“I wanted to, I tried to but—”
“—Tried? Well you obviously didn’t try hard enough,” she snapped. She lowered her eyes to the floor and checked her watch again.
“At least I tried to see you,” he retorted.
Her eyebrows shot up and her forehead creased as a low laugh tumbled from her mouth, “You have a bloody cheek, Kai. You told me not to contact you, I only did what you asked.”
“You still could have contacted me, if you wanted to though,” he growled back, his hands moving to sit on his hips. “But you’re right, I didn’t try hard enough. I’d come by your place hoping to see you, and when I did? I couldn’t find my balls to speak to you because I fucked up,” he replied in a raised voice causing bystanders to look their way.
Myla’s hand flew to her neck and she rubbed it across the back of it and raised her eyes to flitter around the room, taking in every pair of eyes staring their way. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she lowered them to the floor again. “Look at me, not them,” he ordered.
Pushing past the uncomfortableness she was feeling, she dropped her hand from her neck, and raised her head defiantly, glaring right at him, her eyes swirling with hurt. “Do you know how many times I stood outside Baxter’s late at night in the hope to catch a glimpse of you or how many times I loitered around the god damned art studio waiting patiently, hoping to see you? Don’t you dare insinuate I didn’t try to contact you.”
His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped open at her revelation. She missed me as much as I missed her. He closed his mouth, then cleared his throat before speaking again. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t man enough to speak to you, I’m sorry for letting you go so easily and I’m sorry for giving you that bullshit ultimatum, I was an idiot,” he finally said, taking a small step closer to her. When she didn’t move, he took this as a good sign.
“Yes, you were an idiot,” she agreed, “a big fucking idiot.”
His lips curled into a smile and he sighed, “I’ve missed that mouth of yours. Have …Uhm, you … missed …me?” He questioned. He nervously shifted from one foot to the other, waiting for her answer.
A nervous laugh flew from her lips causing her face to light up. “Every day,” she whispered.
He let out the breath he was holding and closed the gap between them. His chest was flush against hers, he could feel her heart beating like a drum against him, her breathing quickened and her eyes closed as he cupped her cheeks with both hands. “We need to talk, Kai,” she whispered, her breath fanning against his face.
“I’m a patient man Myla, but I can’t wait any longer, it’s been eight months,” he muttered breathlessly, his own heart was beating at a hundred miles an hour as all the feelings he held for her came rushing through him at speed. His feelings had never wavered, and now as he stood, finally touching her after eight long months, he realized they had only multiplied tenfold during their separation. An urgent need came over him. A need for her. He felt the last of his resolve slip away as he leant in closer and covered her mouth with his and he kissed her with such passion, hunger, and desire that it left him feeling giddy and her weak at the knees.
“See, I told you it would work,” smirked Cass. She high fived Brody and Avery, then gloated about what an awesome friend she was as they slinked away, unnoticed.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
“I still can’t believe that these are of me,” mumbled Myla aloud as her eyes stayed transfixed on the paintings that now had sold labels underneath them.
“You were my inspiration, and even though we weren’t together, you consumed my every thought,” he replied. He locked up the warehouse and returned to her side, holding out a glass to her.
Putting her hand up she shook her head and declined. “I don’t drink anymore.”
“I know you don’t, it’s just mineral water,” he replied with a broad smile.
Her brows furrowed together as she hesitantly reached for the glass, “How do you know I don’t drink?”
He gulped and his cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment, “Avery told me,” he finally said.
Her left eyebrow raised questioningly as she took the glass from his hand, “What else has Avery been telling you?”
He let out an embarrassed chuckle before diverting his eyes away from her, “Nothing,” he shrugged. “So, how are you doing?” he asked in attempt to deflect her interrogating stare.
“I’m getting there, still a long way to go but I’m on the right path,” she replied with a firm nod and a smile.
“That’s so great to hear, Myla. I take it your sessions with Lector have been a great help in your recovery?”
She froze mid-way to bringing her glass to her mouth and narrowed her eyes before sharply bringing the glass back down. “You’ve been talking to Cass, haven’t you?”
Shit! Well done, Big mouth. Knocking back his bubbly he loosened his tie then turned away from her and scoffed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit, Baxter. There’s only one person that calls Dr. Greco, Lector and her name has ass in the middle of it!”
His chest reverberated with a low laugh at her statement. “I admit, that yes I’ve been pumping your friends for information.”
“Why?”