Meant to Be: Southern Heat Series Read Online Free PDF

lay it all on me.”
    “I wouldn’t be laying anything on you if you weren’t standing in my sister’s living room. After ten years, Syd, what did you think would happen? That I’d forget you let your parents talk you out of marrying me?”
    Her hands itched to grab and shake him. “They didn’t talk me out of anything.”
    He shook his head, a scowl darkening his features.
    “They suggested we postpone getting married, and it made sense. You were going to boot camp and then wherever the military sent you. I was going to medical school. It made sense to wait. We wouldn’t have seen each other anyway.”
    “I’d have had someone to come home to.” He winced and looked down, as if he hated revealing too much.
    “And I would’ve been here waiting. You called off the wedding. Not me.”
    His head jerked up. “You think because I’m some southern hick that I don’t get how rich, prominent people work? Your parents got what they wanted when you postponed the wedding. And while you were in med school and I was overseas, they would have talked you out of marrying me altogether. Why prolong the inevitable?”
    “They wouldn’t do that. It wouldn’t have worked if they tried.” Her hands fisted at her sides as she defended her parents and herself. Why couldn’t he see she hadn’t wanted to break up?
    “It did work, Syd. It worked when you told me you weren’t going to marry me when I got back from boot camp.”
    She shook her head in defeat. “I don’t think it was me they worked on, Mitch.”
    His head cocked to the side. “What do you mean?”
    “My parents had no problem with your status or career ambition—”
    “That’s when they thought I was going to be a lawyer. The minute I enlisted, I wasn’t good enough.”
    “That’s not true. You like to blame them, but the only person who had a problem with our discrepant social status and wealth was you.” Realizing the conversation was going in circles, she blew out a breath. “I’m glad to have seen you again, Mitch. I should go.”
    As she stepped through the doorway, his arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist so she was hip to hip against him. She knew she should pull away, but as pathetic as it was, she wanted to feel his touch, even if it was in annoyance.
    “Are you sick?”
    She turned her head, looking up into his green eyes, not certain if he was asking whether she was ill or crazy.
    “Are you dying and this is some attempt to resolve what happened?”
    She wanted to ask him if it mattered, but it would be cruel to let him think for a second that she was ill.
    “No. I’m not dying.” She considered telling him she had nearly died, which had led to her rash decision to see him, but she didn’t want his pity or guilt. She knew where he stood, and she’d told him what she needed to tell him. She could finish out her sabbatical and move on. Well, she could finish her sabbatical. “But I suppose I am seeking resolution.”
    His wary green eyes studied hers for a long time, as if he was looking for something. The truth? She was telling the truth. Mostly. She held his gaze, trying to see in them something that could help her understand him. Help her reach him.
    He shifted his head back slightly, even as his arm continued to band her to him. His eyes morphed from annoyed to intrigued.
    “You never did anything without a plan. There’s more to your moving here than you’re telling, but I don’t feel like having this discussion in my sister’s home. So, how about we take this where we can have a drink and you can explain to me what’s going on?”
    Sydney didn’t want to tell him what was going on, but she couldn’t turn down spending time with him either.
    “Do you still like Moscato?”
    She bit back her smile. He remembered something about her that didn’t involve their breakup after all. “Now I prefer Gewürztraminer .”
    “Right. Wine with sugar.” He flashed her a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and yet, she