Page 34 of Love vs The Ooze Monster!
“How could you even doubt it was real? How could you doubtme?”
“Because you lied to mefor six months.” He stressed again.
She threw up her hands. He would just not let that nonsense go! “It hardly evencountsas a lie! I didn’t tell you about Lew. So what? What does it even matter who my father was? You completely overreacted.”
“You feel betrayed because I was angry at you. ButIfelt betrayed because you lied. For about an hour on Thursday, I was convinced you’d faked every single moment we’d ever shared. That you didn’t care about our business. That you didn’t want me, like I want you. That you were secretly working for your jackass cousin.”
“Step-cousin.” She murmured without much heat.
“Jackass step-cousin.” He allowed distractedly, barely slowing down. “I thought we were building something, too, and suddenly I was questioning all of it. How wouldyoufeel if the situations were reversed?”
Mabel’s eyebrows compressed.
Boyd moved forward again and this time she didn’t retreat. “Even wondering what was real and what was fake, I still couldn’t let you go. You didn’t even make it out the door of my office, before I was begging you to stay.”
“I don’t even remember everything you said.” She grumbled. Mostly, she’d been trying not to cry.
“You remember me saying we’d never be finished, though, don’t you?”
She gave a jerky nod.
“And it’s true. You own me, Mabe. Lew might’ve given you to me, but, if he hadn’t, I would’ve found a way to take you, anyway. I amyours.” His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight. “I have nothing without you.”
She didn’t push him away.
“I havekilledpeople to keep you with me.” His voice was warm in her ear. “I would kill more. I will do anything for you.”
Mabel let her forehead fall forward against his chest, thinking over everything he’d said.
His hand ran up and down her back, comfortingly. “Don’t ever walk out on me, again. I’ll just come after you. You’re the only place I want to be.”
She sighed and gave up being mad. “I’m sorry.” She whispered.
Boyd kissed her temple. “I’m sorry, too. I handled it all badly.”
“Yes, youdid. …But, I think I started the problem, by not telling you about Lew.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I might’ve hesitated to hire you, at first, but you could’ve worn me down in about a day.Less.”
Mabel shrugged.
Boyd made a slightly exasperated sound at her silence. “You’re a very difficult woman.”
“That’s probably why we fit so well together. You’re the most difficult man I’ve ever met in my life.”
He chuckled and rubbed his chin against her hair. “So, Lew told you I was The One, huh?” He eventually asked in a self-satisfied voice.
Triple drat.
Had she said that part out loud? “Lew said a lot of things.” She hedged.
“Yep. He said you were mine, for instance. Put it right there inThe WonderfulWizard of Oz.”
“I’m positive that isn’t binding.” She grumbled.
“Ask Wilson Carmine how binding it is.”
The mention of Mr. Carmine reminded her of how much she had to accomplish that day. Mabel reluctantly pulled back to adjust her glasses. “We don’t have time for this. We need to get to work.” She’d already drafted a schedule for the morning. “First, I’ll have coffee. Then, I’ll make a few calls.”
