Page 72 of Bossy Hero

Guilt pricks at my scalp. “Everything’s fine with your son. And with me. I just needed to...”

I needed to what? See her? Ask her why she’s still rejecting me? Force her to accept a date from me? To kiss her? Fuck her? Tell her I’m done waiting?

What thefuckis my plan here?

Unsure what to say, I let the sentence fizzle on my tongue.

“Did you want to come in?” She finally steps backward, opening the door wide enough for me to pass. “Wait in the living room while I go change.”

My eyes fall to her frame, leaving her face for the first time. She’s got... clothes on. Sort of. A nightgown under a knee-length robe.

My mouth waters at the idea of peeling it off her.

Striding into the house, I close and lock the door behind me. “No need to change. You’re fine as you are.”

When I spin around, she’s backed several feet into the room, seemingly putting intentional distance between us. Her arms wrap protectively around her midsection, and she studies me with cautious eyes.

Why is she frightened?

A replay of how I was banging down her door a few seconds earlier blasts through my mind.Ah yes. Because I stormed her house like I was leading the entire fucking 75th Regiment into battle.

“Maddie, you know I’ll never hurt you.”

Her chest rises and falls with a concentrated breath, and she nods repeatedly. Still nervous but trying to calm herself.

Fuck. What’s wrong with me?

I smooth my palm from the back of my neck up and over my head, dragging it down my face. After another deep breath, I’ve regained my composure.

Gesturing with an open palm, I edge toward the couch. “Sit down with me, please?”

Responding to my change in disposition, she visually relaxes and joins me on the couch. She keeps a few feet between us, still doubting my motives. And who could blame her? I’m a fucking maniac tonight.

Flopping against the sofa cushions, I release a haggard sigh and break the tense silence. “Maddie, I’m sorry for showing up here like a raging fucking asshole. I was confused and pissed off. That’s no excuse for rattling you, though.” I look deep into her eyes and calmly add, “I apologize. I only came to talk.”

Her features soften, bringing out some of the radiance I’m used to seeing when she looks at me. “Okay. It’s fine.” She rolls back her shoulders and loosens the double-armed death grip she’s had on her waist, letting her arms fall to her lap. “Is this about what happened at the restaurant?”

“Yes.”

Her face pinches, eyes narrowing. “I’m sorry.”

The instant apology rubs me the wrong way. “For what? You don’t even know why I’m ang?—”

“Yes, I do. I’d be angry if the tables were turned. I’m sorry you found out I was going on a date that way. That was unkind of me.”

Despite her words being apologetic, they cut into my chest with a rusty, dull blade.

Sheknewit would upset me, yet she did it anyway.

Worse, she’s apologizing for not telling me about the date. Not because she went on the date in the first place.

Damn, that fucking hurts.

“Unkind? Yeah. It was.” In a defeated tone, I lay my heart at her feet. Again. “Maddie, I’ve been waiting for you for thirteen damn years now. The last three of them at your request.”

She jumps in. “I know that. And I’m sor?—”

I wave my hand to stop her. “Don’t say you’re sorry. It was my choice to wait, and I accept that. I made that decision with both eyes open. I’m not mad that I’ve been waiting for you; you’ve always been worth it. So no, I don’t want apologies or platitudes from you. Iwantan explanation.” My volume slowly increases, but not enough to scare her again. “Am I waiting for something that’ll never happen? Because it’s starting to feel that way. And if?—”

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