He’s here? Now? How did he find my office? I squeeze the tension ball so hard I’m shocked it doesn’t break into a million pieces. I stand on shaky legs and walk to the door.
“What do you want?” I ask through the door.
“Please, Lucy. Let me in.”
My stomach rolls at the idea of being in this tiny office alone with him.
“I can talk to you through the door if you’d like. I’m getting funny looks.”
The last thing I want is for my students to hear my business. I take a deep breath to steady myself, then swing the door open.
At a distance he looked good but up close, he’s just wow. Time has been his friend. He hasn’t just filled out. No, this man is pure muscle. And right now, his hazel eyes hit me like a punch to the gut, and my breath comes whooshing out.
The last time I really stared into his eyes, he told me he loved me and always would. That was right after high school graduation. I didn’t know at the time he’d be gone by that night. All the anger I’ve bottled up returns.
From his perch leaning against the door frame, he glances down the hall then back to me. “Can I come in?”
I don’t feel I have a choice, so I step aside, allowing him in. He pushes off the door frame, standing to his full height, towering over me. He brushes past me, and all my nerve endings light up for the first time in years.
His scent is a mix of clean laundry and man. Something I haven’t been close enough to smell on anyone in a long time.
His bulky frame makes my office seem smaller than it is. The space barely contains a desk, my chair, and two chairs for students on the other side. I’m one of the lucky few who has a window, but even it isn’t helping the trapped sensation.
Instead of talking, Cody stares at me. There’s an electric current buzzing between us. Even after all these years, it’s still there. But the longer he stares, the angrier I feel. Angry and hurt. The pain tries to overtake my fury as tears well in my eyes. I turn away before he can see.
This was a bad idea. I need to get him out of here now.
Trying to keep my voice steady, I tell him, “I don’t see how we have anything to say. I only let you in to prevent a scene my students would see. But I think you should leave.”
“I disagree. I think we have a lot to talk about, Lucy.”
The way he says my name has me turning back to face him. Mistake. He’s grinning, and it lights up his face. He has lines around his eyes he didn’t used to. And dammit, it’s sexy as hell.
“No, we don’t. It’s been thirteen years. Anything you needed to say could have been accomplished with a phone call at any point in that time.”
He runs his hand through his hair. It’s still dark and wavy. I wonder if it’s still as silky as it used to— No, don’t go there. I need to focus on getting him to leave.
“I couldn’t call,” he whispers.
“Bullshit. You left a voicemail then never accepted my calls. I tried until you had your phone shut off.”
He closes his eyes, but I press on.
“I was in love with you, and all I got was a voicemail saying you were enlisting instead of going to Havenwood. This was a few hours after you told me you loved me. We could have discussed it, but no! You made that choice without me. That was the moment we no longer had anything to discuss.”
“You’re angry.”
“Damn right I’m pissed! I don’t see you for thirteen years, and then you show up, standing next to my ex-husband? Is this some kind of sick joke?”
“No, I’m providing him protection.”
I growl as I turn away. So matter of fact. He shows no sign of feeling anything, and I’m a mix of nerves, fury, and hell, I don’t know what else, but it’s all mixing inside, and I might explode.
“I’m sorry.”
I spin back around. “You’resorry? We were supposed to graduate college and get married! You made so many promises, and I believed you. Then you bailed on me. On us.”
Tears threaten to fall again, so I tilt my head up and stare at the ceiling, willing them not to.
