was surprised to see you earlier today. You never mentioned working at the animal shelter while we were going out,” he said, being careful to sound casual and not accusatory.
She met his gaze briefly, before glancing away. “No, I didn’t. I’ve only been volunteering at the animal shelter for the past month or so.”
The past month. Since their break-up. For some reason, the timing bothered him.
“Your dad is a sweetheart,” she continued, staring down into the depths of her soft drink. “He’s a great vet, really wonderful with animals. Everyone at the shelter loves him.”
Strange, Raine had never struck him as being an animal lover, although now that he knew she was, he wondered what else he hadn’t known about her.
And why did it matter now?
“Yeah, my dad has quite the female fan club,” he said dryly. “Just ask any of his ex-wives.”
She frowned at him and he immediately felt guilty for the lame joke.
“My dad is a great guy,” he amended. “He does have a special talent for working with animals.”
Raine nodded thoughtfully. And then she suddenly jumped to her feet. “Look, Caleb, I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us on a personal level. But at least we know we can work together, right? We helped save Greg’s life. Surely that counts for something.”
Her words gave him the opportunity he needed.
“Raine, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have accused you of seeing Jake behind my back.”
She stared at him with wide blue eyes. “Why were you so ready to believe the worst?” she asked in a low voice.
He swallowed hard, knowing she deserved the truth. “I had a bad experience with being cheated on in the past,” he finally admitted. “I walked in and found my fiancée in bed with another man.”
“I see.” She frowned and broke away from his gaze.
Did she? He doubted it. “Look, Raine, I know now that I overreacted. Jake explained everything.”
She brought her gaze, full of reproach, up to his. “So did I, remember? The next day, when I called you?”
He didn’t know what to say to that, because what she said was the truth. She had tried to explain, but he hadn’t believed her.
“You listened to Jake, but you didn’t listen to me,” Raine murmured, her blue eyes shadowed with pain. “I guess that sums everything up right there.”
Panic gripped him by the throat. “Raine, please. Give me another chance.”
She sighed and rubbed her temples. “It’s too late, Caleb. There were a lot of other signs that you didn’t trust me, but I tried to ignore them. The way you kept asking me where I was going and who I was going to be with. The night with Jake only solidified what I already knew.”
“I learned my lesson,” he quickly protested. “I promise, this time I’ll trust you.”
But she was already shaking her head. “It’s not that easy, Caleb. Trust comes from within. You have to believe with your whole heart.”
His whole heart? Her words nagged at him. Because he cared about Raine a lot. But had he loved her? He’d thought things were heading in that direction, but now he wasn’t so sure.
Those feelings of intense betrayal, when he’d seen her with Jake, had haunted him. Had made him think the worst about her.
He remembered how Raine had tried to explain how thrilled and relieved she’d been to be away from the overbearing scrutiny of her three older brothers. At first she’d teasingly accused him of being just like them.
But then she’d become more resentful.
And he’d accused her of cheating on him.
No wonder she’d wanted a break.
Still, he wanted another chance. Even though there was something different about her. A shadow in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. The Raine he’d worked with tonight didn’t seem to be the same person she’d been a month earlier.
Because of him?
Caleb’s stomach twisted with regret. He hadn’t told her about his mother abandoning him and his father, taking off to follow her dream of being a dancer. Or the string of stepmothers and almost stepmothers. Obviously, he should have.
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