Page 114 of The Widower
“I doubt that.”
I learned more in those two hours than I ever thought possible.
Believe it or not, Colin turned out to be a great teacher.Patient, even. That part genuinely shocked me.
“You’d make a good teacher, you know that?”
“If I already feel like dying sometimes, what do you think would happen if I were stuck in a classroom?” He crossed his arms.
“Oh, come on. The point is you know how to explain things. We’d have better architects if you taught. Just my humble opinion.”
“Looks like you really like me.”
“I do. I think I’m in love with you.”
No. No, no, no...
Idiot. I wasn’t supposed to say that. Not out loud.
“Say that again.” It didn’t sound like a request—it was an order.
“No.” I gave him an awkward smile.
“Say it again,” he repeated, louder this time, standing up and walking toward me.That scent...
“No,” I said again, and Colin pulled me out of the chair effortlessly, pressing me against the wall.
“If I have to ask a third time, things won’t end well.”
“Well, in my humble opinion, I’m in love with you,” I said, trying to smile but failing miserably. “Is that a problem?”
“All of them.”
Colin kissed me hard—roughly—the way I’d gotten used to.
But unlike the other times, the kiss started to slow down, almost coming to a halt. When I tried to reignite that spark, he suddenly turned away, frustrated with himself. I could tell.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, even though deep down I knew I hadn’t.
“I’m sorry, I... I’m not okay.”
“Are you sure it’s not my fault?”
That’s when he cupped my face in both hands, kissed me again—long, deep, unhurried—and when he finally pulled back, his gaze locked on mine.
“No. Actually, it’s the opposite. You’re the reason I’m trying to get better. I just... have these moments sometimes. I’m sorry.”
It had been over a week since the incident at the cemetery.
Even though the mansion was a nice place to stay—beautiful, spacious, comfortable—I missed my home. My mom and I had worked our asses off to buy that place, and I knew exactly how much it had cost us to build it from the ground up.
Still, I couldn’t help noticing how happy she looked working for Colin. She didn’t have to run all over the city anymore, and now she worked in peace. I’d rarely seen her stressed these past few days.
“I told you Colin wasn’t such a bad boss,” I teased, winking at her. Truth was, I’d said the exact opposite when I first started working for him.
“I barely see him, but when I do, he’s always really nice to me.”
“Of course. Apparently, he only acts like a jerk with me. Maybe he’s scared of me or something.”
