20
Iheard his vehicle tearing up the driveway and smiled to myself as I folded a pair of my underwear and placed it in my suitcase.
Poppy had done her job and let it slip that I was packing up to leave.
When I’d called her with my plan, she was a thousand percent on board. In fact, she was the one who assured me that there was no way Daniel would let me leave without seeing me again.
I didn’t stop folding clothes when he squealed to a stop in front of the cottage and slammed the door to his car. I also ignored the pounding that came on the front door.
I nearly laughed when I heard the door open. He must have just realized it was unlocked.
I managed to keep a straight face as I continued packing. I had no plans to leave town, but if I got my way, I wouldn’t be staying at the cottage any longer.
He took the stairs faster than I thought he could and appeared in the bedroom doorway. For the first time since I’d met him, he looked breathless. Winded.
“You’re packing?” he asked.
I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Yes.”
He looked as though I’d just kicked him in the gut and my resolve to complete my plan nearly vanished.
But I steeled myself. He and I needed to clear the air and my plan would allow us to do that. I was hopeful that it would also help him understand that I truly wanted to stay with him.
He stepped into the bedroom and shut the door behind him. I nearly laughed. He thought he was trapping me in here with him, but he had no clue that he was giving me exactly what I wanted.
“Please don’t,” he said, his voice stark with pain.
“Don’t what?” I asked.
“Don’t leave. Please. Stay for a little longer and give me a chance to apologize. And to make it right.”
I closed my suitcase and zipped it, setting it to the side before I faced him.
“How would you make it right?” I asked.
I knew before he even opened his mouth that he had no idea. Oh, I knew he would bend over backwards to make it right, but, to be completely honest, I was sick of the power dynamic between us being out of balance. I didn’t want him to grovel.
Much.
A little groveling would do him good, but I also didn’t want him to feel like he owed me anything other than himself. And an apology.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Considering you haven’t even apologized yet, how can I trust you’ll make it right?”
A look of pure resolve came over his face. He had a goal, and I could almost see him formulating a plan already.
Daniel halted in front of me. “I am sorry, Cari. When things…changed between us, I should have talked to you about what being a mate means. What you mean to me.”
My heart started to pound in my chest. “And what do I mean to you?” I asked.
He took another step, drawing closer. “Everything. You’reeverything.”
Ah, shit. The vampire was going to make me cry.
I blinked rapidly, trying to get the tears to go away. I needed to stick to the plan.
His hands cupped my elbows where my arms were still crossed over my chest.
“Please don’t leave, Carina.”
