AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It wasn’t an untruth. Justin had a pressing appointment with a decanter of whisky, and he needed to leave for itnow.Before he did something rash, like seizing Chloe in his arms. She was standing much too close, and still wearing his coat around her shoulders. She was wrapped in him, and he couldn’t take it much longer.
“You were right,” she went on. “I think I did want to humiliate you, just a little bit. And not only in recompense for the pond incident.”
“It was a reflecting pool.”
“Yes, yes. You are always correcting me.” She huffed out a breath. “We are two very different people. So much is obvious. But our families are connected now. Even if you don’t like me, can you at least make an effort to tolerate my presence?”
Damn his eyes. She believed he disliked her. Worse, she believed he found her companyintolerable.The fulcrum shifted in his chest, and the decision was made. He could not allow her to think such things.
“As difficult as it is to admit,” she went on, “it hurts that you have rebuffed my every overture toward friendship.”
“If I have hurt you, I swear it was unintentional. I would heap pain on myself before I would cause you the slightest discomfort. But much as I know you resent my corrections, I must correct you at least one time more. “
“What is it this time?”
“The truth of the matter is, I donotdislike you. I donotfind you intolerable. Nevertheless, I have never desired your friendship.”
She blinked several times in rapid succession. “Consider me corrected.”
She turned to leave, but he caught her by the wrist.
“Chloe, I have always wanted more.”
Chapter Three
More?
Chloe took a step in retreat. She studied him, wary.
What did he mean,more?
He gestured at the topcoat wrapped about her shoulders. “Reach into the breast pocket. Left side.”
Chloe worked her hand into the narrow silk pocket, searching. She’d almost concluded it was empty, but then her fingertips grazed something small and round and metal. It felt like a...
No. It couldn’t be.
