Second-Chance Seduction(7)
But honestly, what did she expect? Happy hugs? Not likely since she’d found out that he’d considered her departure such a betrayal. But if his current mood was any indication, he had obviously moved on long ago.
And so did you, she reminded herself.
He circled his desk and leaned his hip against the smooth wood edge. “I heard you’ve been back in town for a while now. Funny how we’ve never run into each other.”
“I keep a low profile,” she said, smiling briefly. The fact was, she’d spotted him a number of times on the streets of their small hometown of Point Cairn. Each time, she’d taken off running in the opposite direction. It was self-protection, plain and simple, as well as her usual risk aversion.
She’d returned to Point Cairn three years ago in a low state, her heart and her self-confidence battered and bruised. There was no way she would’ve been strong enough to confront Connor on his home turf. Not back then. She was barely able to do so right this minute. In fact, she could feel her thin facade beginning to crack and wondered how much longer she could be in his presence without melting down.
“How’s your grandfather?” he asked, changing the subject. “I haven’t seen him in a few weeks.”
She smiled appreciatively. He and his brothers had always had a soft spot for Angus Campbell, and the feeling was mutual. “Grandpa is…well, he’s part of the reason I’ve come to see you today.”
He straightened. “What’s wrong? Is he ill?”
Maggie hesitated. “Well, let’s just say he’s not getting any younger.”
Connor chuckled. “He’ll outlive us all.”
“I hope so.”
He folded his arms again, as if to erect an extra barrier between them. “What is it you want, Maggie?”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick folder. “I want to discuss your offer.”
He reached for the folder, opened it and riffled through the stack of papers. They were all letters and copies of emails sent to someone named Taylor James. Many had been signed by Connor, himself, but there were offers from others in there, too. He looked at Maggie. “These were sent to Taylor James.”
“And that’s me.”
“But I was unaware of that fact when I made those offers. If I’d known Taylor James was you, Maggie, I never would’ve tried to make contact.” He closed the folder and handed it back to her. “My offer is rescinded.”
“No.” She took a hasty step backward, as though the folder were on fire. “You can’t do that.”
For the first time, his smile reached his eyes. In fact, they fairly twinkled with perverse glee as he took a step closer. “Yes, I can. I just did.”
“No, Connor. No. I need you to—”
In a heartbeat, his gaze turned to frost. “I’m not interested in what you need, Maggie. It’s too late for that.”
“But—”
“Meeting’s over. It’s time for you to go.”
For the briefest second, her shoulders slumped. But just as quickly, she reminded herself that she was stronger now and giving up was not an option. She used her old trick of mentally counting from one to five as she made one last effort to draw from that sturdy well of self-confidence she’d fought so hard to reconstruct.