Leading the way, she wound around the back and up the stairs and into her office. She had left some files stacked on the side of her desktop that she had been working on.
"I think the coffee is still warm."
"None for me, thanks." He sat in front of her desk, hands clasped loosely between his thighs.
"Uhm, Zoe was asleep?"
His eyes darkened and he turned his head away, not meeting her eyes.
"Yes." He rasped.
"I bet she inveigled two stories out of you." She was trying desperately to break through the wall she suspected he had placed between them.
He turned to look at her then, expression haunted. "You must hate me."
"No. I--"
"I hate myself. And I finally realize you're right. There's no way on earth I could expect you to forgive me."
She came to him then. Sitting on the opposite chair, she took his hands in hers and slowly took off the leather gloves. He had yet to remove his coat.
"I could never hate you."
"Why the hell not?" he whispered harshly. "I left you." His fingers gripped hers so hard, she could feel bone pressing against bone. But she did not wince or give any indication he was hurting her.
"You almost died. Right out there in that parking lot. You almost died and I wasn't here for you. How can I live with myself knowing that? Tell me how." His voice broke and left her feeling shattered. His despair was so thick, she felt it spreading around the room.
"It's in the past." She tugged on their joined hands to get his attention. "Yes, I went through a rough time giving birth, but some of the fault was mine. I should have gone home--"
"Stop making it easier for me." He tried to pull away, but she clung to him and dropped to her knees in front of him.
"What do you want me to say, Cade? That I resented you back then? I did. That I cried out for you even though I knew it would be useless? Yes. But the point is, it happened a long time ago and you didn't know. I got over it. Zoe is alive and well and so am I."
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked bleakly. "How can we move on from that?"
"I already have." Easing up, she plopped into his lap. Tugging her hands from his, she wrapped them around his neck.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was waiting for the right time and frankly, it was something that wasn't on my mind." She studied his face. "Are you going to allow that to spoil things between us? Will it make a difference in how you feel for me? For Zoe?"
His eyes darkened. "Don't be ridiculous."
The sharp tone almost made her smile. "Good." Tipping her head to his, she brushed her lips on his, feeling the quick intake of breath.
"We need to talk--"
"No. Uh-uh." She knew exactly how to get around him. Just like her daughter knew his weak spots, she had discovered that he was vulnerable to her touch. She had every intention of using it now.
She was going to do everything in her power to wipe that look of despair and hopelessness off his handsome face.
When he started to lift his hands to clamp on her shoulders, she brushed them aside and went on the attack. She knew his weakness and marveled that she had so much power over this magnificent specimen.
She did what he was always doing to her, to weaken her defenses. Pulling his bottom lip between her teeth, she nibbled. Desire came thick and strong instantly.
"Listen--" he broke off with a groan when she sucked his lip into her mouth and used her tongue to soothe the sting from her bite.
"Abigail--" he had to stifle a groan. She was moving her bottom sinuously over his groin. He went as hard as steel. The blood started to roar inside his ears, making it impossible for him to think.
