“I’m trying to help. I want—”
“It’s not about what you want, Connor! How can you not get this? I can’t be friends with you!”
And then he was in her face, his hands wrapped tight around her upper arms, as he bellowed back, “I don’t want to be goddamn friends, Megan!”
She blinked, as shocked by the break in his reserve as he was.
“What do you want?” she asked too quietly for the way they were locked together.
Seconds passed and then finally the breath he’d been fighting to contain shot past his throat with the only answer he had.
“I want you. I want what we were supposed to have. I want the wife and the partner I found in Vegas. I want you to admit I can give you more than you can have alone.”
“It won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because—” she held up her hands helplessly, too much pain and emotion shining in her eyes to be anything other than what came next “—I love you, Connor.”
It wasn’t a surprise after what she’d said before moving out, or at least it shouldn’t have been. He’d seen the evidence in her eyes. In her hurt. In a million little things he’d given up trying to deny. But hearing the actual words on those lips he couldn’t get enough of—they hit him like a sucker punch, knocking the wind from him and leaving him stunned.
Megan walked to her door and held it open, her eyes on the floor ahead of her feet. “Please, just go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MEGAN BACKED UP her files and then stared at her monitor. Too many sleepless nights and the desperate need to distract herself had the latest phase of her project complete well ahead of schedule.
What was she going to do now to stave off those unwelcome thoughts? The insidious whispers slipping too fast through her mind?
...good morning, Mrs. Reed... I’ll take my kiss now...
Some days she gave in to them, losing herself in the memories. The pleasure she’d found in those moments. Other days, like today, she fought against them, not wanting the pain that came with the understanding of what she’d lost.
The monitor blurred.
More tears. How long would it take before she cried the last? At the sharp ache in her heart, she wondered if it would be ever.
The trill of her phone sounded. And, closing her eyes to wipe the last of her tears from evidence, she reached for the handset, welcoming whatever distraction waited on the other end.
Maybe a credit offer?
A survey?
Whoever the poor sucker was on the other end of the line, they were going to be earning their check today. She’d keep them busy for the next hour and a half at least.
“Megan Scott,” she answered, still having to force it past her lips.
A pause, and she assumed it was some automated system registering the pickup and kicking her over to a live person. Only, then—“Scott? I realize it’s been a while since we spoke, but I’d have thought someone would have notified me if I’d gotten divorced.”
Connor.
How was it possible for a person’s heart to leap and fall all at once?
“It may not be official yet, but it will be.”
“Right. Sure.” He cleared his throat. “So I was over in New York a few days, but I’d been meaning to check in once you’d had a chance to get your things unpacked. Make sure there wasn’t any damage. You got everything?”
A reasonable inquiry. Connor took his responsibilities and commitments seriously. That was all this was. Taking a steadying breath, she answered equally reasonably, “Everything was in perfect order. Thank you again for your help.”
“Glad to hear it. You’ll let me know if you realize anything is missing.”
“I don’t think there is.”
“Terrific. So now that you’re settled back in, what are your plans?”
Megan stared at the phone a moment. How could he ask? “Connor, you know what my plans are. After everything that’s happened...nothing’s changed.” Nothing except her heart was broken into a thousand pieces and every time she heard Connor’s voice, so casual and inquiring, it broke into a thousand more. “I—I really need you to let me go. I think it’s better if our lawyers handle the communication from here.”