Page 26 of Vas

Her accusation took him aback. “You always have a choice.”

They’d reached the top of the stairs. She stopped, turning to face him with her arms crossed over her chest. “Really? Because it doesn’t feel that way.”

“Give me an example.”

“I can give you quite a few.” Holding up a hand, she used her fingers to make each point. “You stole my cell phone so I had no choice but to accept the new one you gave me. You fixed my car, taking it upon yourself without asking me first. And last, but certainly not least, after two weeks of ignoring me, you come to my place of work and demand that I talk to you.”

He raised a brow. “I hardly think it was a demand.”

“Really?” Clearing her throat, she deepened her voice clearly trying to imitate him. “We need to talk. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Her attempt at a Russian accent made his lips twitch, but he pressed them firmly together before she could see. He might not know much about women but it didn’t take a genius to know it wasn’t a good idea to show any humor while one was riled. Even if her imitation of him was damn fucking cute. “You’re right. I apologize.”

“For what?”

“If it helps, all of it.”

Her brows shot up. “A blanket apology?”

“You think I’m not sincere?”

“I think you’re trying to butter me up. What I can’t figure out is why.”

“Which is why we need to talk. But not on the landing where all the neighbors can hear.” He placed a hand at the small of her back and navigated her down the hall to the door of his apartment.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, tucking his keys into his front pocket once they passed over the threshold. “I have soda, water, or instant coffee.”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

She navigated around the couch to stand in front of the TV. “Love what you’ve done with the place.”

Her sarcasm was clear, but he chose to take it as a good sign. At least she’d noticed. “I move around a lot for work so don’t keep much stuff.”

A frown appeared between her brows. “Oh. Will you need to move again soon?”

Vas could have kicked himself. Not the best way to start a conversation that laid out his desire to get to know her better. “Not for a while.”

“I see.”

He had a feeling she did. Just not what he wanted to show her. “Why don’t we sit down.” When she hesitated, he threw in, “Please.”

Reluctant, yet still compliant, she sat on the couch but chose to sit close to one end, silently making it clear she intended to keep her distance. Respecting that—at least for now—he took a seat at the other end of the sofa. Not knowing exactly how to start, he took a minute to collect his thoughts.

Clearly growing impatient, she broke the silence by asking, “Why didn’t you return any of my texts?”

Sighing, he placed his elbows on his thighs, clasping his hands between his knees to stare down at the floor. “Because of my job, I thought it was best.” He twisted his head to look at her. “For you.”

She shrugged. “Yet you still have the same job where you travel and might need to move soon. So what’s changed?”

He’d already screwed up with her once and knew if he wanted to break through her tough shell he’d need to be honest. Well, mostly honest. “You.”

“I’m sensingI’mthe theme here, but you’re not giving me any real answers. If you want me to understand, you need to be clearer.”

Feeling a little frustrated and a lot out of his depth in how to communicate his feelings, he sighed, positioning himself back against the couch and admitted, “I’m a loner by circumstance. I don’t make friends, I don’t date, and the only family I have left is a sister who wants nothing to do with me. So, in my roundabout way, what I’m trying to say is, I haven’t had the need to open up to anyone. I’m finding it… difficult expressing what I want to say.”

Her features softened and for the first time that night the warm and caring Anya he’d come to know peeked through. “Why don’t you start small. Tell me why you finally decided to come to the diner tonight.”

“And, again, the answer is you.”

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