The Billionaire's Matchmaker(69)

“It was obvious from last night that Charlie and Lulu are mates, and I always live up to my responsibilities. Now, if you don’t mind, Charlie and I were on our way out.”

“I think Charlie beat you to the punch.”

Sure enough. The foyer was empty. Dammit, he couldn’t even count on his dog today. “Then if you don’t mind, I need to catch up with my dog before he winds up at your friend’s art studio.” He stepped forward, hoping she’d take the hint, but to his surprise, she stayed put.

“Actually,” she said, “I’m here about last night.”

Nick refrained from letting out a sigh. Since Jenny had stayed her ground, his movement merely closed the distance between them. He stood close enough to smell her floral soap.

“From where I stand, there isn’t much to talk about,” he told her.

“You’re angry with me.”

“Me? I’m not angry with you.” It was true. He felt a lot of emotions: frustration, hurt, self-admonishment. If he felt any anger at all, it was toward himself for being stupid enough to buy into his own fantasy. “You didn’t do anything that other people haven’t done before.”

“Does that include your fiancée?”

Nick winced. Megan was the last person he wanted to talk about, especially with Jenny. Since it was obvious she had some point she needed to make, he folded his arms and leaned against the threshold. “What do you want?”

“I—” She started to fidget. Never a good sign. Fidgeting implied discomfort. The toe of her shoe traced patterns along the base of the doorframe. Her gaze seemed immensely focused on this activity as well, unless it was simply an excuse to avoid looking at him. Habit made him want to shrink back into the shadows so she’d be more comfortable.

To hell with her comfort, he decided. She saw him last night, she could look at him in the light of day. “Do I make you nervous?” he asked, leaning forward, challenging her.

“Yes.” To her credit, she looked him in the eye when answering. Score one for honesty, even if her words punched him in the gut.

“I see.” He backed away.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t.” He held up a hand. “I don’t want your sympathy, apologies, or explanations. I would, however, like you to leave.”

“No.”

“No?” Yesterday, he’d found her stubbornness amusing; not so this afternoon. Every second she hung around reminded him what a mistake it had been to kiss her. Especially since he really wanted to kiss her again.

“You don’t understand.” Her hand reached out to touch his arm. He pulled away. “I know you think I ran because of your injuries, but that’s not the case.”

“It isn’t?”

“No. Sure, they shocked me at first, but you act as though you’re some repulsive monster.”

Wasn’t he? Megan had said… No, he didn’t need Megan’s mocking words to know how awful he looked; the mirror told him every morning.

And yet Jenny hadn’t looked away. Her eyes remained locked with his, emotion swirling behind the moistness. Nick studied the depths. To his amazement, he saw not pity or fear, but regret.

“I didn’t run because of how you look,” she told him. “I ran because of how you made me feel.” She cleared her throat. “How you make me feel.”

…

That she got the words out at all amazed her. She thought she had her apology all worked out—Lord knows she practiced enough on the drive over—but then Nick had opened the door and she’d found herself yet again pinned down by his sapphire gaze. He was trying his best to glare but the hurt bled through, muting the chill he was working so hard to cast.

In the light of day, she had a better view of his injuries. The darkened skin was raised and brownish pink, the scar a shade lighter. Both traveled below his collar. She realized the eye patch didn’t matter. His remaining eye was brilliant enough to compensate. In fact, the Internet pictures failed to do him justice. What the fire hadn’t touched was more than unblemished—it was perfection. Jenny grew weak in the knees.

She knew her comment wouldn’t make sense to him. Sure enough, he folded his arms across his chest and waited for her to continue.

Swallowing hard, she tried. “Last night, w-w-when you kissed me, I…” God, this was more difficult than she thought. “I lost control. I shouldn’t have. People in town see me, that is, I have a reputation. If my students—not to mention their parents—thought that I went around… well, I’d lose all their respect.”

“I see.” He shifted his weight. “So you ran away because people might gossip?”

“Yes. I mean no.” She was handling this badly. “Do you think we could do this somewhere besides the doorway?” Talking might be easier without him glowering over her like a sentry.

“What about Charlie?”

Jenny wasn’t sure if he was kidding or being sarcastic. Hard to tell from his expression. “I’ll take responsibility if he shows up downtown,” she said. “Please.”

A couple seconds ticked by, and then Nick stepped aside. “We can talk in the library.”

He escorted her down the corridor opposite the one she travelled the day before. This time, the artwork and décor passed by unnoticed. Jenny was too focused on what she would say when they reached their destination.