Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(26)

I looked into his eyes and tried to slow my pitter-pattering heart. “Why are you here?”

“For you.” He smiled. “I hope you got my flowers.”

I was hurt he hadn’t contacted me once the whole week I was gone. And, as much as I’d loved the flowers and the note, I needed to hear an apology. “Yes, of course I did. They’re beautiful. But I don’t understand why? I didn’t hear from you for a whole week. I got hurt and you broke up with me. Then you send me flowers and a note and you expect that to make it okay? It’s not, Gabe.”

“I know.” He shook his head. “I came over here after work on Monday, and when I found out you’d left, I thought I’d give you some time to cool off.”

“But to not call or text me once?” I squinted. “That really hurt.”

“I’m sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Well, it wasn’t.”

He pursed his lips. “Look, I want to talk to you. Can I wave a white flag?”

I huffed then crossed my arms. “Fine. I’m listening.”

“I overreacted at the hospital.”

I laughed. “You think?”

“I’m sorry, but you got hurt, and it scared me.”

“Just so you know there aren’t supposed to be any ‘buts’ in an apology.” I leaned back against the wall.

He sighed. “Di, it freaked me out. You could have been killed and it was a wakeup call for me. Can’t you at least understand where I was coming from?”

I had thought about it a million times while I’d been away. “All right, yes, I can slightly understand it, but it doesn’t make it okay.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“For which part? You restating what my dad said to me after the worst night of my life, or using an admitted lapse in judgment against me in an argument, or suggesting I’m getting sloppy? Which part are you sorry for?”

“Di, baby, I’m just sorry I hurt you. I wish I hadn’t, but I can’t take back what I said.”

I stood for a second and tried to understand what he was saying. Did he mean he was sorry for all of it, or just sorry for the impact it had had on me? It sounded like the latter. “What do you mean by that exactly?” I asked.

“Repeating the remark your dad made was out of line, but I meant it. Life is biting you, Di. I’d like you to reconsider working for me and getting yourself into a more stable environment. I can offer you so much more.”

My heart started to pound again. I was going to kill him. “I can’t believe you have the guts to say that to me again.”

“Di, please,” he sighed.

“No.” I stopped him. “I guess I’m not the person you want me to be.”

“But you are. That’s why I’m here.”

I shook my head. “And you think working at Montgomery Mergers and Acquisitions is the answer?” I laughed. “No, it isn’t. My job may be unconventional and slightly dangerous, but I love it and I’m happy doing it. I work really hard every day to make sure I’m the best. I shouldn’t have to prove myself to you. You’ve lost confidence in me, and I can’t tell you how bad that hurts.”

“I only want the best for you. I can offer you everything—money, a job, safety, and security.”

I groaned my irritation. “I have all those things already on my own. I don’t need them from you.” I walked past him and headed up the stairs to my apartment. “I think we’re finished here.”

“Where are you going? You gonna go call Vance and have a little pow-wow now about how I’m such a bad guy? Better yet, why don’t you guys discuss it over a game of cards?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

I glanced over my shoulders and shot him a look that could have melted stone. “Really? Are you really going there?”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“You make absolutely no sense. You know that? I’m going to forget you just said that.”

“Don’t walk away from me, Di. Please.”

“I’m staying where I am and doing what I’m doing.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders forward. “Most women would love this kind of an offer from her boyfriend.”

I chuckled. “I’m not most women and you’re not my boyfriend anymore.” I continued my ascent and walked down the hallway toward my apartment. “You might want to ice your ribs and take some Advil. They’ll probably hurt like hell tomorrow.”

He cleared his throat and shouted up. “I’m sorry, Di. Please. I’m crazy about you.” I stood with my hand on my doorknob. “Did you hear me, Diana Cain? I love you, and I’m not giving up on us.”

“Bye, Gabe,” I called over my shoulder and went inside. I was too angry to cry.



. . .



“Meet me at the gym,” I said into my phone.

“Hi, Vance, how have you been?” Vance said, and I could hear his smile through the line.

“Oh, knock it off. You want romance, call your girlfriend. I need to roll around and punch something for a little bit.”

“So, Gabe already stopped by to see you. That didn’t take long,” he chuckled.