Page 19 of Buy Me, Love
Maxwell
The elevator doorsopen and I step out, clutching the envelope to my chest. I never thought this assignment would end. I never envisioned Kit not needing me anymore. There was no logical end point to me following her, and I think I could have followed herforever.
But now, there’s no going back to how it was before. There’s no more following Kit around to make sure she stays safe and out of trouble. I did this to myself, I put myself in this situation, this is a prison of my ownmaking.
I swipe my keycard and push the door to the executive offices open and I’m met with Mr. Kensington’s assistant like I alwaysam.
“I know I’m early, but is he available now?” I ask, stopping at Ms. Steele’s desk. She eyes the envelope in my hands with knowledge and nods, standing up to escort me to Mr. Kensington’s office. She gives me a reluctant smile and her heels click on the dark hardwood floor as I follow her down thehallway.
I’ve been here many times, once a week for the past six months, to have a meeting with Kit’s father on her movements. I thought I was protecting her for the past six months, but I wasn’t doingthat.
I was falling for her. God, who am I kidding? I fell in love with her the moment I saw her picture, the moment her father told me that she was wild and when, in that same moment, I knew she was really just a sweet girl with a big heart who I couldn’t stop thinking about and dreaming about. I could see through the photo and into her. I couldn’t have explained it at the time and I certainly cannot explain it now, but it’s whathappened.
I called her and left her a voicemail on my way back to the city. I told her that I wanted to talk to her and that I would take her silence as a sign that she doesn’t want to see me again. I could certainly understandit.
I haven’t received a call back. I’ll wait for her forever, but not from here. I have to wait from far away, which is why I’m doing what I’m doingtoday.
When we get to the end of the hallway, Ms. Steele gives the door a knock and then pushes it open with a smile, making eye contact with me for a brief moment. She was always a sweet woman. I’ll have to say goodbye to her, too. But first, I need to do what I came here todo.
“You can go in,” Ms. Steele says, cocking her head toward the door. I take a deep breath. I’m not certain that I know what I’m going to say. I might just put the letter on his desk, turn around, and walk out the door, call my pilot and tell him I’m heading back to Flagstafftoday.
Or I might tell him I’m deep in love with hisdaughter.
“Mr. Kensington, thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” I say, taking a step inside and keeping my gaze on the floor. I feel my fist clench up and my jaw tick as I clutch the envelope a littleharder.
“Mr. Armstrong,” a soft voice says from across theroom.
It’s not Mr. Kensington. It’sKit.
My gaze lifts to take her in. She’s standing in front of her father’s desk, warm afternoon sunlight bathing her in gold. She takes a small step forward. I feel my heart slam into my ribs with one hard thump as I look ather.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I tell her, tearing my gaze away. I feel the door click closed behind me. I chance a look at her. “You haven’t called meback.”
“I have a few things I want to ask you, and it wasn’t a conversation we could have over the phone,” she says cautiously, taking a small step toward me. “I knew that you were coming here today. Obviously. Ms. Steele apprised me of this information.” She’s wearing the same yellow and white dress she was wearing at the dog run that day. This is the dress I always picture herin.
“I fucked up,” I say, tearing my eyes away again. “I’m sorry for not insisting that I tell you the truth before everythinghappened.
“The lie is not what hurt me the most,” she says calmly, “but it was part ofit.”
“You don’t have to worry about me ever lying to you again, Kit,” I tell her, striding toward her. I toss the envelope onto her father’s desk and put my index finger on it. “This is my resignation letter. You never have to see me again if you don’t want to, and I understand why you ran. I get it. Just know that I’m sorry for everything. I’ll never stop fighting for you. For us. And that means I’ll wait forever for you. Forever, Kit. But I just can’t do it if I have to watch you from afar everyday.”
“You underestimate me,” she says, the corner of her eye catching mine. “Do you think my father is going to let you continue following me after everything that’shappened?”
“I imagine you are bluffing, Ms. Kensington,” I say. “You would never tell your father what happened. Not after you ran away fromme.”
“Like I said,” she replies, folding her arms across her chest with a little smile, “you underestimateme.”
“You told him,” I say slowly, gut-checking myself. “You toldhim?”
“That’s a small detail,” she replies with a flick of her wrist. “I just need to know a few things from you before I can decide how to proceed. Please, have aseat.”
I lower myself into the chair facing her. Kit leans back, perching lightly on the edge of the old oak desk, the sunlight dancing across her porcelain skin. Then she clears her throat and stands, walking over to the big windows on the other side of the office. Her little pale blue slides click as she moves, showing off her toned, slim calves. I tuck a growl into my chest and feel my fistsclench.
“Tell me something,” she says, folding her arms and looking out over the city. “Last week, when I left my blue coat behind at Balthazar. I was so dizzy from running into my favorite actor that the coat completely slipped my mind. There was a private party going on in the room I’d just left, and I don’t like crowds, especially when I don’t knowanyone.”
“A little quirk of yours,” I say, a smile pulling at my lips, “especially odd after everything we’ve beenthrough.”
“Yes,” she says, turning her chin over her shoulder. “Please don’t change the subject, Mr. Armstrong. Back to the coat. Was thatyou?”
