Lightheaded Heart (Waterfall Canyon #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

T he thing was, my partner was difficult—not some kind of monster. That’s what I’d been telling myself for too long. You’re a bird-witted romantic.

“Hon,” Gerry called from the hall in his there’s-a-problem voice. “You left your makeup tote in the bathroom—did you remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Actually, can you come sit down with me?”

“Now? I’m a little busy.” His door shut.

He’d watched porn in his office all morning. For the last month, he’d made it a part of our daily lives—at bedtime, before dinner, and right after kissing me. A woman moaned behind his door.

“‘Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace,’” I read aloud, staring at a black-and-white print of Amelia Earhart’s twin-engine plane propped up on my dresser with the quote printed on the bottom. Those were her words, not something I’d ever think of.

I stepped out of our townhome’s big bedroom with another packed bag bumping against the door jamb. My shoulders tensed to granite—Gerry hated it when anything banged on the walls.

Leaning sideways into the bathroom, I managed to grab my tote with two fingers. I rushed down the stairs, the zippers on my bag rattling. On the main floor, I halted, staring at the living room set I bought three months ago.

It doesn’t matter that you have cute couch cushions. Get the hell out. I’d built my own cage and trapped myself in a relationship like a penguin in a desert zoo enclosure.

Heavy footsteps came down the stairs behind me. I swung around too fast. My hairbrush flew out of the tote and crashed onto the floor.

“Kelsey,” Gerry said, standing by my pile of bags, frowning at me like I’d left broken glass on the carpet. “What is this?”

He went into the kitchen, his slippers scuffing on the floor, and put his Coke can in the recycling bin. His short, auburn hair was combed and gelled into place, as usual. There was a bit of a flush on his pale, freckled skin. Stupid of me for still noticing how handsome he was.

I let my bag slip off my shoulders and thump on the ground. Taking a deep breath, I looked down for a moment, pulling my sweater straight. What I’d found out the day before changed everything.

Swallowing, I met the gaze of his dark gray eyes. “You have a week. Then I’m pressing charges.”

He reeled back, his mouth gaping open. “What are you talking about?”

Heat burned in my cheeks. God, he was such a good liar. “I’m an accountant, Gerry. I have proof.”

“What—that I paid our bills?”

I stared at him. He’d drained our mutual account—after hacking into my personal accounts and transferring my savings into it.

He held his hands out to me, palms up. “Okay. I had a high-interest loan to pay off. We talked about it at dinner last week. Don’t you remember?”

We hadn’t. “My credit cards are maxed out.”

“Not me.” He leaned forward, his eyes open wide.

I was already disputing the charges with my credit card companies, but the process would take weeks. “We need to sell the townhome right away. If you’ll leave, I’ll handle it.”

“Jesus.” He stormed over to me.

I flinched when he reached out and grabbed my shoulders. “Let go.”

He gripped them tighter, shaking me a little.

I stared at his chin, clenching my teeth.

“Stop.” He crouched down so that we were eye level. “I love you. I’m going to make this right.”

Everything in me wavered. His hands slid down my arms—I’d missed being touched. My chin snapped up, and I stepped back.

“No.”

He crossed his arms. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re blowing this all way out of proportion. I know I’ve…struggled lately. It’s work—not getting the promotion. Don’t do this—it’s cruel. I need a little help, okay?”

I couldn’t meet his eyes any longer. The truth was, I didn’t know what to do or where to go. You’re sleeping in your car because you make stupid choices.

“Hey.” He put a finger under my chin. “I’m sorry. Give me another chance?”

“One week,” I mumbled, stepping away from him. “And you’re sleeping in your office.”

He frowned, putting his hands in his pockets. “Alright.”

Leaving my bags on the floor, I walked out the front door to sit in my car and try to breathe.