there was no reason to do anything different.
    “What do you mean?” is all he could stupidly say. Maybe she wasn’t saying what he thought she was.
    “I’m calling off the wedding. I can’t marry you, Marc.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t think you love me, either. Not the way I want to be loved.”
    The words, however true, cut him. There was no world in which he’d wanted to hurt and let down the beautiful woman standing in front of him.
    “I’ve already made the calls.” She set down the princess-cut diamond ring on the counter and walked away. That was the last time he’d seen her.
    Now his jaw tightened. He hadn’t been able to picture walking away from the place he’d coveted most, but it had been the right thing to do. One of the hardest things he ever done, in fact, but right. One of the hardest things he’d ever done, but right. After Felicia left him, nothing about his life fit anymore. It took him two months to figure out his next restaurant and settle on a location.
    Felicia swished her blond curls behind her ear and laid her hands back in her lap. “I’ve had time to re-evaluate life, our