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I open the door, and Spiegel crowds my legs, barking even louder.
“Spieg, it’s okay.” I nudge her back, and she quiets for a moment, keeping an eye on him.
“Sorry I couldn’t talk earlier this week. I’ve been in meetings and wanted to do this in person.” He offers the flowers, but I just stare, raising my eyebrows in question.
When he steps forward, Spiegel goes off again. Then, I sense the tension in the air as Beckett looks over my shoulder.
“Didn’t know you had company.”
He expects me to believe he didn’t see the car in the driveway. I didn’t magically buy a second car, but I bite back my annoyance. I do need some answers, too.
“It was a surprise.” I turn to Riker. “Can you give us a few?”
“I’ll step outside.” He nods toward the kitchen door.
“Can you put Spiegel out back?”
As soon as Riker calls her name, she lets out one last whine at Beckett, then trots over to Riker. Beckett says she never listens. I think she just hates him and was telling me as much.
As Riker passes by me, toward the kitchen, I grab his hand, and he squeezes my fingers. A move Beckett undoubtedly does not miss.
“Who’s he?” Beckett asks.
“We met in Georgia, he stopped by to check on me.” That’s all Beckett gets for now.
“Is he staying here?”
“He just got here, and we haven’t really talked about accommodations.” We’d been a bit busy catching up to get to that.
“Elizabeth.” He places the flowers on the table, placing his hands on my shoulders. “I really wanted to talk things over.”
I stiffen under his touch, and step back, heading to the far end of the couch. “And I’m giving you the chance to say what you have to say.”
Beckett glances toward the back door, then to me, taking my hand and pulling me toward the sofa. “I wanted to explain things. I’ve really been thinking since we called off the wedding. I shouldn’t have done that to you, and I know I should have made more time for you.”
“We’re both guilty there.”
“Yeah.” He scoots toward me.
I don’t think we’re on the same page. I fold my arms over my chest.
“That’s why I took last week off and went up in the hills to do some serious thinking. I realized how much you mean to me and how much I’ve screwed up. Then, I came back, and I heard what happened in Georgia, and if you hadn’t been there alone—”
Blindsided, I sit in silence, mouth agape.I wasn’t alone. How much does he know?
“I’m pulling back from the businesses. I decided to sell some properties so there’s less to manage. I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”
“Beckett—” I don’t want to run him off. I’ve been hoping to get info all week and this might be my only chance.
“I know it’s a big change, and a lot to take in, but I think if we really—”
He reaches for me, but my chest tightens, and I climb to my feet, trying to find air. “No, Beckett. If you had a change of heart last week and pursuing something outside of your business is what you want, great. But my vacation realization was different. I want someone who’s going to be all in when we are together.”
“I know.” He inches forward on the couch. “That’s what I want, too. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. And I can’t help feeling guilty, because if I had been there with you like we planned….”
I drag my hand through my hair as I pace across the living room. “What? You think you could’ve handled the situation better than a SEAL?”
His face goes pale. “He’s—”
