Page 12 of Bryce

Chapter 4

“Bryce.”

It was funny, thethings one remembers. The sound of her voice, sultry and husky wasthe same. She looked the same, too. The lush curves, the smooth cocoabrown skin, the full bottom lip, and the flashing mahogany eyes.

Her hair wasdifferent. It was done up in some sort of twisty coils that tumbledaround her face and down her back. He recalled it being natural andcurly when they were teens.

“Of all theplaces, in all the world…”

He tried for thecasual, the lighthearted, but she cut him off with a cool look, thatplainly said it was not going to work.

“What are youdoing here?”

“I am a guesthere and I am assuming you own the place.”

“You’reassuming correctly.” She look was not friendly. “Why areyou here?”

“To have somerelaxation and quiet. This place fits the requirements perfectly.”

“There areother places in the entire world. Anywhere else.” She held up ahand when he started forward again.

“Look, I knowwe left things unfinished…,” her chilled laughterstopped him again.

Okay, I left thingsunfinished…,” he stopped abruptly as she simply turnedaround and left, slamming the door shut behind her.

He stood there in themiddle of the library, confused. The very last person he had expectedto see was her. His childhood sweetheart, a girl he had been hung upon for one glorious year. One who had made him feel less like runningand hiding himself away.

One, he had to admitthat he had been having fleeting thoughts of over the past months.Lifting a hand, he dragged it through his already disordered hair andclosed his eyes briefly.

He should go afterher of course. To explain – Bloody what? He mused grimly.Something he was not able to explain to himself? That he had turnedtail and run because he had been offered an escape at the time? Ithad just been a childhood romance after all, nothing more.

Closing his eyes, hehuffed out a breath. If he was going to continue staying here, he hadto clear the air.

Something he wascertainly not looking forward to. Taking another deep breath, hestarted forward.

*****

She paced. For thefirst time since coming here and making this place her home, it feltlike a damn prison. A blast from the past. She had seen him onmagazine covers. Seen him with beautiful women and tried to ignorethe tug of hurt and pain and tried to convince herself that what shefelt wasn’t jealousy.

He had changed. Nolonger was he the scrawny kid with the wounded look on his thin faceand a mouth full of steel or whatever the hell they used to makebraces. He had grown into a stud. Wild dark hair, laser blue eyes,buffed and muscular, that long lean body that sent millions of womeninto dizzy spins.

She had read thearticles of his involvement with hundreds of women and his continuoussuccess at the box office. And had applauded him.

Even while she cursedhim for leaving her without a word. Now he was here, at her inn. Howbizarre that was. Why the hell was he here? And what was she going todo about it? Nothing. He would be gone within a day.

His type was notaccustomed to tiny towns. Very soon he would start to miss the brightlights, the elegant and pricey restaurants, the fast and beautifulwomen… She pressed a fist to her chest, trying to stop theuneven thudding of her heart.

“Steady girl.”She ordered. “It’s in the past. Don’t go giving itany more significance.”

But as soon as shehad settled on that, her door swung open, and he was framed insidethe doorway.

Her treacherous hearttook a leap and then a slow dive.

“Get out.”

“Now, is thatanyway to talk to a guest?” He eyed her warily, holding up ahand when her beautiful eyes flashed. “Look, I just want toexplain…”

Deciding just then,she shook her head. “No explanation necessary.” She saidbriskly, reining in her emotions. “You’re right. You’rea guest and I am a professional. I hope your rooms are to yourliking. If there’s anything…”

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