|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
once when Rafe was through with her. The ugly thought had her again wondering what she was doing. How many times did she have to be a fool before it sank in that he was incapable of love? As she stepped through his doorway, noting the dim lights on throughout the house, she drew her shoulders up. If it was a fool she had to be to either gain love or set herself free, then a fool she d be. There was no sign of Rafe downstairs, so she made her way up his wide staircase, her heart racing. Why wasn t he there to greet her? She was too agitated to feel the full force of his rudeness, but a glimmer of his neglect penetrated her brain. Having been to Rafe s home only twice, she was a little unsure of the way, but there was a single door open on the floor, with a soft light shining from within. She slowly made her way toward it. Peeking in the doorway, Ari discovered Rafe sitting in a chair by the window. Unwilling to hurry, she took a moment to look around; yes, it was his bedroom. He seemed so solemn as he gazed out at the stars that she wasn t sure whether she should say anything. But he d been the one to call her over, so he must know she was coming. Rafe? His shoulders stiffened at the sound of her voice not a good sign. A couple of seconds passed before he stood and turned to face her. The blank look on his face showed her nothing of what he was thinking. Her nerves jumped another level as he stepped toward her. It felt as if her knees weren t going to hold her up any longer, so without being asked, Ari walked over to his large bed and sat on the edge. He stilled as if uncertain what to do about her sitting there. It wasn t as if she hadn t spent many hours in various beds with him. Was he really so opposed to her sitting on his? I m sorry, Ari. I meant to meet you downstairs. The time got away from me, he said in an expressionless voice that sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine. That tends to happen to me at times, too she tried to joke, but in the ominous atmosphere her attempt fell flat. Thank you for meeting me here. We need to finish our talk from the other night. Yes, Rafe, we do. I ve been doing a lot of thinking Rafe interrupted her before she could say what she needed to. I don t want to drag this out, Ari. Our time is up. I ll have you reinstated at your old job with no questions asked. I agree with you that it would just be too awkward to have you working right in the Palazzo building here. As for your home, it s yours. You have no need to move. Monday morning I will have my attorney start the paperwork to transfer the title. Also, I already have a bank account set up for you with a substantial fund that should take care of you for many years to come. Ari sat there as she received blow after blow from his words. She didn t care about any of this. She wanted neither his money nor his condo. She d made it just fine her entire life without him, and she would make it again after he was gone. What she wanted to do right now was make a dignified exit from the room. She stood up and nearly did just that. Wasn t it more than obvious that he wanted her purged from his life? No. She d come there to say something, and she d always regret it if she didn t get the chance. He might be saying goodbye to her, but if this was her last night seeing Rafe, then she needed him to know how she felt. Rafe, I love you. I know you warned me not to care. I know I broke the rules, but I can t help it that my heart has opened to you. I can t contain what I m feeling. I understand that you re telling me goodbye, but I have to say this. I have to let you know that somewhere in the middle of all this madness, I fell for you. I don t want to let you go, not today, tomorrow or ever. I want you to let me love you. Never had Ari said that to a man before. Never had she opened herself up so far. He could rip her in half right now, and there would be nothing she could do to stop it. She had never imagined how frightening it would feel to be so vulnerable. Rafe stood before her, not showing a hint of what he was feeling. As he quietly gazed at her, Ari s heart stopped. She didn t know whether his silence was a good or bad thing. Would he accept what she was offering him? Finally, his lips turned up in the smallest hint of a smile, and hope surged through her. He didn t seem angry that was a positive sign. If he truly gave them a chance, she knew they could be happy together. When he remained silent, a shimmer of fear tried crawling in, but she suppressed it. He was just surprised, that was all. He d been trying to tell her goodbye, and she was telling him she loved him. That would give anybody human pause, wouldn t it? Ari& Without realizing she was even doing so, Ari felt her body stiffen. She d laid it all out there and she could hear the sound of rejection in his tone. With one word, she knew it was over. How could she have been so wrong? You don t need to say it, Rafe. You told me from the beginning that this would never be more than an affair. I was the one who broke the rules. I apologize for that. Ari was relieved when her voice came out sounding just about as cold as his did. Do not presume to know my thoughts, Ari. I can speak for myself, he snapped, real emotion [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
Odnośniki
|