Finally reaching him, she stopped before him and struck what she probably thought was an alluring pose, her perfectly painted lips in a pout. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“No. Now why are you here?”
That pout dropped, her lips flattening into a disgruntled hyphen. “If you want to know so badly, then invite me in and we’ll talk about it over a drink.” Digging into her large shoulder bag she pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Tipping the bottle from side to side in a little wave, she shot him a cajoling smile, “I brought your favorite.”
Wow. Just, wow. She had to know he was trying to stay clean. Everyone back home knew. For Christ’s sake, her sister was married to his brother and he knew for a fact they occasionally discussed him. Had even overheard Susan tell Mary Beth how well he was doing. Was she that oblivious? He knew she was self-centered, but – yeah, wow.
“I don’t drink anymore.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to drink any less.” She said in a sing-song voice attempting humor. Eyeing him for a moment, she sighed and tucked the bottle back into her bag. “You were so much more fun when you were a drunk, Christian.”
“You’re really beginning to get on my nerves, Mary Beth,” Christian snarled, “so I’ll ask you one last time. Why… are… you… here?”
She let out a little huff of surprise at his tone before her lower lip trembled and she managed to bring forth some crocodile tears. “Christian.”
“You wore the waterproof mascara I see.”
Funny how the tears instantly dried as her face suffused with color and she hissed, “Bastard.” Her lip curled into a sneer, “You should probably take me up on that drink, Christian. Sobriety has obviously made you even more of a dick.”
Christian straightened to his full height. “Youstillhaven’t told me why you’re here. What do you want Mary Beth?”
He watched as her look turned cajoling once more and he held up his hand. “Just spit it out. I’m in no mood for your games.”
“You’re making this so difficult.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited, watching the play of emotions over her face, the glint of calculation in her eyes. He knew this woman too well, could practically hear the gears in her head spinning as she tried to manufacture an excuse. Her hand came up to tentatively touch his forearm and he gripped her wrist before she touched him and immediately dropped it, having no desire for prolonged contact. Her lips twisted into another pout. “You look good, Christian. Really good.”
When he didn’t reply to her attempt at flattery, she let out a little nervous laugh and smoothed her hand over her hair. “I thought we might try again,” her voice lowering seductively. “We were good together once.”
The bark of surprised laughter escaped his throat before he even realized it was coming. “You can’t be serious.” Christian shook his head. “We were never good together, Mary Beth, so try again. What’s the real reason you’re here?”
Gripping the fingertips of her left hand with the right, her expression turned petulant. “Fine. Daddy cut me off.”
Christian nodded, not feeling an ounce of sympathy. “Good.”
Another welling of tears on command and Christian sighed with exasperation. “Okay, let me put this a different way. What do you need to leave me alone and never darken my doorstep again?”
