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“Why?”
“Because I need something to take my mind off the fact that my dick is about to explode, and you’re not next to me,” he rasped.“That I’m missing you madly and you won’t give me the time of day.”
Heat cannoned into her belly then detonated outward.“I’m meeting Keely for lunch.Then she’s taking me shopping for tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“We’re going out for my birthday.”
Silence echoed ominously down the phone.“Your birthday’s not till tomorrow.”
“I’m seeing my parents tomorrow so we’re celebrating tonight.”
“You were supposed to celebrate with me.”
“Yeah, we both know how that worked out.”
He sighed.“It doesn’t have to be this way.What time are you seeing your parents?”
“They’re taking me to lunch.”
“So we can still spend tomorrow evening together.”
Her heart lurched.“No.We can’t, Zach.Not if we’re going to ignore the herd of elephants in the room.”
“We will fix this, Bethany.”
“I can’t see how, not without discussing what needs to be discussed.”
His breath hissed out.“So you’re saying everything that came before means nothing to you?”
Pain ripped through her insides.“Of course not.But I can’t ignore what came afterward.I have so many questions, Zach, not just that one question you won’t answer.”
“Ask me one of them,” he grated out.
The tense invitation shocked her into silence for a handful of seconds.Then, heart thundering, she gripped the phone tighter.“Okay.Why did you take me to Marrakech?Of all the places in the world you could’ve taken me, why there?We both know that place means more to you than just a house.So why did you take me there, Zach?”
He exhaled harshly.“My answer won’t please you.”
She licked dry lips.“Try it anyway.”
“I needed to put some ghosts to rest.”
Cryptic as ever.“Zach?—”
“Remember what I said when we were there, that you were a risk I knew I was taking?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what usually happens when I feel that way?”
“No.”
“I walk away.I only take calculated risks in business.Before I met you, my personal life was based on one thing.Sex, on my terms.That went out the window the moment I saw you.But I still took the risk.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m still taking the risks now.Some of the answers you need we can work through.We don’t need to be apart to do that.”