Chapter 26 #3
“You’ll come back to mine and I won’t hear anything else. I’m not leaving you vulnerable again,” Alex announced, as he started checking my windows again, wandering back into the kitchen to assess whether every possible point of access was secure.
I followed him into the kitchen. “I’m not vulnerable. I can look after myself. And it’ll be better if I stay at Grace’s. She’s my best friend. She’s like a sister to me.”
“A sister who doesn’t answer her phone or messages and has no idea where you’ve been for days.”
I hated that he had a point.
He walked past me, striding back into the living room before he headed for the stairs, shouting over his shoulder, “You’ll come back with me. No arguments. I will sort this.”
He raced up the stairs, and I did too, calling out, “I’m going to Grace’s. I’ll be fine there.”
He ignored me and darted for the bathroom, before heading into my bedroom.
I stood on the tiny landing at the top of my stairs as I watched him check my wardrobe, and the windows, then he got down on his hands and knees to look under my freaking bed, and I lost it.
Taking a deep breath, I folded my arms and snapped, “Can we just leave? I don’t like being here.”
I hated that I felt uncomfortable in my own home. That being here made my skin crawl, knowing he’d been here too.
He pushed himself up off the floor and strode out of the bedroom, coming to stand opposite me.
He breathed deeply, his eyes penetrating as he looked right at me.
I stared back, feeling that newly familiar pull towards him.
Alex had an aura that dominated any room he was in. Right now, it was dominating me.
He took his time to gather his thoughts, but when he eventually spoke, his words knocked me off my feet.
“You don’t like being here because you’re afraid, but you’re stronger than you think, Emma.
” He put his hands on my shoulders as he spoke, as if he was making sure I was listening as intently as I could.
“Don’t let this rule you. Don’t let what’s happened change how you feel about your lovely home and everything you’ve achieved to get where you are in life. ”
He paused, then added, “That night at the gallery, I could tell you were a strong, independent woman, and I liked that. You intrigued me, and no one intrigues me, ever, and I’ve met a lot of people.
Then you started talking, and I wanted to know more.
I had to know more. I wanted to know everything. ”
He took another breath. “You walked away from me, and I didn’t like that.
I didn’t like the way it made me feel. So, I followed you, trying to get you to sit with us, but you said no, and I let you go again, like a fucking fool.
I knew it was the biggest mistake of my life, to let you walk out of that gallery, and away from me.
But I swore that night, that I wouldn’t let you do that again.
I’d find another way to see you, and when I did, I’d make it count.
There’s something here, Emma. A spark, or whatever you want to call it.
I know you feel it, too. And I know you’re guarded because of all this, but I just want you to give me a chance to prove I’m not the man you thought I was back at my house.
Come home with me, please. Let me look after you.
And I know you don’t need anyone to look after you, you’re not vulnerable, but I would feel better, knowing where you are. ”
I was struck dumb by the openness and honesty of his words. He was right, I did feel that spark. But how could I explore something when my world was burning around me?
“I appreciate your kindness,” I replied softly, and his shoulders sagged a little, knowing what I was going to say next. “But I need to go and see Grace.”
I knew from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t going to push it any further. He looked disappointed, defeated even.
“Okay,” he replied. “But could I still come and see you? Would you let me take you to dinner and put a proper smile on your face. Not the fake one like you’re giving me now to try and make me feel better. A real one.”
I opened my mouth, but words didn’t come out.
“Please, Emma. Give me a chance.”
“I... I’m not sure... I don’t...” I stuttered over my words; I was so confused.
Then suddenly, he looked up and pointed at the small hatch that gave me access to my attic.
“Do you use that space? Could I look up there?”
“No, I don’t use it, and of course you can look up there,” I replied, feeling somewhat bemused at how quickly he’d changed the subject.
He stalked into my bedroom and then came out with a chair. I stood there speechless, still stuck in the moment where he was begging me to have dinner with him and give him a chance. Meanwhile, he was positioning the chair under the hatch and looking up at it with purpose.
He climbed onto the chair as I took a step back. Then he pushed the hatch up and open, peering into the attic that I’d never been in.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as he gasped, and then said, “Holy fucking shit. No fucking way. Emma. You’re gonna want to see this.”