Fleming''s retort had the edge of a sneer, even if it never showed on his face. There was an air of certainty about him, the kind that came from already knowing the oue before the game even started.


    Esmeralda found it impossible to read what was going on beneath his calm demeanor. Did he really believe she''d never walk away from him? Or was he just humoring her, convinced she was ying another one of her games?


    Her jaw clenched, voice low and measured. "Do you seriously think I''d joke about this?"


    Fleming didn''t bother to reply.


    His gaze chilled. "We don''t need to do a fitting together. I''ve got to get back to work soon."


    He''d turned down her suggestion to try on the wedding outfits together.


    A fresh wave of irritation washed over Esmeralda. The only reason she''d said anything was to keep certain people from looking too smug-she''d never expected Fleming to be the first to reject the idea.


    But the more she considered it, the clearer it became. Why would Fleming want Lucy to see something like that and get upset? Naturally, he''d protect Lucy''s feelings.


    If you weren''t the one who was loved, it didn''t matter what you did.


    That was the brutal truth.


    A mocking smile twisted on Esmeralda''s lips. She turned on her heel and walked out, not sparing Fleming another word. Why waste her breath? If he wanted to keep sheltering Lucy, she wanted nothing to do with it.


    From Fleming''s point of view, Esmeralda''s anger was obvious. He frowned, then turned his attention to Lucy, who hadn''t uttered a single word since the start. "You go ahead and finish things here. Call me if there''s a problem."


    Lucy offered him a faint smile. "Don''t worry about me. Go after Esmeralda, before she gets the wrong idea."


    Fleming hesitated, nced at her, then gave a brief nod before heading out after Esmeralda.


    Lucy watched him leave, lips pressed tightly together for a long moment. At the end of the day, there was a bond between Fleming and Esmeralda that went right back to their childhood—a history she couldn''t change. But that didn''t make it any less ufortable. Especially when Fleming always gave Esmeralda so much room- that room might have been tonic, or it might have been something else entirely, but she hated it either way.


    Esmeralda was on her way to her car when Fleming caught up to her, his hand wrapping firmly around her wrist.


    "I''ll drive you," he said.


    She tried to wrench free, but he didn''t let go. “I can drive myself. I don''t need your help."


    Fleming''s brow creased. "Why are you so angry this time? What''s got you so worked up?"


    It wasn''t as if he''d ever been the one to discuss breaking off the engagement in the first ce, right?


    Esmeralda suddenly locked eyes with him. "Why pretend you don''t understand, Fleming? Maybe I was clueless before but now I know exactly where things stand. Isn''t it enough that I''m stepping aside for you?"


    Her words chilled Fleming to the bone. She made it sound as if walking away from


    him was the easiest thing in the world.


    "You resent Lucy. You''re jealous of her. But isn''t it irrational?” Fleming said, voice steady but strained, trying to keep things calm.


    Esmeralda''s mouth curled in a bitter half-smile. "Do you really not know how she feels? Can you honestly say you haven''t ever had feelings for her..."


    "Esmeralda." Fleming pressed his lips into a hard line, impatience shing in his eyes. "I never once"ined about the man hanging around you. But you can''t bring yourself to ept Lucy?"


    Esmeralda stared at him, caught off guard. Men hanging around her?


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Fleming didn''t look the least bit perturbed. With a hard look, he said, “Alexander Sterling is with you all the time. Have I ever tried to stop you?"


    He knew all about Esmeralda''s long friendship with Alexander. But he''d never


    bothered to fight about such trivial things; what would be the point?


    Esmeralda''s eyes grew wider. "What, seriously? Alex and I are just friends. Nothing more."


    She was surprised he''d pull Alexander into this, although it was clear from Fleming''s face that he wasn''t actually bothered he was saying it just for the sake of argument.


    "And you think you know how men''s minds work?" Fleming shot back, his frown deepening.


    He''d wondered before if Alexander


    had deeper feelings for Esmeralda. It


    was probably true, but Esmeralda, in


    and


    bond that


    her obliviousness, hadn''t noticed. In the end it didn''t matter to Fleming. He and emeralda had a stretched back to childhood. That was enough; he''d never worried about a thing.