We stared at one another for a long moment. I wasn’t backing down. I wanted answers. Finally, William set his beer on the coffee table and sighed. “I’ve been having you trailed by security since Napa.”
“Since Napa? Oh my God!”
He closed his eyes. “I have my reasons. This latest Wyatt incident has made me uneasy. You’re mine, Catherine.” His gaze met mine with a look that made me go molten, even though desire was the last thing from my mind. “I haven’t hidden that fact, and I protect what’s mine. I said at my aunt and uncle’s that I had stepped up security. If it’s any consolation, I’ve had coverage on them and my cousins for the past week too.”
My head was reeling. “And were they as in the dark about it as me?”
No answer.
“Right. Of course they knew. Why didn’t you tell me?” Again! He was doing this to me again! “What is it with you, William? Why do think I can’t handle anything? Why don’t you think you can be upfront with me?”
He turned away and threaded his fingers through his hair, mussing it. “I don’t want to upset your life.” He rounded on me. “I don’t want my shit to derail your life.”
“What? Your shit is part of my life. If something is going on, I need to know.”
He shook his head, and I wasn’t even certain he’d heard me. “This is all because of me,” he said, almost to himself. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you because of me.” His hands closed on my upper arms, his grip light but possessive. “You’re precious to me, Catherine. I just want to protect you.”
I wanted to fall into his arms then. I knew he was telling me the truth, or his version of it. I loved that he wanted to protect me. I didn’t love that he treated me as though I was a small child who couldn’t know about the dangers in the big, wide world. “I don’t understand. I get that you want me to be safe, but why keep me in the dark?”
He swallowed and his eyes hardened. “Because I can. And sometimes it’s better that way.” He turned away from me, and I stared at him. Was that really all he was going to say? Did he actually think that was going to satisfy me?
“It’s better? For who? For you! How are we ever going to make this work if you’re making all the decisions?”
His shoulders stiffened, but he didn’t turn to look at me. Didn’t respond.
“What haven’t you told me?” I demanded. “Are we really in danger? Have there been threats? Are they against your family? Against me?”
William reached for the beer on the table, drank again, and paced the room. I watched him. He looked like some sort of caged panther. Why did he feel so trapped? Why couldn’t he open up to me? Finally, he looked at me again. “I’ve told you everything I can at the moment. Now it’s your turn.”
“Fine.” I threw my arms out to the side. “You want the truth about that photo? It’s nothing. We were just saying goodbye.”
He looked at me, his eyes hard, his face slack. He was completely impassive, waiting for me to go on. When I didn’t, he said, “Are you certain it meant nothing? It sure as hell doesn’t look like nothing.”
“I drove him to the airport. He gave me a quick kiss goodbye before we got in the car. End of story.”
“Is it?” William’s pacing stalled and he turned, heading for me. “He obviously came here to see you. It’s a long trip from San Francisco, and you just saw him in Napa. What exactly was he expecting?”
My insides felt cold. I shook my head. “I have no idea.” But I knew that wasn’t going to fly. I had to say more. I shrugged. “We kind of had a falling out. I guess he wanted to try and make it right.”
William’s eyes narrowed. He was close enough now for me to smell the leather of his jacket and that other scent that was his alone. “I thought he was supportive after the accident and stuck by you.”
“He did. Yes, but…it got…complicated.”
His gaze bored into me. “How so? Did he hurt you?”
“No, nothing like that.” I had to say more. I had to, but I didn’t want to go there. I didn’t want to go into it. I’d promised myself the whole thing was over. William didn’t need to know. I closed my eyes. “He didn’t hurt me, but I hurt him.”
There was a long pause, and I finally opened my eyes. William was watching me, his face expressionless. I felt as though we were in merger negotiations, and I was on the losing side. “There’s obviously more to it than that, Catherine.” His tone was icy, his speech clipped. “Are you going to tell me or not?”