How to Avoid a Billionaire(28)

“You got the necklace I asked for?”

She nodded. “Of course. You pointed out the exact one, which isn’t like you. Normally, you leave it to me.”

“That didn’t clue you in?” he growled.

“Clue me…” The blood drained from her face. “This one was different.”

She confirmed his suspicions, and he clenched his fists at his sides. He had intended to ask her to give him the necklace so he could take it to Melanie himself. Christian had interrupted. “Tell me what the note said.”

“You don’t want to know.”

“What did it say?” he ground out. She told him, and he swore. He left her office before he followed the impulse to fire her. This wasn’t Jodie’s fault, although he longed to punish her for the mistake. If Melanie felt the way he did, and he believed she did from the look in her eyes when he dropped her off at her place late Sunday night, then the note and the present had hurt her. He didn’t know how he would make it up to her if she deigned to forgive him, but he would do all in his power to get her to listen.

He drove to her apartment and checked the parking lot for her car. Upon locating it, he jogged up to her door and rang the bell. When she didn’t answer, he pounded on the door and kept knocking until a neighbor opened his door. Ryder glared until the guy disappeared, and he turned back to hear Melanie undoing the locks. She peeked out, but he barged in and slammed the door behind him.

“You have no right, Ryder!”

“I have every right,” he shot back.

She put her hands on her hips, and he noted the red, swollen eyes. His chest constricted, a feeling that didn’t happen often in his life. He hated the sensation, but he hated her hurting more.

“You said what you had to in the note, so why do you think you have a right to barge in here?”

“Because I love you.”

She blinked at him. He didn’t try to drag her to him or kiss her. He let his words and his open expression tell her everything she needed to know. When she didn’t respond, he continued.

“I made a huge mistake. I asked Jodie to buy the necklace for you. I intended for her to give it to me so I could put it on you myself. She assumed…”

“This was no different than all the hundreds of other times you bought off a woman to get rid of her.”

He frowned. “That’s an exaggeration.”

“Yeah, right.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and it was if someone punched him in the gut. “You didn’t think enough of me to get the gift yourself. That’s how you operate.”

“I promise never to do that again.”

Her eyes widened. He stepped closer and raised his hands but dared not touch her. He didn’t want to force her to accept his apology.

“I’m all those things you think of me and more. I’ve misused women, tossed them aside. I’ve manipulated circumstances for my own gain. I can’t pretend I’ll change overnight, but what I can say is if I want to give you a gift, it will be done at my own hands. I will write the note, and it will say how much I love you, Melanie Cai. Whatever makes you unhappy, I will work to improve. I don’t promise to be perfect, but I will strive to be close.”

A chuckle burst from her, and she covered her mouth and swung away. He moved up behind her and grasped her upper arms. Longing overcame him as he leaned down and breathed in her familiar scent. He did love her. He’d figured it out on Sunday, and while he had screwed things up, he would not stop trying to make it right.

“Angel,” he whispered. “Say you forgive me.”

She sniffed. “I’m not sure if I believe you.”

“I may have seduced a few women in my past, but I’ve never told any of them I love them.”

She eyed him over her shoulder. “A few, huh?”

He shrugged and then turned her to face him. “I’ve never told anyone I love them.”

“Not even your dad?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know it’s love?”

He thought about it. “Because I was miserable when you left on Sunday, aching to have you stay, but I was excited to know I would see you again. I can recognize a woman in love, and I dared to believe I saw it in your eyes. What I saw was what I felt—for you.”

“Ryder.”

He drew her closer and tangled his fingers in her hair. She wore no shoes, so the top of her head didn’t reach his chin. He leaned down and nuzzled his cheek in the soft cloud. “We can take it slow.”

She pulled back. “Really?”

“Yes. As long as it takes for you to be sure.”

“You have a lot of making up to do.”