Her Own Rules. Barbara Taylor Bradford

into his arms. He was a tall man, well built and strong, and he caught hold of her hard, held her in a viselike grip, pressing his mouth on hers.

      She struggled, managed to partially push him away, and pulled herself up on the sofa, straining to extricate herself from his arms.

      Unexpectedly, Reed let go of her as abruptly as he had grabbed her. Giving her an odd look, he said in a quiet, icy voice, “Why did you pull away from me in such a violent manner as if I’m suddenly a leper? What’s wrong?”

      Meredith bit her lip, said nothing. Then she sprang to her feet, hurried over to the window, and stood looking out.

      A cold silence filled the room.

      Meredith was shaking inside. She wanted to get this over. Be done with him. End the whole thing as gracefully as she could. But he was being difficult, and worse, imagining things that hadn’t happened.

      After a moment or two, when she was calmer, she turned to face him and said slowly, in her kindest voice, “Reed, listen to me…things are…well, not right between us anymore. They haven’t been for weeks.”

      “How on earth can you say that! We had a wonderful time in New York. Only a month ago, unless I’m sadly mistaken.”

      Meredith shook her head, her dismay intensifying. She wanted to be considerate, to let him down lightly, yet she knew within herself that she must make her feelings absolutely clear to him. “It wasn’t wonderful, Reed, at least not for me. I realized you and I were completely incompatible, and not suited to each other at all. I began to feel ill at ease with you, and I certainly knew our relationship was on the skids, that it couldn’t possibly work.”

      “That’s not so, and you know it. If you lived here and we weren’t conducting our relationship long distance, everything would be entirely different. Please move to London to be with me, Meredith.”

      “Reed, I’ve just told you, as far as I’m concerned we don’t have a future together. And anyway, I have such a huge commitment to my business.”

      “Oh don’t go on so, Meredith. I can’t believe for one moment that you’re such a dyed-in-the-wool career woman as you claim to be. I couldn’t love that kind of woman, and I do love you.”

      Meredith was silent.

      He repeated, “I love you.”

      “Oh Reed, I’m so sorry…but I just don’t feel the same way.”

      “That’s not what you led me to believe,” he said softly, his eyes narrowing.

      “I admit I was infatuated with you last fall, that’s true. But it was an infatuation, nothing stronger or more lasting. I can’t make a commitment to you, I just can’t.”

      “It’s been so good between us, Meredith. Why are you saying these things?”

      Taking a deep breath, Meredith plunged in. “I very quickly came to understand that you don’t take my life seriously. Not my personal family life with my children, and certainly not my work. I will not negate my children’s existence for you, or anyone else for that matter, and I will never give up my work. It’s far too important to me. I’ve put too many years and too much effort into my business.”