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dreamy look was gone in a fraction of a second, replaced by a haughty glare. “No, I was just … looking.”
    She handed the ring back to the clerk and stalked straight for the door. He was obliged to follow her right on out. They walked together in stifled silence for a few feet before Jenny turned and froze in her path. “Where’s all this going, Liam?”
    “Where is what going?” He knew what she was inferring, but he wasn’t ready for this talk, especially in a place so public.
    “Our relationship. Where’s it going? I’m not getting any younger, you know. Most of my friends are already married and quite a few already have kids. I’m behind schedule.”
    “Jenny, we just took a break, so I think that’s a good sign as to where this relationship is going. Frankly, I’m not ready to get married. I have a career that demands most of my attention.” He took a deep breath and then opened his mouth to voice the worries that had nagged at him these last few days. “You knew all that walking into this. I was quite honest and upfront that I wasn’t looking to get married.”
    They needed to discuss what happened at the club last Saturday, but then Liam would have to face questions of his attraction to Olivia. Now he wished he’d used the opportunity to walk away when he’d had it, instead of calling for a break.
    Jenny grew silent for a moment, her gaze dipping to the ground. “I know all that … I suppose … I hoped … things would eventually lead us down the right path. When you called this morning, I figured you’d realized how much you missed me.”
    “I don’t want to get married. And if that’s what you’ve got your heart set on, then I don’t want to stand in your way.”
    Tears shimmered in Jenny’s eyes. He caught sight of them before she turned away. “Is this because of Olivia?”
    Liam sighed, not wanting to drag Olivia into their fight. “She may have been the catalyst for all this, but I’ve had these feelings about this relationship for a long time. I’ve seen the way you look at me. I heard you tell your friends a few weeks ago you’d landed a doctor . I’m not interested in being landed, Jenny.”
    Shock filled her face. Apparently, she hadn’t realized he’d overheard her statement. Tears began to form in the corners of Jenny’s eyes. The outside world suddenly cracked into their little scene and he recoiled, realizing people were starting to stare as they passed. “This isn’t the place for tears. We don’t need to draw our personal life out on this sidewalk for all of Charlottesville to see.”
    Jenny dabbed at her eyes and stood straighter, looking around her at the people walking past. “So … just like that … our relationship is over?”
    “It’s over.” He nodded, sorrow filling him that he was hurting her.
    “There’s nothing I can say or do to change your mind?”
    “You want something I can’t give you. Do you really want me to change my mind?”
    Jenny chuckled as she wiped tears from the corner of her eyes, a fake smile plastered to her lips. He was surprised she was taking everything so well. “I suppose not.”
    “Let me help you take your bags to your car.”
    She looked him over, a shudder running through her. “How did I not see this coming?”
    “Honestly?”
    “Sure, hit me while I’m down,” she said through nervous chuckles, still wiping at her eyes.
    “You wanted a marriage to happen so badly, it was all you could see.”
    Jenny looked down at her feet once more, stuffing her hands in her pockets, and fumbling for her car keys. She began to walk before him, not responding to what he’d said. Liam began following behind her down the tree-lined center down several blocks to 1st Street, where she turned and walked to the parking lot.
    Once they got to her car, she opened the trunk and helped him put the bags inside. She closed the trunk with a thud and then turned to him, her stare downcast. “Perhaps you’re right. I did want it