Page 13 of Kai
"Well?" her tone was brusque and unfriendly, but she did not care.
"You haven't changed much." His eloquent eyes swept over the hair tumbling over her shoulders. "You have a dog." He added before she could respond. Brutus, the traitor had circled his feet and was looking up at him adoringly. Some watchdog, he turned out to be, she thought, mentally shaking her head.
"One that I am contemplating sending away pretty soon." She directed a glare at the hapless animal who was now succumbing to a belly tickle by the man who had hunkered down to send him into peals of delight. "He takes to anyone and does not discriminate."
It was the tone of her voice that had him looking up. Giving the dog a last rub, he extricated himself and walked over to sit on the opposite sofa.
"I'm trying to apologize." His deep voice was quiet and sincere, making her heart ache.
"For what exactly?"
One thick dark brow lifted. Leaning back, he brushed away the lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead. The movement sent her back to the past when she was the one who used to do it. The thought made her angry enough to put her glass down with a decided movement on the table next to her.
"What are you apologizing for?"
Aware that something had angered her even more, he approached the subject cautiously. "I was young." It sounded even more foolish when it was said and he could see it was poorly done by the look on her exquisite face. "I had to take over. Suddenly I was a teen with no care in the world, except being with you. And then my dad died." He stared at her as if trying to make her realize how traumatic that had been for him. "My uncles took charge and whisked me away right after the ceremony. Damn it Max, I was thrown for a loop. The carpet was yanked from under me, and it left me spinning." He spread elegant hands wide. "I did what I was told, what the hell I was born to do."
The silence that followed that impassioned speech stretched so long, he felt as if his nerves were straining. She just sat there, staring at him, before clicking her fingers and having the dog come over to her.
"Max--"
"It's time for him to go out."
"It's raining." He pointed out in frustration, temper spiking his tone.
"Excuse me." She rose and he thought of getting up and just keeping her where she was.
"Fine." He said shortly. "I'll just wait here."
He rose as soon as she led the dog out and walked to the window. He had known it was going to be hard, but it did not stop himfrom wanting to wrap his hands around her pretty neck and squeeze. He was close to begging and that was not something he was accustomed to. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wandered over to the window and watched as she took the leash off the animal to let him run free. She had donned a black slicker and was bundled up; hands shoved into the deep pockets. He should just walk the hell out of her house and be on his way.
She was in his past and he should let her stay there. Walking away from the window, he sat back down and knew that he could not walk out -- he had to stay. Something was keeping him here. She was no longer his past. There were unresolved feelings here. If he was being completely honest with himself, he was violently attracted to her. She brought out something in him that he had never felt since he left her that time when they were teenagers.
As soon as he heard her in the foyer, he stamped the cool and dispassionate expression on his face. He was not going anywhere until she bloody well heard him out.
Maxie had deliberately taken her time. She had taken her time attending to her dog's needs and after he was finished, when she had no choice but to come back in out of the driving rain, she had spent another few minutes extra cleaning him off.
He unnerved her and she could not afford to let him see the nerves. Strolling back inside the room, she draped herself on the sofa and tucked her feet under her.
"Where's the dog?"
"In the kitchen, having his meal."
"I see." He rubbed his hands over his knees. "May I continue?"
"Of course." Her nod was unconsciously regal and had him shifting on the chair.
"I told you why I had to leave."
She nodded again. "Your father died, and you were whisked away to take charge of the company." She supplied helpfully.
His mouth tightened at her tone. "You're not making it easy."
Her tapered brows arched. "You expect it to be easy?" She laughed softly. "I expected you to come back. When you heard the news, we were at the park. You bought me a mint chocolate chip cone. You got the dark chocolate, and I teased you about getting a double. The sun was blazing hot, and we laughed as it dripped all over. You licked off mine and then kissed me--" her breath hitched, and she lifted her chin. "We went to sit on the bench and watched the ducks. I was just about to reach inside my bag for bread when you got the call."
"Maxie--" For some reason, he did not want her to continue. The fact that she recalled the details made his stomach clench.
"Let me finish!" She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Please. You received the call to go straight home, and we both suspected that it was bad. You took me home and promised to call and let me know what's going on." Her hands clenched into fists and she pressed one on her chest. "You never did. I waited and when I could not stand it anymore, I called and was told you could not come to the phone. I called every day for a week and was told the same thing. I drove to your place and heard that you were gone. I called your phone, and it was no longer active. You cut me off--" Her eyes were burning. "You did not have the decencyto tell me to my face that it was over, that you never wanted to see me again."
