The Scale (Martha's Way) (37 page)

The announcement caught his father off-guard, he could tell
by the way his eyes widened just before a satisfactory smile spread over his
face. “I guess I need to start looking for your replacement then.”

“I think we can come up with a strong replacement. I’ll see
you soon, Dad.”

He didn’t turn to look back at his father. He didn’t need
to. An unexpected release of all tension washed through him as he walked out of
the restaurant to the waiting car. Once there, he reached for his phone and
texted Minka.

What
are you doing?

Trying on my MOH dress one last time before the big day.

Can
you leave soon?

Yes.

I’m
on my way to the inn.

* * * *

Back at the inn, Jason worked to keep his patience while
Minka’s parents filled his ears with lighthearted chatter. His attention
strayed to other things, like Minka. Where the hell was she? Over her parents’
shoulder he glanced at the large clock, a whole fifteen minutes since he
arrived at Martha’s Way and still no Minka. He had been stopped by countless
guests, who had arrived for the wedding, to compliment him on the inn, the
setting, the food, even the island. Jason pointed out he didn’t own The
Vineyard. He was just lucky enough to live there.

“I’m sorry, but where’s Minka?” he asked in a modulated
voice.

Bea, Minka’s beautiful mother smiled and leaned over to her
husband.
“Oh, how rude of us for yapping away.
You
came to pick her up. She’s upstairs with Keely.”

Much to his pleasure, Minka had made no attempt to conceal
from her parents the fact she had been staying with him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We can discuss anything you’d like to
add for the wedding tomorrow.” They were planning a dinner party to welcome all
the guests. Lisa was also due to photograph the inn the following day.

Minka’s father laid a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “You did
good, son. Keely and Blake are very lucky to have you as a friend.”

Jason appreciated the gratitude. Having his friends’ wedding
at Martha’s Inn had been a welcome challenge. Blake, like Adam, Claire, and
Forrest, was more than a friend.

“Now about Minka,” he continued and Jason rubbed the back of
his neck. “She’s a different person. You make her happy.”

Okay, he didn’t expect that. Although he wasn’t sure what
exactly he had expected.

Bea leaned and touched his arm. “Come, Jason, I’ll walk with
you.”

He continued a lighthearted conversation with Bea as he made
his way up to the suite. However, he was distracted with thoughts of Minka. It
seemed so long ago when he found her sobbing by the window. Her excuse had
seemed feeble then but he had brushed his doubts aside, not once thinking Blake
was culpable for the tears.

Bea pushed the door open and his gaze landed on Minka in
front of the floor-length mirror with Claire and Keely at her side.
Claire, always the perfectionist, with her eyebrows furrowed, adjusted
one of the straps of the dress against her cinnamon skin, accentuating Minka’s
perky breasts.
Keely brushed back some of the curls Minka often used to
hide her face, giving Jason full access to the twinkle in her eyes. Her sister
leaned in and whispered something in Minka’s ear and she smiled; a
show-stopping smile that was now becoming a more permanent fixture on her face.

“Minka darling,” Bea said gleefully, “I have your boyfriend
here.” The older woman turned to face him. “You are her boyfriend, I take it.”
She finished with a playful nudge on Jason’s side.

Well, damn! Talk about putting him on the spot. Claire and
Keely stepped back, exchanged a knowing look with each other with a silly grin
on their faces.

“Mom!”
Minka shrilled, her cheeks
flushed with a tint of roseate.

She was embarrassed. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I suppose I am,” he agreed, his eyes on the woman who was
now officially his girlfriend.

Her chin dipped. Jason closed the distance between them and
interlaced their fingers together.

“I guess it’s time for us to leave,” Keely said. She turned
toward Jason. “Your
huevos
are safe
for now.” She winked, reminding him of her threat to have his balls if he
harmed her sister.

He grinned. “Well, thank God for that.”

A temporary silence fell between them. Jason continued to
watch the woman he had fallen in love with. She shifted and disconnected their
hands.

“I didn’t realize that term was still used,” he said in an
attempt to diffuse her uneasiness.

“What term?” She adjusted the skirt of her dress, avoiding
eye contact.

“Boyfriend, girlfriend.”

She shrugged. “Oh, I see.”

He wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her against
his chest. Her eyes widened. “Minka, let’s talk.”

She pressed her hands against his chest. “Jason, you don’t
have to label us because my mother cornered you.”

“I don’t get cornered.” The pressure of her hands lessened
against his chest. “Tell me what Minka wants out of this.”

He knew he was putting her on the spot but he didn’t care.
To dive in as his father advised
,
he needed to be
certain. He had always been the logical type.

“I want…”

“Want or need?” He pushed.

She blinked. “I need,” she whispered in a soft-quiet voice.
“I need…”

“Me.”

She nodded. “I need you.”

The admission caused his heart to kick hard.
“Good, because I need you in my life just as much.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“The scale does not
define you.”

Anonymous

One by one the group dispersed, leaving Minka alone with
Blake. She couldn’t remember the last time they had been alone together. Even
while in Chappy their paths had never crossed, at least not like this. Not
alone. A slight heaviness settled in her stomach. No longer could she go on
ignoring what had plagued her for years. His love for Keely had left her
stunted somehow and she needed to move away from it, let him go, in order to
give herself completely to Jason.

He loved her. She loved him. The words had not been spoken,
they didn’t need to be. She felt his love in everything they’d done the last
two days. As best as she could she gave him all of her, but Minka knew there
was a chapter she needed to close.

Searching for ideas on how to circumvent the situation, she
scanned the large room; only days ago Jason had walked in here and dragged her
away from Claire and Keely. Hard to believe then she had been distraught over
her sister marrying the man who now stood before her.

Blake picked up the last wine glass and handed it to her. As
he did, their fingers touched.
Nothing.
That tingling
sensation was reserved for Jason, his every touch, or even a glance sent her
heart racing.

“So, you and Jason,” Blake said with a smile. He walked over
by the bookcase and picked up a picture of the four men standing side-by-side
fishing.

He turned to face her, his chocolate eyes a shade darker
than usual. “Jason is not just a friend, he’s my brother.”

She nodded. She knew that.

“He loves you,” Blake continued.

She knew that too. As much as she had wanted to say them
back she had not been able to. The reason for her apprehension was standing
before her, and she needed to let go, say goodbye and move on to the next phase
of her life.

Minka carefully closed the space between them. Clearing her
mind of all the “what ifs”, she drew closer and pressed her lips against
Blake’s. His body tensed against hers but she pressed on, searching for the
emotional grip he had on her for so long.

Nothing.

She was met with the absence of everything. No light, no
air, no sound, no smell, no taste. Her world did not shatter into small pieces.
Her body didn’t melt. If anything her feet were firmly planted on the ground.

That’s because I don’t love him. I never did.

Blake gently pressed her aside. “Minx,” he
said,
the confusion of the situation apparent on his
handsome face. “I’m marrying Keely. I’m in love with her.”

She knew that too. She no longer cared he had chosen her twin
over her. His love for Keely stopped bothering her a while ago.

“Blake, I’m…” Her voice trailed as Keely stepped into view
and came to stand next to Blake. Her sister’s eyes remained on her, sending
Minka a long, pained look before breaking eye contact.

Minka’s eyes darted between the couple. Blake had his arm
around Keely, silently reassuring her sister she was the one for him, had
always been.

“Keely.” She reached for Keely’s arm. At her touch, her
sister flinched and pulled back.

“How could you?” Keely spat, hurt laced her voice. “What
wrong with you?”

Keely’s voice trembled as if choking down a sob. The pain
Minka saw in her sister’s face cut through her, draining the color from her
face. Terrified over how her sister might have perceived the situation, she
took an uneven step back and opened her mouth to explain, but no words were
formed.

She’d fucked up. But she could make it better, right? She
just had to explain and they would understand, wouldn’t they?

“Please let me explain, it’s not what it looks like.” Her
voice shook with remorse. “I was saying goodbye.”

“Blake.
Keely.
I’ll see you in the
morning.” Jason’s voice cut through the room, stabbing her in the chest.

Oh God, no! Had he witnessed the kiss as well?

This couldn’t be happening.

Minka turned toward the door and met Jason’s cold stare. His
large frame leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest. His
eyes, dark and furious, remained fixed on her. The anger radiating off of him
thickened the air and without saying anything to her, he turned on his heel and
walked out of the room.

Without thinking she started to go after him, then changed
direction mid-stride as she remembered she needed to fix this misunderstanding
with her sister.

“Go after Jason.” Keely voiced her support, but with a tone
that lacked enthusiasm. “We can talk later.”

This made her love her sister even more. With a slight nod,
she rushed out of the room, down the hall where she spotted Jason, his back
ridged with tension. She quickened her steps to close the space between them.
He had to feel her presence, but not once did he slow his strides or stop to
give her an opportunity.

“Jason, please wait,” she called just as he reached the
door.

He whipped around to glare at
her,
his icy blue eyes froze her in her tracks. He continued to stare at her, into
her soul as if reading her mind. The warmth that had been there the last few
days, less than one hour ago, now replaced by an icy pond, all glazed over and
cold with controlled anguish beneath the surface.

“I’m sorry.” The words, although a whisper, echoed in the
hallway.

His gaze loomed over her, into her soul.

“Please let me explain. It’s not what you think you saw.”

A deliberate eyebrow rose. “I saw you kissing your sister’s
fiancé. Was that not the case?”

His matter-of-fact tone ripped her heart. The accusation in
his voice became too much to bear. Minka turned her attention to the window and
stared into the night. She knew him well enough to know Jason was not
accustomed to giving his heart to a woman. He had willingly given it to her,
with no expectations. And in his eyes, she had taken it and cruelly smashed it
to the ground.

 
“I was saying
goodbye.” Her voice wavered, the words stumbled out.

A painful silence settled between them. Tearing her gaze
from the window, she turned to face him and gasped at the obvious
disappointment reflecting in his eyes, the pain of being stabbed in the heart. Minka
understood it all too well, she had been there. It was the equivalent of being
pierced with a sharp, pointed object by someone you trusted enough to turn your
back on.

Weak in the knees, she reached for his hands and leaned in.
He flinched but didn’t pull away. She held still in expectation he’d retreat
from her touch, when he didn’t she licked her lips with cautious hope.

“I needed to say goodbye,” she said again.

“By kissing your sister’s fiancé,” he spat out. “You’ve hurt
her.”

His words centered on her sister, but Minka knew she caused
him pain as well. “I know,” she admitted, “and I will make it better. But I
couldn’t let you leave thinking I have a thing for Blake. It’s you, Jason, it’s
all about you.”

She searched his face for an indication that he believed
her, for hope. Instead was greeted with the same cold, hard, flinty eyes she
remembered from the picture she saw of him after his mother’s death. Defeated,
her hands fell away from his.

After a long pause, he shrugged, and ran a hand through his
gold locks. “I’ll have your bag delivered to the inn by morning.”

Her muscles jumped under her skin. He was going to walk away
from her. She couldn’t let that happen. Out of desperation she reached for him
again, but this time he stepped back, avoiding her touch.

“Jason, please…”

“Goodnight Minka.” The finality of his tone felt like death.

This time she made no effort to stop him. Seconds later, the
start of the Jeep’s engine sealed her fate as it pulled away into the night,
leaving her alone with the thudding of her heart. Her unfocused gaze remained
staring at the place Jason had stood seconds ago. He had walked out of her life.
She’d fucked up.