****
Shane tried to read Angela's expression but couldn't. She was getting incredibly good at concealing her feelings. There was a time he could tell what she was thinking simply by looking into the deep brown pools of her beautiful eyes.
Now even her smile was all but lost to him.
He couldn't let things end this way between them.
Now that the stipulated time had come to a close, he was duty-bound to let her go. He had no choice. Only last night, they'd driven back here to Nashville. She had seemed so genuinely happy the night of the party and now so sad.
Things needed to change in the way he'd mapped out his life for the future. And there was one more thing he had to do.
Angela still had the blank look on her face as she waited for him to speak. He’d asked her to meet him in the study to discuss their arrangement.
"I'm aware that tomorrow marks the end of our agreement," he told her lightly as he poured out drinks for them. He offered her a glass and she accepted with thanks, her eyes expectant.
"In the weeks to follow, my social calendar is proving to be somewhat full. Dinner parties, fund raisers, the usual. Some events are in other states. My suggestion is that we extend our original arrangement I'm thinking three more months and then we see how it goes from there."
He had to have imagined the flare of hope in her eyes before it drizzled to something akin to anger. "Three months? I'm sorry, but I can't possibly sign up another three months of my time. No matter the price," she added quickly before he could speak. Then she sighed heavily. "Look, it's been great and sort of an easy way to make a truck load of cash. And I appreciate everything you've done but no...I can't continue to go on playing your fake girlfriend, Shane."
"Wouldn't you even consider it?"
She shook her head firmly. "You should know my agent called me a few days ago about a few auditions coming up. One is for a crime series and another for a sitcom. These are roles I've only ever dreamed of and I need to at least take a shot at them. I mean its all fine and dandy playing at being a millionaire's girlfriend but now I need to focus on building my career. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
Shane was sorry too. He should have known this wouldn’t work. He had to think of another way to keep her with him. He knew no matter how much he offered, she'd stand her ground. Damn, he was such an idiot to believe he could tie her down further. What on earth would make her want to spend even more time around him? She was probably sick to death of looking at his ugly face every day.
Despite his new-found confidence, Shane still felt conscious of what he looked like in the mirror. He couldn't expect Angela to want to keep on dealing with that. And for that reason he couldn't come right out and say what he longed to say. That he wanted her to stay for him, no other reason.
The fact was, she deserved better than him; a one-time playboy now scarred into looking like something most women would wince at. No matter how he wished she was different, he couldn't ask her for more than she had to give. It was over. Time to let her go.
"I'm happy for you," he said at last, on clearing his throat. "I wish you the best with the auditions. I have no doubt of your success. You deserve it."
Angela laughed nervously. His gut twisted. "Thank you," she said, "but I hear a couple of big time actresses are trying out for the crime series role too. I'm hoping the producers will be more interested in going for a lesser known actress which I happen to be."
"You should stay positive," he said with a smile, happy to see the bright lights in her eyes again.
"Yeah. You too," she said softly, and to his surprise she walked right up to him and lifted her gaze to his face. Angela was the one person he could bear to look at him so directly. He wished she knew what she did for him - to him. How the depth of her personality, her sass and yes her grace, warmed him in places he'd believed were buried in ice.
"For what it's worth...," she began, "I think you've come a long way in such short time. It's great that you've decided to live life to the fullest again. And hopefully maybe start working on a real relationship that doesn't come with a contract."
Shane should have felt angered by her softly spoken words but strangely, he wasn't. He knew it was coming from a good place. She meant him well.
"Maybe I will," he murmured, staring deep into her eyes.