Page 5 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

Oh shit, that hurt!

“Hello,” I answered hesitantly peeking from my living room.

What the hell was going on?

I heard heavy footsteps and saw Kristoff practically running down the hallway, with two police officers behind him. One of them turned the hallway light on, as Kristoff wrapped me hard into his arms.

“Uhm, what’s going on?” I embraced him and locked my arms around his waist. It might be the last hug.

“We received reports of concern for you since your car was left in the W&W garage,” one of the police officers answered. “We came to check the house and saw your leg dangling off the couch, not moving at all, and we banged the window for quite a while.”

“What?” I was sure my brain wasn’t quite catching up yet.

“My apologies, Miss,” the other police officer interjected. “Your car was left in the garage at your workplace. And your purse was left at your desk. You were reported missing when the garage superintendent didn’t have a record indicating you were leaving your car there. Seeing you through the window like that, we thought you were hurt or worse… dead. ”

I glanced towards the front room and saw the large window they broke through to enter the house.

I frowned, giving them an idiotic look, like they were crazy, and then I looked up at Kristoff. He was a mess. His tie was half untied, his hair was a disheveled mess, and his green eyes looked almost bruised like he hadn’t slept in days.

“No, I’m fine,” I answered, my voice still raspy from sleep. “I was just sleeping.”

“I was worried sick. I thought something happened to you,” Kristoff mumbled against my hair.

Remembering our argument, and although I loved his arms around me, I gently pushed on him and took a step back. He didn’t look happy to let me go, but he allowed it.

“Everything is ok,” I said in a low voice. “I had a friend bring me home.”

“Do you mind if we have a look around?” the officer asked.

“That’s unnecessary, but please be my guest,” I answered, and the two went to ensure I was safe. They apologized for breaking the glass on my window, which I was not happy about.

“I’m going to stay with you and will have the window repaired tomorrow,” Kristoff interjected.

The hell you are,I thought to myself but stayed silent.

Within a few minutes, the officers were satisfied I was not in harm's way and left, leaving me alone with Kristoff. As I watched the police officers depart from my front porch, Kristoff stood next to me. Once we couldn’t see their car, I slowly turned to Kristoff. The moon was bright and combined with the porch light on, I could clearly see the outline of his strong jaw. He was clenching it, and I wondered if he was still mad. I didn’t care… slight correction, I didn’t want to care. But that was just a minor detail that he didn’t need to know.

I went over and sat down on my front porch. The sound of the rain pattering around us helped to calm and cool the hurt burning inside of me. Whether I was upset because of the hurt this man had caused me or the equally infuriating wave of desire I felt for him each and every time he was around didn't matter... the fact was, I was still upset with him. I listened to the constant sound of the water streaming down and out of the rain gutter at the corner of the house. The rain brought with it a slight cool breeze and I wished that I grabbed a jacket.

"Kristoff." I began since he just stood there as a statue, granted a beautiful and sexy statue, but that wasn't important. “You can’t stay the night.”

“I’m not leaving you with a broken window anyone can enter,” his voice was final, just like his negotiations.

“I am not spending a night with you under the same roof.” After everything today, this wasn’t what I needed.

“I can’t be around you right now,” I whispered low.

I wasn’t sure if the moonlight’s reflection was playing tricks on me, but I thought I saw him flinch and pain cross his face.

“I’ll stay in my car then,” he grumbled. “But I am not leaving till your window is fixed.”

“Great,” I got up from the seat. I was tired and didn’t have energy to argue with him.

“Good night, Kristoff,” I whispered raspy and turned around before I could do something stupid.

How is it possible that I still want him?I thought desperately.

My self preservation was warning me to keep my distance from Kristoff. The first day I walked into his office to interview for the administrative assistant position, I had no idea I'd end up here. But I should have, considering from the moment I laid eyes on this man, I was completely twisted up on the inside. There was something about him that pulled me to him. Maybe it was his devastatingly good looks, maybe it was the way he seemed to command every room he entered, or maybe it was because I found someone who, like me, had been hurt and damaged. But even still, he couldn't seem to move past the fact that he couldn't control me or my life, including the people I chose to speak to and be friends with.

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