Page 8

"I'm not going to stand in the foyer and have a conversation." With that, he turned and walked towards the living room.

Hissing out a breath and telling herself that she would hear him out and be done with it, she followed him.

He was leaning on the mantle of the faux fireplace; one hand draped over it and looking as if he was at home.

Refusing to admire the way the thin black sweater hugged his chest and arms, she went to sit on the sofa and picked up her wine.

Good manners had been drilled into her since she could remember, but she was not in the mood to exercise them now.

And she was certainly not going to offer him a damn drink. She wanted him gone.

"Well?" her tone was brusque and unfriendly, but she did not care.

"You haven't changed much." His eloquent eyes swept over the hair tumbling over her shoulders.

"You have a dog." He added before she could respond.

Brutus, the traitor had circled his feet and was looking up at him adoringly.

Some watchdog, he turned out to be, she thought, mentally shaking her head.

"One that I am contemplating sending away pretty soon." She directed a glare at the hapless animal who was now succumbing to a belly tickle by the man who had hunkered down to send him into peals of delight. "He takes to anyone and does not discriminate."

It was the tone of her voice that had him looking up. Giving the dog a last rub, he extricated himself and walked over to sit on the opposite sofa.

"I'm trying to apologize." His deep voice was quiet and sincere, making her heart ache.

"For what exactly?"

One thick dark brow lifted. Leaning back, he brushed away the lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead. The movement sent her back to the past when she was the one who used to do it. The thought made her angry enough to put her glass down with a decided movement on the table next to her.

"What are you apologizing for?"

Aware that something had angered her even more, he approached the subject cautiously.

"I was young." It sounded even more foolish when it was said and he could see it was poorly done by the look on her exquisite face.

"I had to take over. Suddenly I was a teen with no care in the world, except being with you.

And then my dad died." He stared at her as if trying to make her realize how traumatic that had been for him.

"My uncles took charge and whisked me away right after the ceremony.

Damn it Max, I was thrown for a loop. The carpet was yanked from under me, and it left me spinning.

" He spread elegant hands wide. "I did what I was told, what the hell I was born to do. "

The silence that followed that impassioned speech stretched so long, he felt as if his nerves were straining. She just sat there, staring at him, before clicking her fingers and having the dog come over to her.

"Max--"

"It's time for him to go out."

"It's raining." He pointed out in frustration, temper spiking his tone.

"Excuse me." She rose and he thought of getting up and just keeping her where she was.

"Fine." He said shortly. "I'll just wait here."

He rose as soon as she led the dog out and walked to the window.

He had known it was going to be hard, but it did not stop him from wanting to wrap his hands around her pretty neck and squeeze.

He was close to begging and that was not something he was accustomed to.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wandered over to the window and watched as she took the leash off the animal to let him run free.

She had donned a black slicker and was bundled up; hands shoved into the deep pockets.

He should just walk the hell out of her house and be on his way.

She was in his past and he should let her stay there.

Walking away from the window, he sat back down and knew that he could not walk out -- he had to stay.

Something was keeping him here. She was no longer his past. There were unresolved feelings here.

If he was being completely honest with himself, he was violently attracted to her.

She brought out something in him that he had never felt since he left her that time when they were teenagers.

As soon as he heard her in the foyer, he stamped the cool and dispassionate expression on his face. He was not going anywhere until she bloody well heard him out.

Maxie had deliberately taken her time. She had taken her time attending to her dog's needs and after he was finished, when she had no choice but to come back in out of the driving rain, she had spent another few minutes extra cleaning him off.

He unnerved her and she could not afford to let him see the nerves. Strolling back inside the room, she draped herself on the sofa and tucked her feet under her.

"Where's the dog?"

"In the kitchen, having his meal."

"I see." He rubbed his hands over his knees. "May I continue?"

"Of course." Her nod was unconsciously regal and had him shifting on the chair.

"I told you why I had to leave."

She nodded again. "Your father died, and you were whisked away to take charge of the company." She supplied helpfully.

His mouth tightened at her tone. "You're not making it easy."

Her tapered brows arched. "You expect it to be easy?

" She laughed softly. "I expected you to come back.

When you heard the news, we were at the park.

You bought me a mint chocolate chip cone.

You got the dark chocolate, and I teased you about getting a double.

The sun was blazing hot, and we laughed as it dripped all over.

You licked off mine and then kissed me--" her breath hitched, and she lifted her chin.

"We went to sit on the bench and watched the ducks.

I was just about to reach inside my bag for bread when you got the call. "

"Maxie--" For some reason, he did not want her to continue. The fact that she recalled the details made his stomach clench.

"Let me finish!" She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Please. You received the call to go straight home, and we both suspected that it was bad.

You took me home and promised to call and let me know what's going on.

" Her hands clenched into fists and she pressed one on her chest. "You never did.

I waited and when I could not stand it anymore, I called and was told you could not come to the phone.

I called every day for a week and was told the same thing.

I drove to your place and heard that you were gone.

I called your phone, and it was no longer active.

You cut me off--" Her eyes were burning.

"You did not have the decency to tell me to my face that it was over, that you never wanted to see me again. "

The silence that followed seemed to suffocate him.

He felt her pain and was thrown back to that time of his life.

He had heard of her calls and could have called and explained things to her.

But he had chosen not to, telling himself that part of him was no more.

He had been her first and he knew how she felt.

And he had crushed her heart and shattered it.

Looking at her, he realized she was still hurting, and he had no idea what to do or say.

If he opened his arms, she was just going to reject him.

And nothing he could say was going to make things right.

"I have no excuse." He murmured tersely.

"We finally agree on something." She struggled to regain her composure.

"I would like another chance."

She actually laughed. "Not a chance." She declared unhesitatingly.

"Maxie--"

"I'm seeing someone."

A frown touched his brow as he mentally searched through the file he had on her. It had said nothing of her being involved.

"Who is this guy?"

Her brows arched. "Really?"

"Look--"

"No." She pushed to her feet, just as Brutus came bounding into the room.

He headed straight for the man sitting there.

"I would like you to leave." It pissed her off to see her dog nudging at his hand and those long, clever hands rubbing his moist coat.

"I have no intention of falling for your lies.

You hurt me--" She took a deep breath. "Shattered my life--" Shaking her head as if shaking it off, she lifted her chin.

"It's over -- has been over for ten years.

Please don't show up at my house again, you're not welcome here. "

He rose slowly, eyes on her face. When he started towards her, she had to force herself to remain where she was. Her breath became strangled inside her throat as he moved panther-like across the room.

"I hurt you." He stopped a few feet away from her, which had her breathing a little easier. "I was a child who was thrown into a situation, I had no idea how to navigate. I messed up and I would like the chance to redeem myself."

"No." She whispered.

"I am not giving up." The gleam that came into his eyes had her shaking.

"I'm going to haunt your doorstep until you at least give me the chance to make up for what I did.

" He started to reach for her, letting his hands drop when she stepped back.

"Christ Max! I cannot get you out of my head.

You're in my blood. We had something amazing--"

"And you destroyed it!"

His stomach clenched at the agonized look on her face. He wanted to cradle her -- wrap his arms around her and promise never to hurt her again. But it was not the time. She would fight him. He was going to have to wait.

"I did." He admitted quietly, keeping his hands to himself with great difficulty. "And I want to spend the rest of my life making up for it."

"It's too late." Wrapping her hands around her waist, she hugged her elbows. "Now, please leave."

He waited a spell until she felt her nerves reaching breaking point. "All right." Hunkering down, he rubbed his hand over Brutus' head and had the dog whimpering. Rising, he speared her with his fathomless eyes and nodded. "I'm not giving up."