Page 45 of For the Love of Lilah
“You hurt me.” The words exploded out of her. “Last night, even this morning, I was worth a little of your time and attention. As long as there was sex. Then this afternoon, you couldn’t even look at me. You couldn’t wait to dump me off here and get away from me.”
“That’s crazy.”
“That’s just what happened. Damn you, you made up lame excuses and practically patted me on the head. And tonight, you’ve got an itch and you’re annoyed that I wasn’t here to scratch it.”
He was as pale as she now. “Is that what you think of me?”
She sighed then, and the anger dropped out of her voice. “It’s what you think of me, Max. Now let me go.”
His grip loosened so that she slipped away. “I had something on my mind this afternoon. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with you.”
“I don’t want excuses.” She went to the terrace doors to fling them open. Maybe the wind would blow the tears away. “You’ve made it clear how you feel.”
“Obviously I haven’t. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you, Lilah.” But he’d lied to her, he thought. That had been his first mistake. “Just before I came to pick you up, I saw Caufield in the village.”
She spun around. “What? You saw him? Where?”
“I was waiting at a light, and I saw him on the sidewalk. He’s dyed his hair and grown a beard. By the time I’d realized, I was caught up in traffic and had to double back. He was gone.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d seen him?”
“I didn’t want to worry you, and I wasn’t going to have you getting some lamebrained idea about hunting him up yourself. You have a habit of acting on impulse, and I—”
“You jerk.” The flush was back in her cheeks when she stepped forward to give him a shove. “That man is determined to take something from my family, and you don’t have the sense to tell me you’ve seen him a few miles from here. If I’d known I might have been able to find him.”
“Exactly my point. I’m not having you involved any more than necessary. That’s why I thought it might be best if I went back to New York. They know I’m here now, and I’m not having you caught in the middle.”
“You’re not having?” She would have shoved him again, but he caught both her hands.
“That’s right. You’re going to stay out of it.”
“Don’t tell me—”
“I am telling you,” he interrupted, pleased when she gaped at him. “What’s more, you’re not going to go wandering off at night until he’s in custody. After I thought it over, I decided it was best if I stayed close and watched out for you. I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t like it, and I don’t need to be taken care of.”
“Nonetheless.” And he considered the argument closed.
It was her turn to stutter. “Why, you arrogant, self-important—”
“That’s enough,” he said in his best professor’s voice and had her blinking. “There’s no use arguing when the most intelligent decision’s been made. Now, I think it’s best if I take you to work every day. Whenever you make other plans, you’ll let me know.”
Her anger turned to simple shock. “I will not.”
“Yes,” he said mildly, “you will.” He moved her hands behind her back to bring her closer. “About tonight,” he began when their bodies brushed. “Clearly, you’re laboring under a misconception concerning my motives, and my feelings.”
She arched back, more surprised than annoyed when he didn’t release her. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“No, you prefer yelling about it, but that’s unconstructive, and not my style.” Both his hands and his voice were very firm. “To be precise, I didn’t come here because I had an itch, though I certainly have every intention of making love with you.”
Baffled, she stared at him. “What the devil’s gotten into you?”
“I’ve suddenly realized that the best way to handle you is the way I handle difficult students. It takes more than patience. It requires a firm hand and a clear-cut outline of intentions and goals.”
“A difficult—” She took a deep breath to hold on to her temper. “Max, I think you’d better go take some aspirin and lie down.”
“As I was saying.” He whispered a kiss over her cheek. “It isn’t just a matter of sex, despite the fact that that aspect is incredibly satisfying. It’s more of a matter of my being completely bewitched by you.”
