I don’t as much as smile. “So maybe you can tell me why a man who has never wanted to be in a serious, committed relationship has just done something that might force him to do just that.”
The bartender doesn’t even hesitate.
“It’s love. It’s got to be.”
What? His reply is so fast that I practically get whiplash. But the bartender merely shrugs and smiles while continuing to polish the glasses. I wait for him to elaborate, but instead, he puts away the stein in his hand and grabs another.
“Love?” I echo. “Really? That’s it? That’s what caused me to act like a maniac?”
Suddenly, the thought hits me like a brick.
My eyes widen.
The bartender nods.
“Yep,” he says wryly. “It’s the only answer, in fact.”
I jerk back, stunned.
Wait. Do I love Katie?
I sit there, just trying to fathom the unfathomable thought.
Do I even know how to love anyone?
After all, I’ve never really loved before. Hell, I’ve never even been in a relationship that’s lasted longer than two months. The emotion seems foreign to me. I mean, sure, I love my family, but that’s different. That’s family, and not a woman by your side.
Besides, how can I love the girl after knowing her for such a short period of time? It doesn’t make any sense.
“This is insane.”
“Hmm?” The bartender cocks an eyebrow. “What is, sir?”
“This has to end now,” I growl, shaking my head. Quickly, I gulp down yet another drink before I take off. My one focus now is getting back to the apartment. One way or another, I need to get to the bottom of this.
I pull into the driveway and turn off the car. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. I’ve been wired all day, feeling like someone has rigged my body with electricity. That feeling is only made worse by the alcohol in my system.
Maybe you should come back when you’ve sobered up a bit, the voice of reason tells me, but I don’t listen.
I snatch Katie’s purse off of the passenger seat and charge into the building. I don’t even bother to knock as I barge into her new apartment.
There, I find Katie watching television, wearing nothing but a white robe, with a carton of ice cream in her hand. She looks startled, but so beautiful with her hair in a mass of ringlets, and bit of creamy skin showing through the vee of the terry cloth.
I toss her purse onto the coffee table. It falls on its side and all the contents spill out.
Good.
She stares at me as I approach.
“Did you forget something when you left so hastily, Mr. Lockhart? You seemed to remember everything else.” Her voice is seemingly innocent, but there’s an iciness underneath it all. Her eyes are cold, and as she waits for me to answer, she crosses her arms over her chest with her lips pressed together, clearly angry with me.
I feel bad, but shoulder ahead. After all, answers are needed.
Looming over her, I hold her gaze, my stare burning into her curvy form.
“Why’d you do this to me?” My voice is loud and harsh, ringing throughout the room.
“Why’d you just do that to me?” she retorts sassily, her dark brows cocked in question. “There were condoms you know, but I couldn’t reach for them because my hands were unexpectedly tied,” she adds with a hint of sarcasm to her voice.
“I’m sorry.” My shoulders sag. “If I could do things over …”
For the first time in my life, I find myself at a loss for words. It hits me that this whole situation must have affected her dramatically as well. God, I acted like such a coward. Pounding her pussy and then taking off like that. I wet my lips and try again. “I’m sorry. If I could do it all over again, then I’d…” I shake my head. “Well sweetheart, I’d do it all again.”
She cocks her head at me.
“Really? Why?” she asks.
I sigh, smiling with gallows humor.
“I wish I knew.” I look at her, but can’t hold her gaze. I look away, my heart beating fast, threatening to explode. The word ‘love’ echoes through my head like a drum beat, but it won’t come out.
Love, love, love!
It gets louder and louder.
“I think we need to end this. Now,” the words slip from my throat. What the hell? What am I saying? That’s the last thing I want to do, and yet somehow the words are out there like a poisonous toxin.
Katie laughs and throws her hands in the air.
“Oh, really? Ha!” She gets up and places her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes in my direction. “You spurt your come all up in me, and now we need to end this? Really?” She steps forward and shakes her head. “No.” Her tone is firm as she plops back down on the couch and leans back, crossing her arms in front of her.
