Page 67 of Merrick

“Can’t blame a girl for kicking you in the nuts. Let’s go.”

*****

His smile was becoming strained. The ceremony at the chapel had been poignant and lovely. Julia made a beautiful bride, and his nephew looked happy. Jason was there as well. He had been given the time to attend the wedding.

He looked thin and drawn, but at least he was alive and not in prison. It would take time for Merrick to forgive him for almost dragging the company down with his addiction.

Jennifer, looking resplendent in gold satin was holding court with the bride and with several others. He was about to take a sip of the champagne that had somehow been passed to him when he felt the prickle of awareness at the back of his neck.Turning slowly, he saw her and for a minute, he thought he was hallucinating.

Months of wanting her - wishing for her had addled his brain and he was seeing things. Besides, it did not look like her. She was wearing some sort of figure-hugging dress, and her hair was different. But the guy hanging onto her could not be mistaken.

She was here. Who in the hell invited her, and he knew when Michael glanced over at him.

Damn him for interfering. Turning his back, he strode to the makeshift bar and ordered a full glass of brandy. She could bloody well go away.

Even though he had his back turned, he knew exactly when she walked up behind him.

“Uncle Merrick.”

Politeness forced him to turn around and her nearness hit him like a ton of brick. Forcing his expression from revealing the turmoil going on inside him, he nodded curtly. “Detective Sullivan.”

“I invited her…”

“Of course you did.” He cut off his nephew coldly. “Now you can take her as far from me as possible.”

“I…”

“No. I can answer for myself. I never thought you were a coward.”

He stiffened and felt the anger brimming over and clogging his throat.

“You want to say that to me again?”

She felt the frisson of fear at his ominous expression but was determined to stand her ground and do what she came here to do.

“I said you are a coward. Yes, I went about it all wrong and I have been beating myself up over it. I have tried to apologize…”

“Apologize!” His eyes flashed fire as he stared at her. “For almost ruining my company? My family? Well, I suppose I should bow down and kiss your frigging feet, shouldn’t I?”

“Your nephew and the people involved almost ruined your company. I was tasked with the job of trying to close a case where people, young people were dying. I am not going to apologize for that.”

“You used me. Damn you to hell, you used me to get what you want.”

“And I am sorry for it. I never intended for it to get that far.”

“You never intended…” Surging off the stool, he grabbed her hand and not caring that they were the cynosure of every eye, he hauled her out of the room and turned into the library. Slapping on the light, he flung her arm away.

For a few minutes, he did not speak but prowled the room like a caged lion. She stood there watching him as he tried to bring his temper under control. Michael had told her to get him alone, but she was not certain it was such a good idea.

She jumped reflexively when he whirled around and approached her.

“Do you know what you have done?”

She held up a hand as if to ward him off. “I hated myself for what I did to you.” Her voice was unsteady, and she was trembling.

“Not as much as I hate you.”

Her nearness was unnerving, and he was beginning to think this was a bad idea. He was alone with her in a room and her scent, her very essence was seeping into his pores. He inhaled her and felt the familiar mad passion surging inside him. “Get out of my life, out of my family’s home. I never want to see you again.”

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