“What goes on between us is private,” Louise said, amazed that it needed to be said. She stepped back from him, needing the breathing space. The sense of betrayal staggered her. Her throat closed as tight as her fists. “It’s all in the details, Adam. Private details about us that you don’t need to be sharing with other people.”
Her desire to hit him stunned her. Served her right—sex didn’t mean any more than a damn contract did. She was so stupid. She had to get out of there.
“Louise,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“Don’t.” She put a hand up to halt him.
She took another step backward. Then she turned and fled.
* * * * *
Adam’s shirt clung to him in the garden’s muggy air. Lighting was close to none. If she hadn’t been wearing a white top he might never have found her. His wife sat by the lagoon with her pant legs rolled up and her feet in the water.
They did well in water. He had hope.
“Hi,” he said when he got close enough. Though she’d probably heard him crashing through the undergrowth, despite the noise of the small waterfall.
She lifted her gaze briefly from the pool. “Hi.”
Adam sat down on a rock beside her, started pulling off his boots and socks. Searched his mind for something to say. Something innocuous that wouldn’t piss her off any worse. Talking just wasn’t his talent. “You know, ah…the company built all this for psychological reasons. They thought it would make the adjustment to being out here easier.”
“There’s nothing like this at home,” she said in a quiet voice.
“No.” The first touch of cool water on his toes was magic. He let out a groan and settled himself as close to her as he dared. His knee was a hair’s breadth from connecting with hers. For a moment he held his breath, waiting, but she didn’t move. “It’s nice here.”
And it was. The rich smell of damp earth, the fragrance of flowers. He could see why this had become her haven.
“What do you want, Adam?”
His shoulders dropped and he exhaled hard. “Truthfully? To come up with a way to apologize to you without actually having to apologize.”
Louise rested her elbows on her knees. Her face was in her hands, blocked from view. Everything about her posture radiated defeat, and his guts clenched. He’d done this to her. There was no humor to be found in this situation.
“Princess, I’m sorry. I was an ass.”
She turned her head with her cheek still cupped in her hand. “Why do you call me that?”
“Ah.” He rubbed his hands together and scrunched up his face. Did they really have to go there? At least she’d spoken to him again, not much but a little, and a little felt better than nothing. It remained infinitely preferable to her walking out on him. Shit. “Well…last night, you know how we discussed our mutual distrust of one another when we first met?”
She blinked.
“So, ah… I…I felt…” He sucked in his cheeks and shut his stupid mouth, not enjoying himself much at all. Unhappiness sat like a stone inside him. His wife sat there patiently, waiting for him to dig himself a deeper hole. Something he proved particularly efficient at. “It’s a term of affection. Now.”
Louise turned to look out at the dark pool. “You should go and get some sleep. You’ve got work tomorrow.”
“No, I’ve got tomorrow off.”
She gave a small, uninterested nod.
“You haven’t accepted my apology yet,” he helpfully pointed out.
“I don’t feel like forgiving you yet.”
He held back his smile of victory. She didn’t feel like forgiving him yet. “Yet” being the key word, thank fuck. “Ah.”
Water trickled and splashed, and a bird hooted somewhere in the thicket of trees behind them. He rubbed the side of his foot against hers, daring to touch her. Needing to touch her.
The response was immediate. Louise jerked her foot back, brows and mouth drawn tight. Her eyes lit with fury. “You discussed our sex life with another woman!”
“Only a little and in very vague terms, and I said I’m sorry.”
“Not good enough. Say more.” Her mouth trembled and he felt like the biggest heel in the universe.
“I wasn’t discussing it with Rose, exactly. I was just… You have to understand, they’re family to me.”
“And if you’d told your brother intimate details about me, then rest assured, we would still be having this conversation. You betrayed my trust.”
He clenched his jaw tight. “I know.”
“Is she family to you, Adam? Or something else? Because honestly, I’m confused.”