Page 36 of The Rules of Their Red-Hot Reunion

‘Had you let me know earlier, I would’ve rearranged my schedule. But you didn’t because your time is so much more important than mine.’

‘Ro’s restaurant is still in a planning phase. My restaurants are not. And if there’s a problem, I need to put them first.’ He wasn’t being unreasonable, was he?

Aisha scanned her screen. ‘We can get together tomorrow at four or Thursday at eleven,’ she said in a very even, flat voice. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe she wasn’t still furious with him.

Pasco stood up and walked around to stand behind her. He looked at the appointments on her screen for the next few hours. He silently cursed when he saw she was scheduled to walk the grounds with St Urban’s grounds manager. Her second appointment was with a local supplier of cleaning materials and housekeeping consumables and, because they’d want St Urban business, they’d be happy to reschedule.

‘I’m sorry, it was rude of me not to give you more notice about my change of plans,’ he said, half sitting on the edge of her desk. He nodded to the screen. He was running out of time, and he did need to get to Pasco’s, Franschhoek today. ‘Why don’t you call those people, reschedule and let’s get some real work done?’

Aisha stared at him for a minute, maybe longer, and it slowly dawned on Pasco he’d somehow made a bad situation a hundred times worse. How, he wasn’t quite sure, but he had.

It was in her eyes, flashingAbort! Danger ahead!and in her flattened lips and tense jaw. She pushed her chair back and stood up, pushing back her light jacket to rest her hands on her curvy hips. He’d stroked those curves, kissed the smooth skin above her hip bone, slid his hands around to her truly spectacular butt.

‘You arrogant, opinionated ass!’

He wasn’t sure what surprised him more, her insult or her raised voice. He couldn’t remember Aisha ever yelling before, didn’t think she had it in her. During their marriage, she’d always been so even keeled, happy to acquiesce. Occasionally, he’d wished she’d stand up for herself more, but because he didn’t have time for arguments, he’d appreciated her willingness to go with the flow. Kitchens were full of drama. He hadn’t needed it at home too.

‘How dare you stride in here and demand that I rearrange my working day to accommodate you? You might not respect my career—’

Whoa, hold on! ‘Of course I respect your career!’ he interrupted, standing to face her.

‘If you did, you wouldn’t have blown me off or sent me a message an hour after we were supposed to meet!’

She waved her hands in a shooing motion, trying to dismiss him. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘Actually, itdoesmatter. Don’t shut down,talkto me.’

Her eyes widened at his statement, and she finally nodded. Frowning, she speared her hands into her hair.

‘The bottom line is that you don’t respect me, my time, or what I’m trying to do here! If you did, you wouldn’t walk into my office looking for me to fall into line with your schedule, your wishes.’

Pasco winced. Okay, maybe he’d been a little heavy-handed in insisting she blow off her other appointments to be with him. Because that was what he wanted, her with him. He’d missed her, missed her smile and her voice, missed her in his bed. Missed her scent in his nose, and her body in his arms. His apartment felt empty without her.

‘I was needed at The Vane,’ Pasco carefully replied. ‘My chef—’

‘Ofcourseyou have to put the restaurant first. Your time is so much more valuable thanmine. Guess that hasn’t changed.’

He heard the bitterness in her voice and, worse, the derision. It pierced him with all the accuracy of a scalpel blade.

‘Next time give me ample warning you can’t make a meeting. I’m not someone who will wait around for you, Kildare. Respect me and respect my time.’

She brushed past him to cross the room to yank open the door to her office. ‘When would you like to meet? Tomorrow at four or Thursday at eleven?’ she demanded, gesturing for him to leave.

He saw the militant look in her eyes and internally winced. Knowing there was little point in arguing, and no chance of her changing her mind, he jammed his hands into the pockets of his chinos and walked towards her.

As for another meeting with her, that depended on what he found at Pasco’s, Franschhoek today and tonight. ‘I’ll let you know,’ he told her.

She lifted her chin. ‘Fine,’ she said through gritted teeth.

Pasco sighed, stopped and turned to face her. She was right, he’d been disrespectful today and she was right to call him out. If he wanted to have Aisha in his life, he’d have to do better, think more, stop believing he was the reason the world turned.

He’d been on his own for a long time and was the lord of his little fiefdom. Thanks to his power and success, people kowtowed to him, and he’d become spoiled.

Hell, even if Aisha weren’t a factor, this facet of his life, of himself, could certainly do with a great deal of work.

‘I really am sorry, sweetheart.’

He saw the surprise in her eyes at his genuine apology, but instead of inviting him back into her office, she slammed the door in his face.

And his respect for her inched upwards.

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