Abbot shakes his head slightly and says, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay, sure. Maybe my wife will still be awake when I get home, and if I’m lucky, she’ll jump my bones.” He laughs as he waggles his eyebrows, but Abbot just watches him as he puts his laptop in his bag and picks up his keys.
My second clue is the tension in the air. It’s crackling around me, rubbing against me like an electrified cat rubbing around my ankles.
Swinging my legs around to put my feet on the floor, I siton the edge of the couch and look at the man who is refusing to look at me. My heart squeezes in my chest. He’s shutting me out.
It’s not that hard to figure out. I’ve been brushed off before. But it’s never hurt like this.
What happened between now and when he left earlier? What flipped the switch?
Reminding myself that I don’t owe him anything and he doesn’t owe me, I put a lid on my questions as a heavy sigh snaps my emotions shut like an unpleasant book. I don’t chase men’s attention, either they give it freely or I walk away.
Setting the book on the end table, I pick up my glass of water as I keep my eyes downcast on the floor, and stand. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
Not looking at him, I walk to the kitchen with my glass to pour the contents in the sink. He’s like a statue as he pushes the front door closed behind him. I can feel the heat of his stare on my back.
When I set the glass in the dish drainer next to the sink, the hair on my arms stands up, and I can feel him behind me. I’ve never had this kind of visceral reaction to a man before. I let my eyes slip closed for a moment and enjoy his warmth before I try to sidestep him, but before I can get away, he cages me against the counter, his hands on each side of me.
Dark and spicy cologne mixed with the unique smell of Rhys surrounds me, and his chest is against my shoulders, his heat seeping through my thin t-shirt. As good as he feels behind me, and as much as I want to lean into him, I can feel his tension.
I decide to release the first arrow.
“You know, I’ve been thinking since you left. I miss my family, and I think I would rather stick this out with them. I know it’s a risk, but I also don’t think it’s fair to you, or your men, to have to babysit me all the time.”
“Stop.” The word is laced with anger. His lips are next to my ear.
Fisting my hands on the counter, I keep my eyes trained on the colorful, festive ceramic tiles on the wall under the cabinets. His proximity is making this harder.
He sighs, his warm breath caresses my neck. “I want to see where this goes, you don’t know how fucking bad I want this. The timing is not good right now, but I don’t want you to leave. I can’t chance anything happening to you.”
I cut him off. I don’t want to hear anymore. It’s either easy and comfortable between two people or it’s not meant to be. I won’t be second to anything. Today, it’s a job that’s more important, tomorrow it’s time with friends, the next day, something else.
I’ll never wait for a man who has one foot out the door.
Sucking in a breath for courage, I turn in his arms to face him with my prettiest smile. His eyes are dark as coal as he looks down at me, and so close to burning through my practiced resolve, almost melting the walls I keep up to block out feelings I don’t want to feel.
His nose is just inches away from mine, all it would take is to tip my head a little and lean into him. God, I want to lean into him and feel his lips on mine. Instead, I lean away, my butt pressed against the counter behind me. “It’s okay, Special Agent, don’t worry about me.” I softly place my palm over his heart. “It’s good to have priorities.”
Pressing my hand against his chest, the concrete rash on my palm stings as I try to push him away, but he won’t budge. So many emotions are looking back at me, but my fight-or-flight response is raising its ugly head. I need to get away from him. I won’t let him see me cry. Not for him.
My smile doesn’t falter as his gaze moves over my face, and his eyes lock on mine. “Tell me you won’t leave as soon as I turn around.” His eyes soften. “Please.”
Anger bubbles, and my smile turns saccharin. I let myself think for just a moment he might be different, but I was mistaken. Lowering my hand, I set the heels of my palms on the counter edge at my backside, ignoring the pain from the scrapes, putting another inch of space between us.
“You know, Special Agent, I loathe hypocritical behavior in a man.”
His eyebrows pinch in confusion as his eyes volley between mine.
“At this point, why would you think I feel any safer with you than I would with the people who are after me?” Guilt twists his face, and his shoulders drop. “You’re just another threat, and you don’t have any say in how I protect myself.”
Anger shines in his eyes as he tilts his head to the side. “Kinley, I would never…”
Interrupting him, I clip, “It’s Ms. Harlow to you, and you already have. I’m done here, please step away.”
His jaw ticks as his eyes hold me captive for several moments. He finally pushes away from the counter to let me by. Losing his closeness almost breaks my mask, but he doesn’t get to see my feelings, he just shit on that privilege.
“Goodnight, Special Agent, and fuck you.”
