Persuading Her: A Modern Persuasion Retelling (Pemberley Estates Book 2) by Keena Richins

Author:Keena Richins [Richins, Keena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pemberley Estates, Jane Austen's Characters, Modern Persuasion Retelling, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Bachelor, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Small Town & Rural Area, Beautiful & Feisty
Publisher: Keena Richins
Published: 2018-10-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Opening the door, he found Anne staring out the window, lost in her own thoughts. As he climbed in, he wondered what to say. He hadn't had a conversation with Anne for over eight years and he suddenly had no idea how to start. Long ago, the two of them couldn't stop talking, but now, the silence stretched on forever.

He decided to start with the obvious. "You ready?"

A nod was the only response he got. Apparently, she wasn't in the mood to talk. Feeling completely out of his element, he focused on driving out of town and toward Rhode Island. But as the minutes ticked on, he racked his brain for another conversation starter. Asking something causal, like what she was up to these days, seemed so out of place with Louisa's unknown fate hanging over them. He could get ask about her feelings of the accident, but he wasn't sure even HE wanted to discuss that topic. The memory of Louisa hitting that ground, the way her crumpled body fell around her, the knowledge that it had been his fault, his stupidity in encouraging her stubborn ways, wasn't something he wanted to re-live.

But, she may need someone to talk with in order to get over the horror. He'd hate for Anne to be traumatized by this.

Then again, she may not want to talk to him about it. It wasn't like she liked him a whole lot. Maybe he should focus on re-igniting the interest she once had in him? Assuming she could think about love at a traumatic time as this.

He sunk lower in his seat. He was getting nowhere. Anne was once his inspiration; now she was his fear. Where was the confident Rick who could breeze into a place unknown, woo its owners, and present it with pride to his bosses? Apparently gone, replaced with the nervous, pathetic teenage version of himself.

He tightened his hold on the wheel. He had to say something. Anything. The drive was already half over.

"You doing okay?"

She jerked as if being pulled from far away, her thoughts probably on Louisa in Hartford.

"I'm doing okay," was her unenlightening response. Eight years ago, she would have told him exactly what was on her mind. Now, he only could get bare minimum answers. And it was his fault. He had a week with her. A whole week! He should have made casual conversation then instead of avoiding her. Then there wouldn't have been this giant impassive between them and she'd be comforting him, holding his hand, like she'd done for her sister and brother-in-law. Why hadn't he seized the chance when he had it?

"Anne, I..." It was out before he knew it and she leveled those chocolate eyes on him. He cleared his throat. "I shouldn't have--" What was he saying? He had no idea what he was saying. All he knew was that she was looking at him and he didn't want that to stop. "I mean, if only I--"

"It's not your fault," Anne's calm words washed over him.

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