Page 77 of Sands of Sirocco
She set her hands on her hips.“Convince me you’re the man I think you are and not the ruthless one I keep hearing about.”
His lips twisted with displeasure.“You know nothing about Kut, no matter who has poisoned you with tales about it.Osborne?”He jerked his chin up.“And you’re choosing to believe Osborne, without even asking me.”
Disappointment gutted her.There must be some truth to what Osborne had said.How would Noah have known what she was referring to otherwise?“I’m asking you now, aren’t I?”
The lift arrived and the operator pulled the gate back, the sound of metal scraping against the floor.“Please don’t get on.”Noah’s eyes searched hers.“You know me.”He sucked in a breath and looked back toward his room.“You need to believe me.”
A quizzical expression filled the lift operator’s face as he waited for her to climb on.
She started forward.Noah slipped his hand in hers.“Please, Ginger.”
She looked over her shoulder at him.His explanation was reasonable.But she didn’t want to be reasonable right now.
Not yet.
And he still hadn’t bothered to address so many questions.
“You won’t answer me, will you?”she asked, ever aware of the impatient look from the lift operator.
“I won’t talk about Kut here.”A spark flickered in Noah’s gaze.“Or Victoria.She needs help and compassion, not your wounded ego.”
“Ego?”Ginger’s voice was loud enough that the lift operator flinched.He swung the gate closed, and the lift departed without her.
She wished she could leave too.
She glared at Noah.“Your choice to bring her here was unacceptable.This has nothing to do with my pride.”
Noah gave a contemptuous, humorless chuckle.“Doesn’t it?I told you the truth and that’s still not good enough.Bringing her here was an error in judgement, perhaps, but I felt I had no choice.I can’t change that Victoria was linked to me in the past, no more than I can that she hasunrequitedfeelings for me.The only thing I can see keeping your anger alive now is your pride.”He turned to go.
She was tempted to take the wedding ring off her finger and throw it at him.
Not that it was that simple now.
Unable to summon the right words, she started down the hallway, in the direction of the staircase.
Herpride?
She whirled back around, stalking toward him.“How dare you question my pride?Don’t you remember what I sacrificed, what I lost, for you?”
She regretted the words the instant she spoke them.They hung in the air between them like a glass of water teetering on its side, about to fall onto the floor with a crash.
Noah stepped back, his gaze growing cool.He put a hand above his heart, as though the words had found their impact there.Raising his chin, he stared at her.“That’s what this is about, isn’t it?You’ll never be able to look at me without thinking of what you lost.And you can’t forgive yourself for it.”
Her throat grew tighter, her hands in loose fists.Stubborn tears stung her eyes.At once she wanted to go to him, apologize, kiss him.When she’d almost lost him, when she’d spent months wondering if he’d survived, she’d never questioned what she’d done.
A tear found its way down her cheek, and she dashed it away with her gloved fingertip.“Find Dr.Jane Radford at the hospital where I work.She’s an excellent physician, something I’m not.At this rate I probably never will be.But if you call and ask for her to come here and help with Victoria, she will.Tell her I sent you.”
She rushed down the hall toward the stairs, her heart aching with emotions she didn’t fully understand.
This time he didn’t follow.
She loved Noah.She’d loved him almost from the start.Why was she so angry with him?
As she exited from the stairwell, she found her way through the lobby of Shepheard’s, then out the door to the terrace.The bright afternoon was just as she’d left it, but the sun and cheerful surroundings did nothing for her heavy heart.
The terrace was thick with British patrons at the tables, much like Groppi’s had been.And in the corner on one side of the terrace sat Lady Hendricks.Alone.
Ginger’s fingers curled into fists.
