Page 2 of A Gift of Time
“You know what.” I released his arm and stepped backward. “I have a fiancé. Whatever you think is going to happen between us isn’t happening. We’ve been over this too many fucking times.”
His brown eyes gleamed. “Oh, I love it when you talk dirty.”
“Stop.”
“Are you sure you don’t want your present? I got you a nice package for Christmas, if you want it,” he purred, unrelenting.
Goddammit.
There had only been one time that I almost saidfuck itand took Logan up on his offer. Back in May, Caden and I had gotten into a huge fight and he’d packed up his bags to go stay at his mom’s house for a few days. Seething and pissed beyond words, I’d come into work the next day and Logan had been all over me, as usual.
I never touched him, but fuck, I had really thought about taking him into the bathroom and fucking him senseless one good time. The thought of Caden had stopped me, though. I could never betray him like that, no matter how pissed I was.
Logan got so close that his chest pressed to mine, and he tilted his head up to look at me.
I put my hands on his shoulders and stopped his advance. “You’re going to find a man one day who will give you everything you’re after, kid. But it’s not me and you need to stop before I file a harassment suit against you. Got it?”
“Whatever. I know you want me,” he said in a cocky tone. Thankfully, he got the hint and stepped away. “If you ever change your mind, just let me know.”
Without wasting more time with him, I turned and continued on my way. In the parking garage, I found my car and slid inside before starting the ignition and turning the heat on high.
As the car heated, I took out my phone and heavily exhaled at the few missed calls and texts from my soon-to-be husband.
The first text was polite, the second was worried, and the third was pissy. I had one voicemail, and I deleted it without even listening, not wanting to hear him bitching me out.
Instead of returning his call, I pocketed my phone.
I’ll just deal with it when I see him.
Winters in Scottsdale were brutal. The forecast said we’d have close to two feet of snow by morning, so that meant it was probably already snowing.
Great.
Leaving the garage, my assumption was correct. The white mess was falling from the sky and already accumulating on the grass and on most of the road. I didn’t care much for snow. Frosty could kiss my ass. All snow did was make it miserably cold and it screwed up travel. Caden loved it, though.
I drove with caution, not wanting to addcar wreckto a night I already suspected was going to suck.
Caden had wanted me home by six because he’d cooked dinner. Actually, he’d wanted me home sooner to go with him to the Christmas parade the town held each year, but I’d told him I’d had to work.
So then, he said to be home at least by six.
I knew it’d be the same damn predictable evening. We’d eat dinner and clean up, watch some Christmas movies, exchange one gift each, and read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmastogether while drinking a glass of wine before bed.
The same, tired tradition that we’d had for four years. Routine and fucking stupid.
A gift.Fuck!
I’d been so swamped with work that I’d forgotten. Of course, I’d bought him presents that were under the tree, but the gift we exchanged that night was supposed to be something thoughtful and not just a random nice sweater or something crazy expensive.
Something from the heart.
Most stores closed early on Christmas Eve, and with the freaking snow, any places thathad beenopen had probably closed.
I drove by the pavilion and saw empty parking lots and blinkingclosedsigns on all the windows.
“Dammit!” I hit the steering wheel and kept driving, knowing I was in so much shit.
There weren’t many cars on the road. Obviously, I was the only dumbass out that late, driving around town in desperation for a freaking last minute gift.
