Page 41 of The German's Guilty Pleasure
Pricks of anxiety filled my back, and I glanced behind me, almost tripping when I noticed the car that trailed us as we walked. He pulled up next to us and leaned through the passenger window. “Serenity, I have been looking everywhere for you for days.”
“She’s not that hard to find when you pull the rug out from under her feet!” Babette called, putting a protective arm around me.
I loved her for her fire and sass, but seeing him again was making me weak in the knees. Sweat broke out on my forehead and I moaned, grasping my belly. The next thing I knew, I was in his strong arms. He lowered me to the passenger seat of the car while Babette held a bottle of water out for me.
“You need to see a doctor,” she fretted, even though she already knew the truth.
I pushed the bottle away and shook my head. “I’m okay. It’s hot, and seeing him again brought back the horror of his accusations.”
“Your eyes rolled back in your head,” he said, his tone concerned. “Babette may be right.”
“Babette is right,” she said, crossing her arms with her usual Louisiana attitude.
I sighed with profound resignation. “A little shade, and I’m already fine. Why are you here, Lars?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“The last time you did that, you accused me of what? Trying to ruin you? Trying to steal your company? I don’t even know and I don’t care. I didn’t want your company or your money. I wanted you. You and nothing else.” I leaned my head back against the seat. “Forget it.”
He knelt and grasped my hand. “I cannot forget it.Mutterremoved me as acting CEO of the company until I complied with her stipulations.”
“Whoa,” I breathed out. “What were her stipulations?”
“She told me to get myscheissetogether.”
“It’s been three days,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s taken you three days to get yourscheissetogether?”
“It took me one day to figure out what happened. Another day to sort it all out, and the rest of today to track you down. Please, let me take you back to your apartment. Once you hear me out, I won’t stop you if you want to leave.”
Babette stood behind him, shaking her head. “Don’t trust him, fiy. He doesn’t deserve it.”
Lars stood slowly and turned to face her, nodding his head. “You are absolutely right, I do not deserve her trust. I broke it once, and by no means does she have to offer it to me again. If it makes you feel any better, Gretchen will be at the penthouse as well. She will not be alone with me.Mutterand I both have some apologizing to do. I promise you, she will be free to go at any time, but she needs to move her things if she is going to leave the company. I promise, if you allow me to spend an hour with her, I will bring her back if she so desires.”
Babette looked to me, and I nodded. “It's fine,” I promised her. “He’s right. All of my things are there. Let us give you a ride home, and then I’ll call you when this is done.”
“I haven’t finished my shopping, and the house is only a few blocks away. I’ll be fine. I expect a call in one hour.” Her gaze was focused on Lars in a way that would have scared me instantly if I didn’t know her.
I crossed my heart and blew her a kiss. She caught it and tucked it in her pocket before pointing her finger at Lars. “One hour, or you’ll be dealing with the professor.”
“Yes,frau, you have my assurances.”
She stood watching while he closed my door and got in his side, helping me buckle my seatbelt and pulling away from the curb slowly. I waved at her, and she waved back, but the look on her face was one of concern.
“Are you joking about the CEO thing?” I asked, my arms crossed over my chest.
His head swung back and forth. “She was so disappointed in me. Hell, I was disappointed in myself. Things did not go the way she planned.”
“She was just as accusatory as you were.”
“No, she stated facts without accusing anyone. I was the one who did the accusing. We need to talk about it, but I want to get back to the building. Babette was right. You do not look well.”
“I’ve had a rough couple of days. Is Gretchen really at the penthouse?”
He shook his head again. “No, she is in my office running the company. God, please do not say you are afraid to be alone with me.”
I sighed in frustration. “No, I’m not. I don’t want to air our problems in front of your mother, that’s why I asked. I’d rather we do it in private.”
He pulled the Porsche under the portico and motioned for me to stay put. He came around and helped me out, holding me around the waist while we walked in. Seth saw us coming and was holding the door before we got there.
