He turned to see Ann was there. Her gaze was on him and in a split second before she looked away, he saw the pain and hurt in her eyes.
Fuck.
She was alone, at a table near the counter.
He heard her name called. She grabbed her dinner, and without another look at him, she was gone.
There was no time to chase her either. Their dinner arrived and Katie was oblivious to his panic. Ann had seen him with this woman and her overly grabby hand. He was pissed off. He tried to focus on dinner, listening to Katie and Louisa chatter. He moved to the edge of the booth, and when Katie asked if she could sleep over at Louisa’s, he didn’t argue. He promised to get her the next day.
Louisa’s mom wanted him to come back for a drink but he declined, instead, walking back to his home with the task of trying to figure out how to tell the woman in his life that what she saw wasn’t the real truth.
Never had he justified his actions, but now, he did feel he was going to need a miracle.
Chapter Eight
It was foolish to hope for anything. She knew that now as clear as anything.
Ann couldn’t believe what a fool she had been and he was even on a date with another woman. Sure, Katie and another girl had been there, but he’d looked way too cozy with that other woman, and well, it was up to him what he did.
After running fingers through her hair, she put her food down on the counter and instead, took a nice long shower.
She tilted her head up to the spray of the water, closing her eyes as she washed the day’s dirt from her body. She was due to walk Elizabeth’s dogs tomorrow morning.
Whatever tales these houses had to tell, they clearly didn’t work on her, not that she minded. She didn’t need a man.
With her hair thoroughly washed and her body clean, she turned the shower off and wrapped her hair up in a towel before pulling on a bathrobe to cover her body.
She wondered if that other woman had to cover anything up that was perfect on her. Ugh, she hated this. Being jealous of other women was not productive. It sucked and she wasn’t the kind of woman to be pissed at something like this, and yet, it seemed, she was hurt by what she saw.
It means nothing.
Once she’d padded downstairs, she grabbed her dinner off the counter, which was now cold, but she didn’t mind eating cold burgers. There was no reason for her to cook today.
Sitting on the sofa, she shoved her burger into her mouth and took a large bite, feeling her stomach twist at the thought of Eli preferring the sophisticated woman to her. She wondered if that woman needed help to pay her mortgage, or if her bills and finances were all in order. She probably didn’t need two jobs either.
Taking another bite, she refused to allow herself to fall for him, or think about him with another woman.
He had his own life, he could live it his own way.
She’d be able to work through all of her troubles. It would probably be good for Katie to have a mother as well.
Another bite and a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
With burger in hand, she walked across to her door, only to glare. Eli was on the other side. She stood there.
“Ann, I know you’re in there.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I can feel you. Come on. I know you’re pissed at me, but you can’t be pissed at something you don’t know. You don’t know the full story.”
Unlocking her door, she opened it. “I really need to know the full story about why that woman was pretty much touching your dick in the diner?”
“She didn’t get anywhere near my dick.”
“Yeah, right. Did you just throw her off you, is that it? Is that what you want me to believe?” she asked.
He stepped into her house, closing the door, and she stormed away, going back to her seat on the sofa. He wasn’t getting sex tonight.
Taking another bite of her burger, she hated that it was the last one, but she had cold fries. Shoving one of them in her mouth, she realized they didn’t taste as good cold. Still, she was going to eat and ignore this man.
Don’t you think you’re acting a wee bit childish?
No, she didn’t. She felt she was acting how she felt, hurt. Sophisticated woman, childish outburst.
Eli took the bag from her hand and threw it in the trash.
“Hey, I was eating those.”
“They’re cold and you look like you’re going to throw up. Don’t lie to me and pretend otherwise. Now, are we going to have a civilized conversation here, or do you want to keep arguing with me?”
She frowned. “Where’s Katie?”
“She’s at a sleepover.”
“Oh, at little miss perfect’s. I’m surprised you’re not there.”
“I did get an invite but I knew I needed to come and deal with you.”
“You don’t have to deal with me. I’ve got a lot of things I could be doing. You know, dating, and going out with lots of strange men.” Oh, shut up, please. She didn’t know why she kept talking.
Part of her had hoped her talk with Elizabeth had been right.
No. She couldn’t fall for Eli. They weren’t a couple. They weren’t even together. Not really. They enjoyed each other. He was her first, but when this ran its course, it would be over. Completely over.
Elie grabbed her face and suddenly, she was pressed back against the sofa, his large body over hers and she had no choice but to spread her legs as he thrust against her. His lips took possession of hers.
All thought left her.
All that remained was his body next to hers.
The towel on her head had started to dry her hair but now it fell. He sank his fingers into her hair and kissed her again.
“Now that I have you quiet, I’m going to tell you there was nothing going on between that woman and me. There will never be anything going on because I don’t belong to anyone, Ann. You’re the only woman I want. Katie didn’t even want to go out on a playdate. I organized it because I thought she did, and I wanted her to fit in. Have a life here. One where she is loved and people know her. You know?” he asked.
She nodded. Right now, words seemed to be failing her at every single turn and it would be much easier for her to listen. Less humiliating as well. She had really thrown their relationship up in his face, and even brought dating other men into it. She was an idiot. No doubt about it.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You have every single right to be hurt, Ann. I’m not going to hold it against you.”
“No, you’re right. I acted like an idiot and I won’t let it happen again.”
He pressed his head against hers. “I mean, what I’m saying is I don’t want any other woman. I’m not even looking.”
“I saw the way the woman looked at you. She wants you.”
“She can want all she likes, she’s not getting me. I belong to you.”
Her heart lifted. His words filled her with hope. Did he even realize the words he’d spoken? The kind that gave way to commitment. She knew they were only spoken in the heat of the moment, but still, they were there.
Did he really belong to her?
She needed to keep her hopes down. There was no way she was going to let this moment go. Not now.
He kissed her again. “I did try to call you,” he said.