Page 40 of Seasoned
“The time for explaining is over.” She opened the door and turned to face him. She didn’t want to break down in front of him, but the crushing loss of losing him was almost unbearable. “Get the hell out of my yard, and keep your damn dog in yours!”
She slammed the door in his face.
18
Despite the proud tilt to her head and the firm words, Clive heard the tremor in her voice and saw the pain in those beautiful brown eyes.
To think he’d caused that pain not only shamed him, but caused him pain, too. The last thing he had ever wanted to do was hurt Renee. Equally painful was knowing she thought he didn’t appreciate the type of woman she was, when in fact he did. Hell, he didn’t deserve her.
He flattened his palm on the door. “Renee, hear me out. Please.”
The only response was silence.
“Renee!”
Nothing.
He knocked and rang the doorbell.
Still nothing.
Knowing Renee, she’d leave him out there all night without a second thought, but she couldn’t stay inside forever.
Clive went back to the house. He’d catch her the next time she left.
The opportunity arrived less than two hours later while he was at the mailbox getting the mail. Her garage door slowly lifted, and he seized the opportunity.
Clive shoved the mail back in the box and hurried over to stand in front of the car. He was taking a huge risk. She might very well run him over.
She rolled slowly forward and honked the horn, but he didn’t move. His stomach tightened as she edged closer, but he didn’t move, staring right back at her as she glared at him.
Finally, she slammed on the brakes, the car jerking to a stop only inches from his knees. Clive let out a relieved breath.
Renee leaned out of the window. “Get out of my way!”
“Not until you hear me out.”
“You’ve had plenty of time to talk and you didn’t.”
“I want to talk now.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk.”
“Well, I’m not moving.”
She stared at him through the windshield, and he folded his arms and waited. Rolling her eyes, she shifted the car into park and stepped out.
“What do you want to say?”
“Not here. Let’s go inside.”
“No. I don’t have time for that. I’m very busy. Let’s get this over with right here.”
“Renee, if you don’t go inside with me willingly, I’m going to lift your ass up and take you inside. And we both know I can carry you with no issue.”
She tightened her lips and cast her eyes downward, but he didn’t miss the brief flash of heat that sent a pulse of awareness through him. He wanted to take her in his arms, kiss away the hurt and beg for forgiveness, but he knew their reconciliation would not be that easy. At the very least, he had to take a chance that she would understand his predicament and forgive him for being a coward.
Without a word, she grabbed her purse, locked the car, and led the way back into the house through the garage. The entire time, he fixated on the way the cream linen pants fit over her hips and complemented the shape of her ass. She wore a gold link belt, gold sandals, and a burgundy blouse.
