"I swear, Megan! You've come up with some crazy ideas in the past, but this time you've gone off the deep end."
Mr. O'Hara threw his pen on his desk and scowled at her. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to travel alone?"
Megan resisted the urge to cringe. Last night's confrontation with Denton was proof enough that she couldn't afford to tolerate any more interference in her life - from anyone. Standing her ground was the only way to maintain control. At the first sight of weakness, her cause would be lost. She met his commanding stare with determination.
"It isn't any more dangerous for me to fly out there alone than to go to the beach alone. I've considered all the factors and I've made my decision. There's really nothing you can do to stop me."
His gaze hardened and his brows lifted. "Oh? "I could tell Denton. He'd put a stop to this foolishness."
Her nails bit into her palms. Denton would certainly try. Even after she had returned his ring, he hadn't given up. He had given her a week to get her head on straight. No doubt, he expected her to come back - begging his forgiveness. But he had no idea she was planning to leave the state - and she had no intention of telling him.
Mr. O'Hara regarded her suspiciously. "I think you're actually afraid of him." When she refused to meet his gaze, he let lose a long impatient sigh. "He's your fiancé. He has a right to know."
She nibbled on her lower lip and stared at the papers in her hand, avoiding his probing gaze. "I told him the wedding is off. I gave his ring back last night."
"You what?" He lunged out of the chair and fixed her with an incredulous stare. "Girl, do you know what you're doing? The whole idea of this vacation was so you could think things over. You weren't supposed to make any decision until you came back."
A cold anger gripped her. His seemingly generous offer to allow her an extended vacation had been nothing more than a cleverly constructed plan to keep her tied to Denton. Was there no facet of her life that he wouldn't try to control?
He knew he'd gone too far. It was in his eyes - in the way he picked up the pen and tried to find a reason to avoid her angry gaze. He dropped into his chair and tapped the pen on his desk. His faltering response gave her strength.
She planted her hands firmly on his desk and met his gaze with surprising composure. She leaned toward him, speaking in a voice so calm she could barely believe it was her own.