Page 137 of Mistaken Intention

He nods his head and closes his eyes, opening them again after just a few seconds to reveal the torture behind them. “I’m sorry, Josie. I shouldn’t have raised my voice to you when we were back at the house. No matter how angry I was, I shouldn’t have done that, and I promise I won’t yell at you anymore. Okay?” I nod again, unable to speak. “Have I… Have I ever put you down?” he says.

I bring my hands up, resting them on his chest. “No, Drew.”

“Do you think I ever would?”

“No. I didn’t mean to imply you were like that. I just…”

He moves his thumb again, brushing it over my lips, cutting me off. “I may not remember it yet, but I walked into a party and fell in love with you, and from what I can gather, I’ve been in love with you ever since. I’ll always love you, Josie, even when I’m mad at you.” He puts his feet either side of mine, molding our bodies, his lips hovering over mine. “Except I don’t think I can stay mad at you for very long… because I need you too damn much.”

He touches his lips to mine, just as the door opens again, and we step apart, turning to see another nurse come in. She’s wearing pink scrubs and I don’t recognize her… not that I know everyone on this floor.

She looks from Drew to Hunter and then at me. “I didn’t think men were allowed in here,” she says, frowning.

“They’re not.” I bite on my bottom lip and Drew gazes down at me, shaking his head, and struggling not to smile. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him, until he glances at my mouth, and I recall what he said about my bottom lip. It brings back memories of our first time together, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a raging inferno builds between us.

“I’m sorry,” Hunter says, addressing the other nurse before he looks back at Drew and me. “Shall we go?”

“Where to?” I ask, feeling uncertain again, those flames not entirely extinguished, but dying down to a slight spark.

“What about Drew’s apartment?” Hunter says, like he’s sensed I’m not ready to be taken back to the cottage yet. “It’s not that far away, and it’s neutral territory for both of you. You can talk… say whatever needs to be said.”

“Neutral?” I can’t see how he can say that. “It’s Drew’s apartment.”

“I know,” Drew replies, stepping in front of me again. “But I don’t remember it, and unless you’re keeping something else from me, you’ve never been there, so…”

He has a point, I guess, and it’s got to be better than standing here. “Okay. Your apartment it is.” He smiles and the other nurse clears her throat, making her presence felt. “I just need to finish packing up my locker.”

Drew looks inside. “Is there anything in there you can’t live without, bearing in mind I’m evidently a multi-millionaire?”

He’s wearing a mischievous grin and I can’t help smiling just slightly as I glance inside the locker myself. “I guess not.”

“In that case, let’s get the hell out of here.”

***

Drew

Josie’s gone tense on me again.

We’ve been in the car for less than five minutes, the two of us sitting in the back, while Hunter drives, and I can feel the anxiety pouring off of her.

I’d thought she was reasonably relaxed by the time we left the nurse’s lounge. She held my hand when I dragged her out into the hall, barely giving her time to grab her purse. She even giggled when I pulled her along to the elevators, and she stared up into my eyes all the while we rode down, even though Hunter was standing right in there with us. But when we got to the car, she came over all nervous, and now she won’t even look at me. She’s staring out the window, her hands in her lap, like I don’t exist.

Is she having second thoughts?

God… I hope not.

I hope I haven’t ruined everything.

I get that I just came on a little strong. It wasn’t my intention to make her leave her things behind, or to use my wealth as a bargaining chip, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I wanted out of there. My sole purpose was to get her somewhere private where we can talk, not to flaunt my millions. I hope I haven’t offended her…

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She turns, startled by the sound of my voice, and nods her head, although I’m not entirely convinced. I give her a smile, which she struggles to return, and I move my hand along theseat, hoping she’ll take it. She doesn’t. She doesn’t even seem to notice, and goes back to staring out the window.

“How much further?” I say to Hunter, and he glances in his rear-view mirror.

He said my apartment wasn’t far, but now I just want to get there. I want to find out what’s wrong, to make sure Josie’s still mine, and she’s not going to leave again.

---