SLOW HANDS

Chloe rolled her eyes, still angry about what had happened inside the house. She knew she had to leave before she said something she would regret. The last thing she wanted was to lose the account she just got with Packard Enterprises because she lost her temper….. But hell, she had a lot to say and she would spill if she didn’t leave now.

“I’m sorry” Timothy said again.

She didn’t reply. As far as she was concerned, he could take his apology and go straight to hell, but despite her ignoring him, he still didn’t leave.

“I’m sorry” Timothy repeated. “That was way out of line and I shouldn’t have said it.”

She turned to look at him, her face expressionless. She wouldn’t let him know how much his actions affected her. She wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. “Apology accepted,” she replied. “Can I leave now or do you have more hurtful things to say?”

He didn’t move. “You are still mad,” he said softly. “I already apologized”

This was the part where she was supposed to shut up, accept his apology and drive home. She knew exactly what she was supposed to do, but instead, she found herself unlocking the car door and stepping out. Timothy took a step back as she did. He still towered above her as he was much taller than she was, but the height difference didn’t stop her from looking him dead in the eyes and telling him exactly what she thought.

“I really don’t want your apology, Tim, because it doesn’t matter.” she said. “I would prefer you didn’t treat me like some unwanted stranger you can’t wait to be rid of.” There was a throb of irritation in her voice.

“I don’t treat you like a stranger,” Timothy replied.

“Oh please” replied Chloe. “All you did in there was frown whenever my name was mentioned. I noticed because I’m not blind…. It was very obvious too. And let’s not even talk about the cold manner in which you have spoken to me since I arrived. You look like this is the last place you want to be just because I’m here. Am I really that vile? Do you hate me that much?”

Timothy said nothing. Instead he gritted his teeth and shoved his hands into his pocket.

Even in her anger, Chloe noticed him… Every inch of him… And his smell. She could pick out his unique scent. Rough. Masculine and mouthwateringly sexy. It made no sense to her, but she was attuned to his every nuance.

The man she had called her best friend until a dizzying series of events dissolved the title like sugar in hot water stared at her dispassionately. It was a good thing they were outside and she hoped that he couldn’t see the hurt and disappointment on her face. The look wasn’t just in his eyes. It seeped through every shrug, every curl of lips she had once thought were the most perfectly created set of lips on earth.

She looked deeper, pathetically desperate to find something else. Something more. A reminder of those semi-carefree years when they would talk to each other for hours, and resume conversations the moment they saw one another again the next day.

But clearly the Tim she knew had been replaced by a harder, edgier version of a Timothy Kavell – Packard. He was hard and edgy and cynical to start off with. If she had known that he hated her this much, she wouldn’t have agreed to his parents’ offer to have dinner with them. But a stupid part of her had hoped that somehow, they would be friends again…

“Jesus. Since when did you get so melodramatic?” Chloe continued, anger flashing across her face. “Fine, since you still clearly hate me, I’m guessing you don’t want anything to do with me, but can we keep things at least civil between us? You don’t have to be mean. I wouldn’t have come anywhere near you if not for the account so if you think I have some sort of agenda going on here, then think again. All I want is to get this thing over with and I’ll be out of your hair, okay?”

Timothy couldn’t look away from the pulse racing at her throat, the bright shine to her eyes. Hell, the sheer magnificence of her face. Every part of her that his gaze touched cemented what he had suspected since she had walked into his father’s office… He was well and truly screwed. In all the ways imaginable.

“All right, calm down.” he said as he watched her. For a second, he almost laughed, but knowing her as well as he did, he knew that this wasn’t the time. “I’m sorry that I have been that way. I guess I was just surprised to see you again without any warning and I didn’t handle it well because… You know…” He slid his hands deeper into his pockets, looked at the ground and exhaled. “I didn’t like my mom reminding me of the past. It was a long time ago and I want the past to remain where it belongs, but you are right, Chloe. It really doesn’t matter anymore. From now on, we put all that behind us and just focus on the job at hand.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

She was staring at his mouth. A mouth she was having a hard time dragging her gaze from and she almost blurted out that she didn’t just want to work together. She didn’t want things to remain in the past. A part of her wanted their friendship back… And maybe even more… But she was sure that she would be way out of line if she did say it. His actions had proved that already. Hell, he was having a hard time just having her around. It would be better and safer not to push things as she would only end up hurting herself. Their friendship ended years ago, and maybe it was best if it stayed that way.

She studied him for one second longer, either reacquainting herself with his face or assessing his mood before turning away from him and sliding back into her car.

The involuntary swallow at the rich, flowery scent that trailed her was annoying but Timothy gave himself a pass, extracting a hand from his pocket long enough to shut her car door for her.

“So are we good?” he asked her as she turned the key in the ignition.

She nodded slowly. “Yeah, we are fine,” she replied, feeling a lump in her throat. “Good night, Tim”