The flirty smile morphed into a sad frown and pleading eyes. “It’s over with Darrin. Really, truly over. Forever.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” And he was. He supposed. For poor Joey, at least.
“I’m trying to tell you I made a huge mistake breaking up with you. You’re the best man I ever—”
“Ella. You need to put on your listening ears. I’m not interested.”
“Oh, come on. If you would just—”
“No. It’s time for you to go now. Please don’t come back.”
“But, Sten, if only we could—”
“There’s nothing more to say. Please go.”
It went on like that, with her trying to convince him that he should give her another chance and him trying to figure out new and more emphatic ways to say no. The problem was, she wouldn’t go. Asking her to leave,tellingher to leave—well, the words just weren’t working.
And yet grabbing her and dragging her out of the building to get rid of her? That had to be an assault charge in the making.
Finally, there was a tap on the door.
“Don’t answer that.” Ella spread her arms wide, blocking the door. “Please.”
“Open the door, Ella.”
“Sten, I’m trying totalkto you.”
Another knock. Karin called, “Sten? You okay in there?”
“Ella, move away from the damn door.”
“This is your last chance,” she said. “If you don’t talk to me now, you’ll never see me again.”
“That’s what I want, Ella. Never. To. See. You. Again.” He made each word a sentence in hopes of finally getting through.
And maybe he did. At least she peeled herself away from the door and came toward him. “You really mean that?”
“I don’t know how to make it any clearer to you.” He dodged around her and opened the door.
Karin was standing on the other side. “Whoa.” She blinked at him in surprise. “Need some help in here?”
At that moment, he forgave his baby sister for every one of the million and one ways she could drive him crazy. “Thanks. Ella’s just leaving.”
“Omigod,” Ella whispered, bringing her hand to her mouth in what looked like pure shock. “You really mean it. You...you don’t want another chance with me...”
How many times did he have to say it? He parroted flatly, “I really mean it. I don’t want another chance with you. Goodbye, Ella.”
“Oh, Sten!” Ella cried.
Karin chose that moment to burst out laughing.
Ella whirled on her. “Bitch,” she proclaimed, after which she tossed her head. Her silky hair fanned out and settled, just so, on her shoulders. She aimed her scowl at Sten. “That does it. I am so done with you, Sten Larson. Forever.” And she marched out the door.
Karin, still laughing, sagged against the doorframe. Sten scooted past her and followed Ella out into the front office, just to make she was actually leaving. She kept walking. Rounding the counter, she flung the outside door wide, stormed through and slammed it behind her.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Sten said to his sister, who kept right on laughing.
Outside, he heard a car start up. Through the window next to the outer door, he saw Ella’s Jetta speed away.
