The Millionaire Tempted Fate (A Novella) (Sweet and Savory Romances) by Shirley Jump Page A

a pretty big thing."
    "And you’re not in love." It wasn’t even a question, it was a realization. Two weeks ago, he’d told himself he would be perfectly happy with that. Removing the emotions made it less complicated, he thought.
    Maybe it did. But it also made a relationship less fiery, less memorable. He thought of how fast he’d run to Angie’s apartment, and realized that a part of him liked that complicated, scary, heady rush.
    "No, Max, I’m not in love with you," Becky said, her normally chipper face taking on a serious cast for the first time since he’d met her. "I mean, I care about you a lot, and maybe someday down the road…"
    He glanced at the ticket stub in his hand again. "Inconceivable," he whispered under his breath.
    "What’d you say?" Becky asked.
    "Not the words I needed to say," he said. He took Becky’s hand in his. "Becky, I’m sorry, but I just don’t think we’re right for each other. You’re a wonderful woman, and someday you’re going to make some man very, very happy."
    "But that man isn’t you?"
    He shook his head. "No, it’s not. I’m sorry."
    She considered that for a moment, her gaze going past him, to the busy street behind him. "There’s someone else, isn’t there?"
    "Not really."
    A bittersweet smile crossed Becky’s face. "Oh, silly, yes there is, and maybe you just don’t know it. You’re in love with Angie. Maybe you don’t want to admit, but I always suspected. It’s in the way you talk about her. Even when you’re just talking about seeing a movie ten years ago. You couldn’t give your heart to me, Max, because you already gave it away a long time ago." Then she placed a soft kiss on his cheek, and headed up the stairs and into her building.
    *~*~*
    Angie and Chewie made three laps around the park near her house, half walking, half running. The puppy had no problem keeping up, but Angie didn’t want to push him too hard on his first run. She could already tell that he was going to love running, which meant she’d have a new running partner soon.
    Just in time. Because her regular running partner was getting engaged today.
    Tears burned the back of her eyes. She cursed them. Angie Wilson never cried. Never got emotional. Except, it seemed, when she was losing her best friend and the man she loved all at the same time. The tears rose to the surface, and slid down her cheeks, slow, sad.
    Chewie propped his paws on her leg, and let out a little whine. Angie bent down and gathered the puppy to her chest, burying her face in his fur. She let the tears fall, not caring that she was in a park, that there were people around, that she never cried.
    "Maybe we should rename him Kleenex."
    Max’s voice came from behind her, with that combination of tease and compassion that she had heard a thousand times before. Angie took in a breath, swiped the tears from her face, then got to her feet, still holding Chewie, as if the puppy could be a wall against her emotions. "Sorry, just having a bad day."
    "I’m sorry, Angie." He took a step closer, and her stubborn heart leapt with hope.
    When was she going to learn? When was she going to give up, let this go? Max was marrying someone else, and she was just going to have to learn to live with that fact. Even if it broke her heart in the process. "I’ve got to get Chewie home," she said, turning away because if she looked into Max’s eyes for one more second, she was going to start crying all over again, "because he’s hungry after our walk."
    "Then let me go with you."
    She shook her head. "Don’t. I’ll be okay. Besides, it’s Valentine’s Day." She worked a smile to her face, but it hurt like hell. "You’re supposed to be with the woman you love."
    "I am."
    The two words hung in the chilly air, and for a second it felt as if she could touch them, hold them, keep them warm in her pocket. "You…" She shook her head. "I’m confused."
    "I am with the woman I love," he said. "Right now."
    "Becky—"
    "Wasn’t right for