He rubbed his aching head, wishing he had some water to banish the dryness in his throat. Wrestling with his survival instincts, he had debated his next move. Considering the consequences, he groaned, worries plaguing his mind. I fucked up. She might even refuse to work with me. A human resources conundrum would certainly be vexing. My damn brother would be so smug!
Thoughts of his pathetic attempt to rushed to the door to beg her forgiveness brought a heated flush to his cheeks and made his head spin. I must have looked like such an idiot standing there in the dark. He chuckled, remembering how she’d shut off the lights as if she were going to bed—he couldn’t blame her after the stupid excuse he had given about needing to get up early. He groaned. Fuck!
Steadily making the drive home, he struggled to escape his damning thoughts. Worse than remembering her anger, he couldn’t let go of her scent or thoughts of her warmth mingling with his or the sound of her moans as he touched her. Dating was usually easy—the rule was to never get serious with one woman, always keep things casual, friendly, and fun. I broke my rules and not just today.
He gripped the steering wheel so hard his palms hurt while gritting his teeth. “Damn it!”
Once he entered his condo’s parking garage, he rested his forehead on the airbag as he tried to think of a way to fix what he had done. Lots of things ran through his head, a text, flowers, or maybe a handwritten note would do the trick. I might need all three.No, a face-to-face apology would be best. I have to go back.
Feeling even stupider for having driven thirty-nine minutes only to go right back, Holden stared at his face in the rearview mirror and shook his head. “It’s too late. Cutting off your feelings now won’t change it.”
On the long trek back, he practiced what he would as he drove, determined to make things right. He made a quick stop to pick up some flowers and supplies to prepare a handwritten note with a heartfelt apology. If she won’t see me, I can still leave the flowers and note on the small table beside the rocking chair on her porch.
Just as Holden was closing in on his destination, another car turned at a stoplight and got in front of him, trying his patience. When the green BMW turned onto Mary Allison’s street, he assumed the driver was one of her neighbors but was startled when the car turned into her driveway. Not knowing who was in the vehicle, he couldn’t pull up behind him, so he did the only thing he could think of at the moment and turned off his lights before pulling into her next-door neighbor’s driveway, hoping like hell no one would notice him in the dark.
From his vantage point, Holden watched a blond man step out of the car. The darkness and distance prevented him from studying the man’s facial features, but a lump formed in his throat as he recalled the profile picture of the man who had messaged her about having a slumber party. He gulped, choking back bile while praying the man was at the wrong address. A minute later, Mary Allison exited her house wearing a sexy, red dress and black sweater while holding an overnight bag. His gaze settled on her body, particularly the way her breasts pushed together. His pulse reacted and he palmed his face. All he could do was sit back and watch as she ran up and hugged the guy before heading for the passenger seat. Holden’s muscles tensed and he clenched his jaw as the unworthy bastard walked to the driver’s side without holding the door for her or even helping her with her bag.
Bullocks! Do all American women like assholes? He had spent most of his dating years in Great Britain until recently but was certainly starting to see a pattern.
Unsure what he should do, he waited until the BMW pulled away before leaving the stranger’s driveway and pulling into Mary Allison’s. He sat frozen for a few minutes as he realized there was no way he could leave the flowers and the note now without looking desperate. Do I want to apologize now?It’s sort of fucked up of her to run off to have sex with another man after coming so close to doing the deed with me earlier in the day.
He held his head in his hands and rubbed his temples. One the other hand, she didn’t owe him anything, and the situation he found himself in was of his own doing.
He groaned, hating himself for having been a coward. I should have accepted Mary Allison’s invitation to return home with herinstead of sitting alone while the woman I want runs off with a douche bag in a fancy car. A fantasy of spreading her legs back and lavishing kisses on her thighs flashed in his head.
Damn it!” Without a lot of options left, he decided he would speak to her later and extend a short apology for “zoning out.” He put his car in gear before backing out into the street to start the journey home again.
Chapter Six
Drinking the night away, a very intoxicated Mary Allison plastered a smile on her face, accepting the compliments lavished on her by gay men and drag queens alike who admired Donnie’s creation. Even as they told her how “hot” she looked, her brain buzzed with thoughts of her boss slipping his hand down her pants. Her face flamed with embarrassment over how stupid she’d been as she sipped from her third margarita.
The snapping of fingers in front of her face drew her out of her
