That’s what he wanted to say? He was sorry he didn’t want to talk to her anymore? Why did he have to come to her apartment to say that? She tried to stuff down her annoyance and disappointment. “Apology accepted.” She took a step back and put her hands on her hips in the hopes that it would signal he could leave now.
He took in a breath and rocked back on his heels like he didn’t know what to do with himself. “You look good, Meg,” he finally said.
She softened a bit. “You do too.”
“I, uh...I thought a lot about you when I went back to prison.”
Her anger rose again. “Did you? Is that why you refused to call me? You were too busy thinking about me?”
“No.” His gaze penetrated hers and she felt bad for her sarcasm. He looked pained. “I wasn’t sure I was getting out. I didn’t want to...I mean, it would have been selfish for me to want to have a relationship with you if my name was never going to be cleared.”
That was why he hadn’t called? She took a second to process this. He was once again trying to protect her. But she hadn’t needed protecting. She’d neededhim. Why hadn’t he seen that? She couldn’t put her feelings into words, so she stayed silent.
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Look, I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was not my intention. I only wanted to save you from associating with a fugitive.”
“You didn’t mind when you climbed into my car.” The words were out before she could censor them, and she refrained from clamping her hand over her mouth. Maybe he deserved that.
He got a funny look on his face, and she couldn’t help but ask. “What?”
“Your sarcasm. I’ve always loved it.”
“Really?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah.”
Why did he have to be so adorable? He was a jerk for not calling. Not even explaining why. She was over him, finally. She’d said her goodbye. Why was he suddenly back in her life, looking all sexy like that? She tried to calm her thumping heart. “Well, thanks for coming by, but it’s late. I should get to bed.”
He nodded and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right. Okay.”
Meg watched him turn and walk toward the door. She held in her emotions as he stopped and stood before her once again, his gaze penetrating. “Goodbye, Meg.”
Her heart shattered as she looked at him. “Goodbye.”
He worked his jaw then turned and left. She quietly closed the door and then pressed her back up against it. What had just happened? Why had he come all the way to her side of town? What was the point? She sucked a breath in and blinked, trying to hold back the tears.
Then she straightened. Why had she let him walk out the door? Hadn’t she obsessed about seeing him for the last six months? Hadn’t she played what she would say to him over and over in her mind? She had to tell him now, or she’d regret it forever. She turned around and threw open the door.
Cade stood there, his eyes wide. “Sorry. I was just going to knock.”
“What did you want?”
He looked her over. “What did you want?”
Frustration welled in her, and she stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door. She blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. “You’re a jerk.”
Cade blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. You’re selfish. You didn’t call me because you thought I wouldn’t want to be with someone in your situation. But did you ever think about how I felt about it? Did you once think about what your silence was doing to me?”
“My silence?”
“Yes.” She pushed his shoulder, anger building up in her. “You weren’t there for me. I wanted to talk to you. Wanted to make sure you were okay. I wanted to tell you things.” Her fists pounded on his chest. “But you wouldn’t call.”
Cade grabbed her wrists and pushed her up against the door. “Meg. Stop.”
She sucked in a breath and his scent surrounded her. It brought back to her mind the vivid memories she’d buried. Her heart beat hard against her ribcage. His lips were only millimeters from hers. “Meg,” he said, but it sounded more like a sigh.
And then she couldn’t stand it anymore. She closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. He let go of her wrists and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was hungry. Passionate. And Meg’s legs turned to rubber.
