“I realize that. I have to go back in three hours.”
“You came all the way up here for three hours?”
“Some things need to be said in person.”
Stunned, she walked over and opened the door. Wow…he seemed so much taller in the suit, even though the top of his head was no higher off the ground than before.
“You don’t look the same to me,” she murmured. And it wasn’t just because of his clothes.
“Can I come in?”
She stepped aside, and as he walked by, she looked him over. Even after having traveled five hundred miles, and in spite of the fact that it was now almost three in morning, he was as polished as the hood of a Ferrari.
But then maybe that was what expensive clothes got you. Perma-gleam.
As she closed the door, she resisted the urge to tug at her sweatshirt. Rearranging it wasn’t going to change the fact that she’d paid nineteen dollars for it at Target. And anyway, she liked the darned thing. It was soft and comfortable…which was evidently more than could be said for what Sean had on. While he paced around, he yanked his tie loose as if he were dying to take it off.
He stopped and faced her. They both spoke at once.
“Sean—”
“Lizzie—”
She shook her head. “You first.”
“No, what were you going to say?”
“Would you like something to drink?”
“I was wrong to think you were bilking my father. And I’m very sorry.”
Lizzie’s brows shot up. So much for social pleasantries and just as well. “I didn’t use him, Sean.”
“I know.” He went over to the Venetian blinds, fingered them apart and peered outside. “I just couldn’t figure out why you would be so close with him. Other than that.”
“He was kind to me and he needed help.” Censure creeped into her voice. “He had no one.”
“Indeed.” He dropped his hand and turned back to her. “Anyway, I’m honestly sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Boy, he looked tired. “You know, you really could have said this over the phone.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Assuming you’d have answered my call. And I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t.” He ran his hand down the length of his beautiful tie. “I should have told you about me earlier, but I liked the anonymity. I wanted to just be me with you.”
“So you really thought I was a gold digger, huh?”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
He shrugged. “Most of the women I’ve been with are fiscally minded. And not because they’re in banking.”
“Your poor choices, not my fault. Dear God, I don’t want your money. Sure, I’ve got some problems with my job situation and my mother, but I wouldn’t solve them by using you. I liked being with you.”
He frowned. “Liked…past tense.”
“Come on, Sean. You left and didn’t look back this week. And besides, what do we have in common?”
His eyes traced over her face. “I thought of you the whole time. I wanted to call you, but the deal I’m working on is complex and at a critical—”
“People make time for what they want to do. They make the time.” She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her waist. “It’s okay, though. I mean—”
“I also didn’t know what to say. I just didn’t know how to tell you I missed you. I haven’t missed anyone in a long time. I’m not used to it.”
Lizzie’s body stilled until her heart barely beat. The apology she expected. The revelation was a surprise.
“You mind if I sit down?” he said as he wrenched his tie off altogether and stuffed it in his jacket pocket.
“Ah, no…please do.”
His big body sank into her sofa and he crossed his legs, ankle on knee. Stretching one of his arms out over the top of the cushions, he looked not just tired but depleted.
In the silence, she tried to see past the fancy suit and the big-shot job and the net worth to the man she had been with before.
Because she’d really liked the person she’d watched playing Frisbee.
She truly had.
***
Chapter Ten
As Sean sat on the sofa, he had to hold on to the back of the damn thing to keep himself in place. He’d been fighting the urge to hug Lizzie since the moment she’d peaked out from between the blinds, and now that it looked as if she’d partially forgiven him, he wanted her against him so badly.