Page 91 of All I Want is You this Christmas Final

She stopped.

“Your screenplay? It’s really good. You’re very talented, sweetheart, and I’m so proud of you.”

Anna Beth’s eyes welled up again and her aunt waved her hands, “Nope, that’s it. Shoooo! Go to bed.”

Twenty-Nine

Jared sat in his cruiser off the side of the highway, watching the commuters go by Monday morning. His shift was almost finished and couldn’t wait to get home and sleep. He hadn’t done much of that since he’d taken Anna Beth home Saturday night.

He leaned his head back against the headrest, hating how much her walking away hurt. Part of him held out hope she’d read Ian’s letter and realized he really did have the best of intentions. But not a word.

She should have believed you. After everything you two have been to one another?

Well, Jared knew what she’d been to him, but he still had no idea if she felt the same. He doubted she had any intention of staying, especially now.

Jared checked the time and reached for his radio to let dispatch know he was heading back, when a red car flew past him.

Anna Beth’s Chrysler.

Let it go. You don’t want to be that guy.

But she was breaking the law. By about fifteen miles per hour.

Before he thought better of it, Jared flipped on his lights and tore after her. By the time he turned the corner heading into town, she was already pulled over, waiting for him. Anna Beth leaned against the back of her car in jeans and her black peacoat, her hair loose around her shoulder.

He stepped out of his car and walked toward her, his heart galloping.

“You know, I believe I told you I hate being pulled over.”

“Do you know how fast you were going back there?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Sixty-five?”

Jared thought he saw a hint of a smile on her lips and frowned. “That’s about right. Why?”

“I wanted to get your attention.”

Jared stared at here, trying to keep a rein on his emotions. “You could have picked up a phone and called. Sent a text. Like a sane person.”

“I did call and text. You didn’t answer.”

“I don’t have my personal cell phone on at work.”

“Then my plan seems logical, especially if you weren’t getting my messages. I couldn’t risk that you’d ignore me.”

What the hell? She’d been the one to leave him and now she wanted his attention?

He’d thought he wanted to talk, but he was too tired to process this now.

“Well, I’m about to clock off and go to bed, so if it can wait…”

“It can’t.” She pushed off the back of her car and shoved her hands in her coat pocket. “You frustrate me.”

Jared’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“You frustrate me! I mean, why do you have to make this,” she waved her finger between them, “so complicated?”

The cars passing made it hard to hear, but he caught the gist of it. “Are you on something? How have I made our relationship more difficult?”