Page 21 of Heat Stroke

“Then, you left… You went to A&M with your scholarship for college and I could breathe. I wasfree… it was like I was able to truly live my life without fear of torment for the first time. I blossomed. I got asked out on dates… a lot. It was amazing.

“Things were great in my life… I didn’t forget what you’d put me through, but I didn’t dwell on it. It was pushed to the recesses of my mind. And, then… you came back. You just walked into my father’s store and I don’t know why, but I never put it together that Carrington Construction wasyou. I should have. I should have known…But, I mean, you weren’t here anymore!

“I had never confided in my parents what you put me through. They had no idea. They still have no idea. My dad has no idea. Neither did Alena, or, now she does… to a point.

“But, there you were and my daddy asked me to take you back to the mill to work alongside you. I justknewyou’d be the same dick kid that you were back then. But, you didn’t seem to be.

“Hell, you flirted with me… You were nice and you flirted and I reacted… I hated myself for that. How could I be attracted to you? After everything you did to me. It’s insane!

“And then, you came over last night and you apologized. You apologized for it all. I know you were sincere. I could tell. I saw it. I’m very good at reading people now. You apologized and it was so unexpected. I was in shock… I just needed a bit.

“I needed to say that I accepted your apology because Ineededto… for me. But, I couldn’t find the words.

“So, you kissed my forehead andleft. You just left. You turned my world upside down…again…and then you just walked out.” I glare at him again. “That’swhy you’re an asshole, Blaze! You can’t do that! You can’t be all sincere and apologetic and then just leave while I’m still trying to process!

“Dick move! You shouldn’t have left!”

Blaze

I’m a strongman. I’m tough. But, listening to Wren tell me exactly what I put her through, I hate myself all over again. I can hear everything in her voice.

I am an asshole. I’m a dick. I didn’t think I was that guy anymore, but I am.

She’s so right.

She said she wanted to accept my apology, but… why?! She needed to accept it.

Why would she?

I don’t deserve it.

I nod at her. “You accept my apology, but you’re mad that I left last night after issuing it?”

She nods, and if it’s possible, her eyes turn even grayer. “You shouldn’t have walked out.”

I frown at her as I try to make certain I understand her. “You didn’t want me at your house, yet, once I apologized, you didn’t want me to leave?!” Reaching up, I grip the back of my neck, squeezing it hard. I rub my forehead. “What was I supposed to do, Wren?! You’d just made it perfectly clear that I wasn’t welcome there, and then, I apologized and you just sat there. I thought youwantedme to leave!”

She yells at me.“Well, you thought wrong!”

I’m so lost here. I snap back at her. “Well, I’m not a goddammed mind reader! You didn’t appear to want me there, so… I left… I thought I was doing what youwantedme to do! For the first time in the history of knowing you, I thought aboutyouand what you wanted!” Shaking my head, I continue in exasperation. “Wren, I’m at a loss here. Iknowhow horrible I was to you. I know how horrible other people were to you because of me. I meant everything I said. I hate myself for all of it. If I could take it back and do it all over, I would never treat you like that.

“You just told me that you cried yourself to sleep every night for years because of me and my treatment of you. So, why would you want to be around me now? I don’t understand that. That literally makes no damn sense!”

“I want you. I want to be around you. I want to get to know you. I want to be with you. Hell, I want all the things I have absolutely no right to want, but that’s because I’m selfish…I’m still selfish!You shouldn’t forgive me. You should hate me. You have every right to.

“But, I don’t want you to. I want you to want me as much as I want you. You said that you can’t stop thinking of me.” I laugh harshly. “Wren, that’s been me since the very first day I was back in town. I saw you walking from the post office and you stole my damn breath. You didn’t even see me and I literally couldn’t breathe.

“I was determined to get you to notice me. I knew that you’d hate it and I didn’t care. I’m a selfish asshole. A dick. You’re right about that.

“Right this second, you’re across the room from me after telling me how much I hurt you in the past and all I want to do is cross it, take you into my arms, and kiss you until you can’t think of anything but me. I want to lay you across my desk and mark you so no other man even looks at you. I want to take you to dinner tonight and every other night. I want to sink between your thighs and sear myself into you until neither of us has the energy to move…

“Iama selfish man, Wren.”

I can see her pulse as she tries to catch her breath. Her eyes are wide and luminous. They seem to swirl with varying greys and greens. She swallows and licks her full lips.

She opens her mouth to speak, but she only exhales instead. Finally she says, “I—I…”

Pushing off the door, I stand at my full height. My hands are clenched at my sides to stop myself from reaching for her. My voice is raspy as I address her. “Wren, I want you. I know that parts of you want me, too. But… if you don’t want to end up back in my arms, you need to leave. You need to leave right now. If you choose to leave, I’ll let you go. I’ll stop being selfish. I’ll hate myself, but I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”

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