“Okay.”

“And I expect you to support me with my plans when I go to Maxx.”

“You are such a bad negotiator. I already planned to.”

I swatted her butt as she moved past me.

“Whatever, Charly. You are going to owe me for this.”

She sniffed. “I think you are going to owe me.”

And with those cryptic words, she walked out.

I paused in the barn door, watching Kelly. Maxx had set her up a desk by the workout area, and she had two laptops on it. She was studying something on the screen, her brow furrowed, and she was muttering to herself. The T-shirt she wore was loose, hanging off her frame. She still looked tired and too thin, and before I could stop myself, I began to worry, wondering how she was sleeping. Was she eating enough? I racked my brain, recalling the small plate of food she’d consumed at the barbecue at Stefano’s. She always had a healthy appetite before.

Was she sick?

Why did she quit her job?

Why was she back?

How long was she going to stay?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and rapped on the wood. Kelly looked up, shocked to see me.

“Um, hi.” She stood. “Oh, if you’re here to work out, I’ll go. I’ll just push the desk back to the corner. I needed the light over here,” she rambled, tapping on the screen and beginning to shut down her laptops.

I held up my hand. “Not here to work out. You don’t have to put your stuff away.”

“Oh.” She stilled, her nerves evident. “What do you need?”

“I want to talk to you.”

Her eyes got wider. “Okay.”

I began to walk in, but memories assaulted me. Her naked with me on the bench. The two of us playing hide-and-seek in the dark corners of the barn. The time we made love up in the rafters while it rained—when I was hopeful our “for now” was turning into our “forever.” She’d left shortly after that.

“Not here,” I said, sounding curt.

She looked puzzled, then realization dawned, and she stood. “Of course.”

I turned and she followed. I headed up the stairs at the side of the building and, using my key, entered the apartment over the garage. It was furnished and homey, although a little stuffy and dusty from the repairs being done. Charly would have the place cleaned once it was finished, but it had been shut up and unused for a while now. I opened the window and indicated the small table in the kitchen. We sat across from each other, not saying anything for a moment.

Finally, she cleared her throat. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Charly came to see me. She wants you to take over some of her hours at the garage.”

Her light-blue eyes flew open wide, and color stained her cheeks. The tips of her ears grew red. I could tell she was as taken aback by the news as I had been.

She shook her head. “I’ll tell her no, Brett. I had no idea she was thinking about it again and planned on talking to you. I’m sorry.”

She began to stand. “I have no desire to hurt you more than I did. If I had anywhere else I could be, I would go there. I’m sorry,” she said again. “So very sorry.”

Before I could think, I stood, grabbing her arm to stop her leaving. “Why are you apologizing? For this, or for something else?”

I was shocked to see the tears in her eyes. Kelly never cried.

“I’m sorry for so many things,” she murmured. “But right now, I’m sorry Charly put you in this position. I know you don’t believe me, but I had nothing to do with it. I’ll make sure she understands not to ask you again.”

She turned and hurried to the door. Anger and frustration exploded from me, obliterating any common sense I had. I raced after her, stopping her from opening the door.

“Stop running,” I snapped.

She shook her head, pulling harder on the door.

I grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“Stop,” I commanded. “Why the fuck do you always run?”

She met my eyes, the tears and heartbreak in them cracking open something inside me.

“Because I don’t know how to stop,” she wailed, then burst into tears, covering her face.

There was no thought. No careful consideration. No reminders of the turmoil she had caused me. All I saw, all I felt, was her pain. Her need.

I dragged her into my arms, feeling her fall against me, her hot tears soaking my shirt.

I held her close.

“No more,” I murmured. “It stops now.”

KELLY

Being back in Brett’s embrace was like coming home. He held me tight in his arms, and he stroked my head gently, his voice a soft hum in my ear as I cried. His scent surrounded me, the unique blend of his soap suiting him so well. It was like a warm summer day, which Brett always reminded me of.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Reynold's Restorations Suspense
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