When I peeked at him, Elijah was grinning.
Fire stirred in my belly. “What?”
He poked his tongue in his cheek. “That was a big reaction to thinking I was a cheat.”
“So?”
“It means you care.”
I dropped my face to my hands, hiding the instant burn to my cheeks. “I didn’t say that.”
He coaxed me to look at him again, a warmth in his gaze that did things to my heart. “You did with every one of those actions. Real talk now. I care about you more than I think you’ll let me say. I wanted you from first sight, and I did everything I could to throw myself in your path.”
I swallowed hard. “Long way of saying stalker.”
He twisted his lips. “I claimed you, Bonnie. I didn’t do that so I could throw away everything we’re building together on a lie. Think I’d do that to you and our four kids?”
I shook my head, but he wasn’t done.
“All I need to know is one thing. We can work through this.”
I took a deep breath and summoned my strength. I’d caused the damage, I had to fix it. “Take me back to your apartment.”
His waiting car drove us back across the city.
In the lift, travelling up, my hands shook. I hid them behind my back and ignored Elijah’s questioning glance.
In the apartment’s entryway, inside the property, I knocked on the wooden frame. “Hello?”
The woman skittered down the hall, a stack of clothes in her hands. She set them down on a side table and came to us. “You’re back. Thank God.”
I slid a look at Elijah. “Give us a sec?”
He lifted his phone. “Mitch is calling me anyway. I think he might quit if I ignore him any longer.”
He ambled down the long room to the big windows, flicking a lock to let himself onto a balcony.
I centred myself on the woman and stuck at my hand. “I’m Bonnie. Damn, this is awkward.”
She gave me a quick handshake. “No, no. I understand. I would’ve reacted in exactly the same way. I’m Melinda, and I’m only here because our mothers know each other.” She pointed to Elijah who had his back to us, on the phone and gazing out over the water. “I needed a place to stay, and his mother offered mine. I don’t have any designs on your boyfriend.”
Another tight knot unravelled inside me. I’d believed him. But it helped to hear her say the same. “My favourite hobbies are jumping to conclusions and flying off the deep end. I’m really sorry I treated you like that. I must’ve given you such a scare.”
She gave a short laugh. “Wasn’t it more the other way around? I feel I should explain something. On the day I arrived, the housekeeper told me to use the primary bedroom as the other was having some electrical work done to it. I swear I wasn’t in his bed for any other reason than my sleep pattern being messed up.”
The balcony door opened, and Elijah stepped back inside, right as the lift chimed softly. He heaved a sigh. “Mitch is here. Told you I wouldn’t get away with it for long.”
The doors parted, and the assistant strode in, his gaze sinking over Elijah then leaping to us. No, to me. The look turned appraising. “Good,” he finally said.
Melinda sucked in a breath. “I need to finish packing. I found a hotel nearby so I’ll be gone soon. I only hung around to see if I could help… Well, you know.”
Elijah flashed her a polite smile. “Sorry, but thanks. Mitch, can you give Melinda a hand with anything she needs?”
Mitch’s calculating gaze took in Melinda but stalled. He swallowed then moved in to talk to her.
I sidled up to Elijah. “Can we go home?”
His fingers intertwined with mine, and he checked my eyes. “Of course, if you want. I thought we could stay. I could take you shopping. We could see a show and go to nice restaurants. Let me spoil you.”
