Page 85 of The Bargain

I growled, looking heavenward. “Please, Ms. Collins, don’t break my newly functioning heart.”

* * *

I felt like a fool. I'd been waiting in front of her apartment building for over an hour now. I knew I could enter; the building was mine, but I didn’t feel like doing that, not when I wanted her to trust me.

I ‘d rung a couple of times, while smiling at the camera, trying to show her I was not here to hurt her again, but my calls remained unanswered. I’d thought for a second that maybe she was avoiding me too, but she was not petty my Amber; she didn’t work like that.

I looked up the street and my heart skipped a bit when I saw her turn the corner. She was dressed in quite a simple dress, which stopped just above her knees. It was yellow, so fitting of her luminous nature. She had her hair up in a bun and she was wearing black ballet shoes, showing how endearingly short she was.

She hadn’t noticed me yet, I could watch her at my leisure from the shadow of the porch. She wasn’t even half-way here, but I swear I could smell her. I took a deep breath. How was it that just her scent brought me a sense of peace?

I was truly fucked but weirdly enough, I didn't mind.

When she finally noticed me, her pace faltered. She stood straighter; her neck tensed. I hated that I ‘d put her on her guard. What if Lea was wrong?

“Mr. Beaumont?” She looked around.

I frowned. Why was she looking around?

“Expecting someone?” I asked as I felt a pinch of jealousy at the idea of a suitor being on his way. It would be a shame to have to kill him.

“No, I- I was looking for your car. Have you been waiting long?” She rushed up the stairs and gestured for me to come inside. “I’m sorry. Timmy is at the nursery. The pediatrician said he needed contact with other children to help with his development and-” She looked down at her watch. “She is very experienced, you know. She is a nurse. I mean, he is supposed to be there for another hour, but-”

I rested my hand on her neck to stop her rambling.

She shivered under my touch, her pupils dilating. I was pleased with the way she reacted to me. “It’s fine, Amber. I need to speak to you actually.”

“Oh!” She was so adorable when she was surprised. “Do you want to come up?”

I chuckled. “Yes. I think that would be better unless you want your doorman to hear my declaration of love.”

She dropped her handbag as she turned into a statue.

Crouching down, I grabbed her bag off the floor. She remained frozen. I would have laughed at her shock if I didn’t have my own heart in my throat.

“Amber?” I let my fingers trail down the back of her arm to her elbow.

She jerked back. “Yes, let’s go.”

We walked into the elevator followed by the curious eyes of the doorman. Of course he was protective of her. How could he not be?

“You know, it’s unkind to play with people like that,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself.

How I wished I was the one she sought comfort from.

“Who said I was playing?” I asked taking a side step to stand closer to her.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, she got out. She walked to her apartment silently, almost robotically.

Opening the door, she gestured me in.

“What are you saying?” she asked with uncertainty as she closed the door behind us.

“I miss you. Come home with me.”

She sighed and took a deep breath as she leaned against the door. “I left the manor four weeks ago. You never called, just sent a couple of impersonal emails.”

I nodded, taking a couple of steps closer to her.

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