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I met Bree’s eyes across the island. “I promise I am. Bree’s here because I accepted the job she offered.”
“Good,” he stated.
“So, as you can see, I’m doing fine.”
“Jane.” He lowered his voice. “I didn’t know where you were for three fucking days. I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, didn’t stop looking until you were found. Then I had to watch you heal from wounds you should’ve never had for a week in a damn hospital bed. I know you don’t want to see me or anyone else, but I’m asking you to please let me come up.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned against the counter. There was no way I could deny him when he asked me for something I wanted more than anything. “Okay. Tell the security guard to call again.”
“Thank you, baby.”
I swallowed hard and turned to answer the phone just as it rang, giving permission for Tank to come upstairs before I hung up.
“He talked you into it, huh?”
Spinning around, I faced her. “Yeah, but it really didn’t take much.”
She tilted her head. “Why does that bother you?”
“Because…” I moved toward the island again and leaned my hip against the counter. “I want to be strong when it comes to him, and after the first nice thing he said, I gave in.”
“Maybe you want to give in. Maybe you aren’t as ready as you think you are to let him go.”
The doorbell rang again, and I took a deep breath, but before I could answer it, Bree spoke. “Just remember that I’m here if you need to lean on me. Just wink at me, and I’ll step in.”
I laughed softly. “Okay, thank you.”
I walked back to the entryway, and once again, peered through the peephole before laying my forehead against the door. Why did he have to be so attractive? Why were my feelings for him so overwhelming? I knew without a doubt that the only way to move on without him was a clean break, but he wasn’t going to leave until we talked, so I stepped back and opened the door.
With his hands propped against the doorframe above him, his eyes scanned the length of my body before finally meeting my eyes.
“Are you sure about this, Ms. Williams?” the security asked, and I could see the suspicion in his expression.
“Yes, I’ll be fine, thank you.”
He nodded and turned toward the elevator just as Tank walked into the apartment.
I’d barely closed the door when he finally spoke. “Texted you to call me when you got here.”
“I didn’t know that. I haven’t checked my phone,” I admitted.
He gestured inside. “Where’s Rachel?”
“She’s out running errands, but Bree’s here.” I gestured toward the kitchen, just one room away from where we stood. “Like I told you.”
He reached out and wrapped his hand around the side of my neck. I barely stopped myself from closing my eyes and leaning against him. I needed to take care of myself. If I didn’t learn anything else from this experience, I did learn that. I couldn’t rely on anyone else to take care of me or make me feel safe.
“How are you?”
“Good,” I answered honestly. “What are you doing here?”
He lifted a bag I hadn’t even noticed. “Stayin’ with you.”
“You can’t. This is Rachel’s place,” I reminded him.
He watched me closely. “Then you’re comin’ to stay with me.”
“No, I’m not…”
