Page 142 of An Inconvenient Marriage
And a whole lot of distance between us.
Freeing myself from his grasp, I sidestepped him and made my way into the penthouse.
A million questions rolled through my brain at once. Yet, I only managed to voice one.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer. But I felt his gaze on me, burning a path from my head all the way down to my toes. So hot, so intense. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and spun around to face him.
Of course, he looked like he’d stepped off the cover of some fancy magazine. Leaning against the open elevator door with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his navy slacks and his feet crossed at the ankles.
I had this sudden need to smooth my hair and straighten my shirt. But since Zach’s stare had the ability to pin me in place, I didn’t move an inch. Not even when he pushed off the frame and stalked toward me.
“Why what?”
Is the room spinning? I licked my lips. “Why are you here?”
He stopped in front of me. So close I felt the heat of his body and dragged his scent straight to my lungs with every choppy inhalation.
“I thought you heard. This”—he circled the room with his index finger—“belongs to me now.”
The deep rumble of his voice sent a delicious hum over my skin.
But I couldn’t focus on that.
Fighting hard against the urge to close my eyes and listen to him talk, I tipped my head all the way back to meet his gaze. “Your need for vengeance hasn’t been satisfied, so you bought the building I live in to… what? Kick me to the curb?”
Hurt flashed in his eyes. “You think that little of me?”
The pain in his voice coupled with the dejected expression on his face sent a burst of emotion through me. So fierce, I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed hard.
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I reminded myself who I was dealing with. This was the man who promised to break me just to get back at the person who wronged him.
The man who tricked me into falling in love with him only to rip my heart out of my chest.
But he’s also the man who made you feel loved for the first time in your life and who went ballistic when you wouldn’t talk to him.
Ugh. With a shake of my head, I shoved my conscience out of the way and met Zach’s gaze again.
“I was nothing more than collateral in the messed-up game you and my father played.” I lifted my chin higher. “You tell me what I’m supposed to think.”
“I’d never hurt you. Never.”
“You already have.” I took a step back. “Your words did more damage than a slap across the face could ever do.” Another step back. “Physical pain doesn’t last. Not long, anyway. But when a heart breaks…” I shook my head and took another step backward. “I don’t think that ever heals.”
Tears were imminent and hell if I was going to shed even one in front of him. I took a couple of steps to the side while scanning the room for another way out. When I couldn’t see anything, I decided to take another shot at the elevator.
I didn’t get very far when Zach’s fingers gripped my wrist and he spun me around to face him.
“Let go!” I tried to pull my arm free but his hold tightened. “Dammit. Let. Me. Go.”
“No.” He pinned me with a stare that, much to my embarrassment, heated me all over. “Have you said everything you wanted to say?”
My brows pulled together. “What?”
Zach leaned in and my breath hitched at his nearness. “Is there something else you’d like to throw at me, or are you ready to listen now?”
Unable or rather unwilling to fight anymore, I just stared at him. He took that as an invitation for him to speak.
