Perfect Strangers

It’s hard, sloppy, and full of desperation. His teeth clash with mine. Shocked, I suck in a breath through my nose and push against his chest, but he won’t release me. Instead, he presses the length of his body against me and fists a hand into my hair.

All I can think is James.

I want James to be kissing me now, not this man I gave my heart to so long ago who casually tossed it into his Louis Vuitton briefcase and locked it up tight.

Gasping, I break away from Chris’s mouth. We stand there chest to chest for what feels like an eternity, breathing hard, frozen in the unreality of the moment, until he steps back, holding his hands in the air like the victim of a robbery.

“I’m sorry.”

A second apology within minutes of the first he’s ever made. I have no idea who this stranger is.

Shaken, I drag the back of my hand across my bruised lips. I look at him with wide eyes and no idea on earth what to say.

He relieves me of the responsibility by going first.

“I love you,” he says hoarsely, eyes shining. “I’ve always loved you. I’ll never stop. I understand if you’ve moved on with your life, but I haven’t. I can’t. You’re the only thing that has ever made my life worth living.”

I blink, wondering if I’ve finally had that mental breakdown that’s been nipping at my heels for years, but he’s still talking.

“I know I fucked up in so many ways, and I wish to God I could make it up to you, but I’m telling you right now, Olivia, I’m willing to make you hate me if it means you’ll be safe. I’d rather risk your hatred than your safety. So if you’re not back in New York within twenty-four hours, I’ll be forced to make that happen myself.”

The laugh that breaks from my chest sounds crazy, bouncing sharply off the tiled bathroom walls. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You’ll kidnap me and smuggle me out of the country?”

Wild-eyed, he stares at me until I begin to feel frightened.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve made that kind of arrangement. And trust me when I say you don’t want to meet the men who handle those things. You accused me of being heartless when we were married, but I’m a kitten compared to them. And sometimes the people in their care end up broken in ways that can’t be fixed.”

My heart pounds so fast I can’t catch my breath. I gaze into his eyes—hazel eyes I’ve stared into so many times before—and realize with an icy tingle shooting down my spine that it’s entirely possible everything I thought I knew about this man is a lie.

“Twenty-four hours, Olivia. Don’t test me.”

Before I can reply, he shoves me out of the way of the door and walks through it without looking back.