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“I will leave you two alone if you both promise that this discussion will be calm.”
“Absolutely,” Wade assured her as he walked into the room.
Rachel looked at Remi who remained stubbornly quiet. With a sigh, she left the room, closing the door behind her.
Pulling up a chair, he brought it next to the bed. “I don’t know what to say.”
Folding her arms over her breasts, she stared off in front of her.
“I should have checked on you.” He waited for her to say something and when she remained silent, he pushed on. “I was mad at you and I did something stupid. I went away without saying anything to you and did not call. But you made it worse by not calling me, Remi. This cannot continue. We are in this thing together.”
“We don’t have to be,” She finally turned to look at him, refusing to give into the yearning. He was wearing a black sweater that molded to his muscular chest and broad shoulders. His sable brown hair was wind tossed and gave him an endearing look. “I don’t like you right now.”
“I pretty much hate myself too.” His green eyes pleaded with her. “We have to stop pissing each other off. What you said hurt me to the core Remi and I compounded the problem by walking out without saying anything to you. I cannot allow you to get under my skin to the point where I freeze you out.”
She shrugged carelessly and looked away from him.
“We are not working out.”
“Dammit, Remi,” he exclaimed softly. “Why are you doing this to us?”
“I am tired,” she told him, without turning around. “They gave me some drip that has my body shutting down. I need to rest. Just go.”
“I am not bloody leaving.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“That’s too damn bad.” She heard when he rose and pushed back his chair. Her head whipped around when the bed sank down on one side. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and, ignoring her resistance, pulled her against him. “I love you and I am here to stay. You can piss me off all you want, but I am not going to allow you to push me away. Is that clear?”
“I hate you.” She stayed rigid, refusing to succumb.
“I can live with that. But I cannot live without you.” He tugged her harder until she was snuggled against his chest. “I spent the entire flight wondering if I was coming here to discover that there was something more going on.”
He kissed her forehead, his hand wandering up and down her back. “I am sorry darling. You made me mad, but that’s no excuse for deserting you.”
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly.
“You do,” he whispered into her hair. “And if I have to spend the rest of my life showing you how sorry I am, then so be it.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She was already sinking into sleep, the scent of him filling her nostrils.
“I am here now, darling.” He brushed back her hair, his fingers gentle against her skin. “I am here.”
“I had a nightmare and you weren’t there. You allowed me to get used to you being right next to me and you left,” she slurred, already half asleep.
Regret twisted him into knots. “Oh, my sweet.” He dropped kisses on top of her head, his arms tight around her body. “Please forgive me.”
“I have to think about it. I-“ She drifted off into sleep, her body relaxing against his. But he could not even close his eyes. No matter what she had said to him, he should have stayed and it was going to be difficult for him to forgive himself for that.
Combined with the cramps and bleeding, the nightmare had come as well. His fingers wandered up and down her back, more to soothe himself than her.
He had not slept well during the earlier part of the night, and had spent the two hours during the flight agonizing and impatient to get to her. He had a lot to make up for and was going to make certain it was done. Sighing deeply, he settled in against her and drifted off.
*****
“You don’t have to stay. I am sure you have million dollar deals to finalize.” She was baiting him and trying to push him away, but he was not having it.
