Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
I take another step toward her, and her eyebrows raise, but she doesn’t back down. I grit my teeth, wanting to shake sense into her, but I don’t touch her. “Quit saying fuck because that’s not what we would be doing, peaches. If… when… we do that, it will be making love.”
Her mouth falls open, but she catches herself and slams it shut, shaking her head. “Forget it, Mr. Beckett. I’m not falling for anything you say. How did you do this? What happened to my therapist? Did you off him or something? Is that something you do in your world?”
I slam my hand through my hair. “Why is this the second time today that someone assumes I’m killing someone? I didn’t kill anyone. Victor is fine and in the office. I made him do this…”
Her eyes are round and unforgiving. She’s shaking her head and tries to walk inside again, but I plead with her. “Haven, stop. Please.”
She juts her chin at me, and even though she’s trying to be strong, I see the hurt in her eyes. “Was it a bet? One of your buddies want to see you land the fat chick?”
“No. Of course not.”
She puts a hand on her hip, and the movement puts her closer to me. “Really? Well, I see the women you date, and I don’t look anything like them, so there’s something up. Tell me the truth for once. Did you want to see what it was like with a big girl? Is that what this is about?”
I can’t hide the anger from my voice. “Quit talking about yourself that way. When I first saw you, I was attracted to you, and I wanted to get to know you. I saw you with Victor, and I didn’t even know your fucking name, and I was eaten up with jealousy. Look, I know what I did was wrong. I was going to tell you and then I got to know you—”
She cuts me off angrily. “You don’t know me.”
“I do know you.” I lean down until our faces are only inches apart. “I do know you, Haven. Even though you try to cut yourself off from everyone, you want to feel a connection, like you belong.”
She rolls her eyes, and I continue. “You observe people and look for the good in everyone. You’re patient and kind, you bite your lip when you’re nervous. You’re beautiful all the time, and I love to see the confident side of you when you’re modeling, but I’m jealous at the same time. You like candied orange slices, you cut your entire steak up before you take one bite, and you prefer to drink water more than anything else.” I pause and take a deep breath before I continue. “I know that your family never held you, never hugged you or told you that they loved you. I know I ruined the trust you had in me, but I’m determined to make it right and prove to you that you can trust me and I won’t hurt you.”
She sucks in and breath and slowly blows it out. “I know that even though you like your job, you want more than anything to have a family of your own.”
A lone tear rolls down her cheek, and she wipes at it angrily. “You know all that because you lied to me about who you are. I thought you were some sort of therapist… and that I could trust you.”
I put my hand over my heart as if doing so will hold it together. “You can trust me, peaches.”
She shakes her head and takes a step back. “Don’t call me that.”
When I move to go after her, she puts her hands up to stop me. “No. I don’t trust you, Mr. Beckett. As far as I’m concerned, you hurt me, lied to me, and played with me, and now you expect me to just accept it and move on. I can’t do that… Forget it, we’re just wasting time here… Will you please go?”
“But—” I start, and she stops me.
The tears start to come harder, and it’s like a kick in my chest that I can only stand here and watch it. I would give anything to hold her or touch her. “Haven, please.”
She moves inside her apartment and puts her hand on the door. “I fell for your lies once, Ridge. I won’t do it again.”
With that, she shuts the door in my face.
I go to the door to knock again, but as I raise my hand, I can’t get the image of her crying out of my head. I hurt her by lying to her, and I’ve hurt her again by coming today. I know what I need to do even though I don’t want to do it. I put my hands on each side of her door and lean my forehead against the hardwood. I need to walk away, but I can’t. “Haven… I’m leaving… but I’m not giving up. Just know that I’m not giving up.”