Page 106 of Mr. Edwards

“One of yours.”

She draws back with a gasp, and I bite down on my bottom lip to hide my smile when her eyes narrow skeptically. “Which one?”

That’s right, sweetheart, I’m not going to make this easy for you.

“The weekend class… the tiny ninja one.” Technically, it’s for four-to-six-year-olds, but since I’ll be working during the week, it was my only choice.

“You do realize that’s a little people’s class, right?”

“I’m fully aware,” I reply, smiling smugly.

“Why would you do that?”

“Simple. To be close to you.”

Despite her indifference, that suffocating feeling I’ve carried around for the past few years is already easing in her presence. That’s what she does for me and exactly why I need her in my life. She’s my goddamn air.

“You can’t do that,” she screeches.

“I hate to disagree with you, sunshine, but I can. I’ve already paid for my first month’s classes, and purchased the uniform.”

“You can’t be here,” she repeats, and it ticks me off. Can’t she stand being in the same room as me anymore? I didn’t hear any complaints coming from her when I was balls deep inside her at Ashton and Emma’s wedding.

“I have Reece’s permission.”

“You what?”

“He’s the owner of the gym, right?”

“He made a mistake. I’ll make sure you get a full refund.”

“I don’t want my money back; I just want you.I want us.”

She diverts her gaze away from me. “There is no us, Grayson.”

“As long as my heart is still beating, there’s an us, Carlee. Don’t downplay my feelings for you.”

I hold my breath as I await her response, but she continues to stare at the floor like it’s the most interesting thing in the room. Maybe I came on too hard too fast, but fuck, I’m desperate here. I just want her back…I need her, can’t she see that? She may not realize it, but she needs me too.

“Carlee,” I say, reaching for her free hand.

“Don’t.” She pulls her arm back like she can no longer stand my touch. It cuts deep. Straightening her shoulders, she brings her eyes back to mine. I see that steely determination that I always admired in her, so I brace myself in preparation for what she’s about to say. “You need to let this go, Grayson, we’re over.”

I clench my fists at my sides trying to deter myself from reaching out and shaking some sense into that damn stubborn head of hers. I need to play it cool and bide my time. Wear her down slowly. Remind her how good we are together. I know in my heart there’s more to this than what she’s saying, but I’ll get the answers I’m craving, I don’t care how long it takes. And then I’ll work on fixing whatever she thinks is broken. This is not the end of us. I refuse to believe that.

If she wants to be obstinate, two can play that game. “I’ll be spending my weekends in Temecula for the foreseeable future, so you’re going to need to deal with that, sweetheart.”

“You don’t understand, you can’t be here,” she says, but I don’t miss the panic in her voice. “You have to go, please. It’s for your own good.”

My own good?

“Fine.” I hold out my hand and her eyes flicker between my outstretched arm and my face in confusion. “If you don’t want me here, then I’ll just take the tiramisu and go.” I’m bluffing, but I know this woman and her love of food.

“There’s tiramisu in the bag?”

I nod. “Your favorite… from the Pizzeria back home.”

Whoever said a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, obviously hadn’t met Carlee.