Page 51 of Contracted and Claimed By The Boss

She was imagining it.

It was her mind, playing tricks on her. She stood only because she needed confirmation of her insanity—maybe a hospital was a better place for her? She needed to know just how bad things were for her to conjure him up like this.

At the door, she hesitated just long enough to pull her hair over one shoulder—she couldn’t remember the last time she’d washed it but thanked God she’d had a shower that morning and actually put on a fresh outfit.

Not that he was really here, she told herself sternly, wrenching in the door and expecting to see clear air.

But instead, she was confronted by the sight of Max, the same but different. Facial hair was longer, face was pale, eyes had a smudge of darkness beneath them. He looked as exhausted as she felt.

‘Max?’ Was it really him?

‘I need to talk to you.’

She blinked at him, frowning, not understanding. In a monumental effort, she summoned every protective mechanism she’d built in her lifetime, wrapping herself in a shield, quickly trying to fortify her heart and soul. ‘What? Why? Is it about Amanda?’

‘No. Not directly.’ His Adam’s apple jerked as he swallowed. ‘Can I come in?’

She shook her head instinctively. Memories were too intense, too strong. The power he wielded to hurt her was terrifying.

‘Please.’ He put a hand on the edge of the door frame, looking past her, a hint of desperation in his face. ‘Just give me a few minutes.’

She shook her head again. Apart from anything, the tiny apartment she’d rented for the next few weeks was a mess, courtesy of the complete lack of a care she’d been capable of giving since flying into the city.

‘You can’t come in,’ she said throatily. ‘But there’s a cafe around the corner. We can go and grab a coffee.’

He breathed out slowly. ‘Great. That will be great. Thank you.’

So polite! Such a startling contrast to the day on the edge of the forest. She spun away from him blindly, moving back into the apartment, tears sheening her eyes. Her emotions were rioting all over the place.

‘I’ll just get my keys,’ she mumbled.

‘I’m sorry, what did you say?’ Damn it, he’d followed her, he was right behind her, and the door swung softly closed, leaving them alone in the small, unimpressive space. His eyes flicked across the room, sizing it up in a few short seconds, then returned to Paige’s face.

‘Paige...’ His voice was so gravelled and hoarse. ‘Why did you leave us?’

It wasn’t fair for him to be here! Not after two weeks. ‘I can’t—’ She sucked in a breath, trying to calm her nerves. ‘I can’t talk about this here.’ She needed the safety of others, of crowds, of strangers.

A muscle jerked in his jaw. He moved closer and she stiffened, terrified that he’d touch her and she’d combust. That her self-restraint and pride would fly out of the window.

‘Don’t.’ She held up a hand, closed her eyes. ‘Please don’t.’ She shook her head. ‘How did you find me?’

‘The agency.’

She lifted her brows, eyes pinging open. ‘They’re not supposed to give out our addresses.’

‘I told them you’d left something personal I needed to get back to you.’

‘You lied?’ She shook her head. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t consider it to be a lie. Paige, I want you to come home.’

Home.

The word was like a dagger to her heart. She spun away from him, staggering into the living room, sitting down because she wasn’t sure she could stay standing.

‘Listen to me.’ He came to crouch in front of her. ‘Listen to me, all of me, everything I say, before you react. Do you promise?’

She didn’t think he was in any position to be asking her to promise anything, but she nodded because she wanted to hear whatever he’d come to say, and she needed some time to strengthen her nerves before she asked him to leave. Go. She shuddered as she remembered the way he’d ordered her out of his life. Her chin tilted defiantly as she did everything she could to stay strong against him, against his closeness.

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