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When I disappeared, I finish in my head.
The words taper off. I’m not able to complete that question.
“When I couldn’t find you? When I got off that plane, looking for you with a ring in my pocket, only to realize you weren’t there. Or anywhere I knew of.”
Shame fills me. Excuses are on the tip of my tongue. I want to tell him all the reasons I had to stay away. I want him to know that I never wanted to leave him, but I had to. If I had known…
No. I would still make the same decision.
Tilting my head down, I run my finger across the marble surface and try to find words that will make all this better. I don’t think there are any though.
“Why are you here, Katrina?”
A lump forms in my throat. I knew he would ask me this. I had just hoped he’d give me more time. “I can’t tell you that.”
“Then tell me why you left in the first place, all those years ago.”
“I can’t tell you that either.”
“Which leads me to believe that they’re connected. Am I right?”
“How could you possibly make that connection?” I put a little pretentious disbelief into my voice, hoping he’ll second-guess his instincts. It doesn’t work. I should have known better.
“You may have hardened on the outside, but I’d bet my life that you’re still the soft-hearted woman I fell in love with. You wouldn’t hurt anyone unless there was a good reason. Unless someone was in danger.”
He slides the pizza into the oven and faces me with a look that has my blood turning to ice.
“That’s what it was. I can see it in your eyes. Someone threatened you,” he states, like he’s Sherlock freaking Holmes. I flick my gaze to the far end of the room, not wanting to give myself away anymore. “No, not you. Your family. Someone threatened your family.”
“Lennox, please, drop it.”
“You didn’t leaveme, you left to help your family.” His words are soft, causing a lump to form in my throat. I hear him move before I allow myself to watch him. The first touch of his hands on my face has a sob climbing up my throat. Tears are pooling in my eyes.
“Tell me, Katrina. Tell me that you didn’t leave me because you wanted to. All these years I thought…I thought the worst. I couldn’t find you.”
“Lennox,” I choke out, turning my head away to try to dodge his hands, but they hold me tighter, demanding I look at him. “There’s no use bringing up the past. It’s done. Over.”
“We’ll never be over.”
His thumbs push at the underside of my chin, tipping my face upward. Our lips are only a few inches apart. I fixate on them as my breathing slows. My body is drawn toward him and my hands tangle themselves in his shirt. I’m not sure if I want to pull him closer or push him away.
Whichever we choose, both options lead to danger.
Either to my heart, or to the man who has always protected me.
“Tell me what happened,” he whispers, his warm breath hitting my face.
“No,” I say even as my body screams yes.
“I have ways of making you talk.”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t. But there are other ways.” Then his lips whisper-kiss down my neck, before pressing into the delicate skin. Making all rational thought leave my head.
