“Jake’s not the kind of man to give in to pressure.”

“I know.” That was part of what made him special. “But, seriously, causing a family blowup isn’t a good thing to do to someone who”—you love—”is so nice. Jake needs his family.”

He doesn’t need me.

“Rainie…” Beth protested.

Rainie hugged Beth and whispered, “Thank Master Nolan for me, okay?”

As Rainie stepped back, her escape path was blocked. The woman was a grandmotherly age, but this grandmother would turn heads no matter how old she got. It wasn’t just the flawlessly made-up face and hair, and the exquisite ice-blue gown which set off her dark hair and gray eyes, but her sheer composure. Nothing would upset this woman.

When I grow up, I want to be her.

The lady had undoubtedly heard Rainie being a total crybaby. Wonderful. Rainie straightened her shoulders. “Ma’am, may I help you?”

“Why, yes, you may.” The smile was charming with a hint of reserve. “I’m Madeline Grayson. I believe you know my son, Zachary?”

Master Z’s legendary mother? God, help me.

Rainie drew her shoulders back and pulled on her shawl of perfect manners. Etiquette, I got this. “It’s delightful to meet you, Mrs. Grayson. I’m Rainie Kuras, and this is my friend, Beth King.”

“Lovely to see you again, Beth. I thought the landscaping you did for the Leighton’s beach house to be very fine.”

“Thank you.” Beth turned as the music changed. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to reward—uh, rejoin—Nolan.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Grayson tilted her head in a mannerism reminiscent of her son’s. Only when Master Z did it, submissives tended to kneel.

Mrs. Grayson’s attention turned to Rainie. “Zachary informed me you achieved your master’s in business administration with a specialty in organizational management?”

Master Z had talked about her? To his mother? There were no words. “He’s correct.”

“He speaks extremely highly of you, as do your professors.”

My professors? Why would she have—

“And you’re working in a veterinary clinic now?

“Yes. For Dr. Sheffield.”

“Helping out, yes.” Her smile was gracious. “I did hear about Jake and Saxon’s…problem…with office staff.”

Rainie smothered her smile…and yet, she couldn’t help defending the guys. “Jake and Saxon are superb veterinarians. Their failing was to not thoroughly check out a family recommendation.”

“Yes, I spoke to Saxon about the lapse,” Mrs. Grayson said mildly. “Now…” Her chin lifted slightly. “Although Zachary recommended you, he doubted you’d be willing to relocate. However, I overheard some of your conversation.”

Rainie felt her face heat. “I see.”

Mrs. Grayson handed her a card. “I recently bought an advertising company in New York and am taking it in a different direction. Thus, several management positions will soon be open. Would you be interested?”

New York? So far away from… Yet, she’d always planned on moving, at least until she’d started daydreaming. But daydreams were nothing on which to build a life. She had no future here. Not with Jake Sheffield.

And she refused to cry in front of this indomitable woman.

Rainie swallowed. “I’m very interested. However, I’ve committed to the clinic until mid-February. I can’t—it wouldn’t be fair to leave them in the lurch.”

“Good for you.” Mrs. Grayson gave an approving nod. “I’ll be interviewing for another couple of weeks, so you have time to decide. Since my son has infallible instincts, I think I can assure you of a position. Please do give me a call.”

With a brisk nod, she glided away.

“Oh my God.” Rainie glanced down to see if the floor had disintegrated beneath her feet. She wanted to scream, do a victory dance, shoot off fireworks…and burst into tears.

How could she leave?

“Sweetling, are you all right?” Jake’s firm hand closed around her arm. He turned her to face him and ran his hands up and down her arms. “I saw Mrs. Grayson with you. She can be a bit intimidating.”

Rainie forced her numb lips to form the words. “She was…nice.”

“Good.” He pushed her hair back, his fingertips leaving a wake of sensation, ripples that spread through her body. “Linda is herding the guests to the entrance to wave Gabi, Sally, and the men off. Afterward, the place closes, and we’re free to go.”

“Oh.” She had duties. What was she thinking? Too obsessed with her own problems to do her job. “I need to check in with Sally.”

“She’s over there.” He guided her toward the head table. “Spend the night with me. We can pick up Rhage on the way.”

Her whole life had changed in the last hour, from the redhead to Mrs. Grayson…and Jake didn’t know. He still thought… Her heart felt squeezed between two abrasive surfaces, sending flares of pain outward with every beat. “Jake.”

He spotted Sally. “There she is.”

How could she do this to him?

“Men rarely marry beneath their class, and you, my dear, are so far below that you’re barely out of the gutter.”

How could she stay? If she remained here, it would be because of her own selfish need to be loved. And she’d wind up harming Jake. She couldn’t hurt him. She would never hurt him.

Her life was drained out onto the floor, leaving a stiffening corpse behind. And she wanted the chill, needed the ice, or she’d never get the words out. “Jake. She offered me a job. In New York.”

He halted so suddenly she tripped. “Mrs. Grayson? New York?”

She nodded. “Management. Like I’ve always wanted.” And you’ll be free of the low-class woman who’d ruin your life. Even if—someday—she grew enough to be equal to him, he’d never move out of this state. Veterinarians didn’t relocate. “I’m going to accept.”

“You’re leaving? Just like that?” His hand dropped from behind her waist, and he stepped back. “Decision made. No discussion?”

The disbelief in his eyes stabbed through her ribs and right into her heart.

Jake took another step back. He’d been thinking marriage; she’d been thinking career. Last year, he’d been butted by a ram. The massive animal hit, sent him flying, and knocked the air out of him so completely he hadn’t managed to inhale for a good minute.

This was worse.

He stared down into Rainie’s wide eyes, a compelling mix of green and brown that normally sparkled like a sunlit cypress forest. Fucking beautiful. Tonight her eyes were dimmed. Worried.

She should be. Jesus. She was leaving. Going to New York. Hell, Z’s mama had probably offered a bonus for moving—a few extra bucks to treat their relationship like an annoyance to be discarded.

Just like that.

Fuck, maybe he was the only one using the word relationship.

“Jake?” She put her hand on his arm.

“Congratulations.” The word tasted bitter. “Guess I need to start interviewing new staff right away.”

“I—yes. I told her I’d stay until the middle of February, like I promised you.”

“Aren’t you an honorable…person?” he said, and despite his care, sarcasm invaded his tone.

She flinched. “It’s best for both of us.”

“Uh-huh. Glad you had the brains to realize I needed someone to make my decisions for me.” He removed her cold fingers from his arm. “I believe that answers the question of whether you’re coming over tonight.”

His jaw clamped over further foolish words, and he strode away, leaving his plans, his life, and his heart behind him in a pile of ash.

Chapter Eleven

She might not survive two more weeks in the vet clinic, Rainie decided. At the reception room counter, she hit the backspace and retyped in the correct amount. Perhaps she wasn’t screwing up the files as badly as the old receptionist, but only because she rechecked every entry three times.

With a sigh, she stroked the ancient, stick-thin cat snoozing in her lap, grateful for its jagged purr. Grateful for any comfort.

When Jake had walked away from the wedding reception two nights ago, she knew it was for the best. Because really, what did they have between them? He’d been happy with her, sure, but he didn’t truly need her. Any woman could give him food, sex, and someone with whom to talk.

She’d been right to sever their relationship. She’d found that out quickly enough.

At the reception, after waving off the brides and grooms, she’d joined the exodus. In the parking lot, the nasty redhead had been talking to Jake. Laughing and flirting, she’d gotten into his car.

Jake had driven away, redhead beside him, not looking back once.

She’d hated him then, as pain had driven deep, deep into her heart. And yet…she couldn’t blame him.

Rainie hit SAVE on the document and pulled up another bill. Considering the cruel way she’d broken off their relationship, he wouldn’t pine over her. Only…couldn’t he have? At least for an hour or two? The hurt of seeing him with the redhead had been horrible. Even worse was the hurt of not being with him now…