“What are you doing here?” I ask him angrily, digging through my handbag for my keys.
“I just wanted to talk to you, alone,” he says, his eyes raking over me. I’m dressed professionally in a knee-length black skirt and a white blouse. My hair is pulled back away from my face, pinned in a severe bun, and the only makeup I’m wearing is mascara and baby-pink lipstick.
“How did you know I would be here?” I frown.
“Gage told me you work here. Any more questions?” he asks in a sarcastic tone.
“I don’t think you want to go there,” I say wryly. I cross my arms, impatiently waiting for him to tell me whatever it is that is so important that it required him to come to my work.
“Look, I’m sorry I left and didn’t contact you. But I never forgot you, Giselle. Never,” he says, his eyes begging mine. I wanted to hear those words for so long. I wanted him to turn up and reassure me and tell me how much he loved me. But I stopped that after I had Parker. I will not allow myself to be weak because of Tane ever again.
I’ve already given him so much of me and gotten nothing in return.
“Okay,” I respond. Nothing he says will make what he did better. Nothing.
“And I’m sorry about Keira. I had no idea she was Levi’s sister, and I sure as hell never expected you to see anything like that,” he says, looking down.
“Why? We all know you get around, Tane. It’s a bit late to play coy,” I tell him sharply, finally finding my keys and pulling them out.
“You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?” he says under his breath.
“Should I?” I ask him.
“Giselle, just … come here, please?” he begs, as he steps closer to me and pulls me into his arms. I can’t help but relax into his body after a moment, closing my eyes and allowing myself to pretend; pretend that this is Tane, my old Tane. Not this new person who has inhabited his body.
“You’re beautiful, but I liked you before, too, you know. Just as you were. You’ve always been perfect to me,” he almost whispers into my ear. “I missed you.” I pull away. It’s all too much.
“Just don’t, Tane,” I say, raising my hand to stop him from continuing. “Why are you suddenly back?”
“I’m taking a little breather,” he says ambiguously. His hands run up my back, causing me to shiver. I take another step back, out of his arm’s reach.
“For how long?” I ask him.
“Six months, possibly longer,” he replies.
“I see,” I drawl.
“So, you have a kid,” he says, his tone light, but the sudden stillness in his body gives away his tension.
“I do.”
What else am I supposed to say? When I realize Tane is silent, I look up at him, to see him staring at the ground.
“Where is his father?” he asks frankly, his fingers tightening their grip on me. He looks up at me intently, waiting for my answer.
Now it’s my turn to stiffen. “Not in the picture.” I pull away from his embrace.
“I want a name,” he bites out harshly.
“What for?” I ask, now suspicious.
“Because no one hurts you,” he says it like a threat.
I can’t help the cold laugh that escapes me. “That’s rich.”
I told myself I was going to tell him; what the hell am I doing? Each comment that comes out of his mouth just infuriates me further.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he demands.
“Nothing. Look, are you coming to Gage’s now?” I ask, changing the subject. I will tell him, just not right now. Fuck, I’m scared.
“No, I just left there. I thought I’d let you have some family time,” he says, his voice suddenly gentle.
“How kind of you,” I say sarcastically.
“What the f**k did I do now?” he asks, looking confused.
“Nothing, Tane. It’s Friday, I’m sure you have plans. Keira? Or someone new, maybe?” I say, my fingers digging into my palms at the thought. Instead of answering me, or giving an explanation, Tane just smiles. The bastard smiles. Shit, I need to get a hold of myself.
“I’m going,” I announce, pulling myself from his reach.
“I like you being jealous,” he says, his lips turned up in a smug grin.
My eyes narrow to slits. “If I was, I’d have to be jealous of how many women around the world? It would be a full-time job.”
He shrugs. “I was looking for something, trying to keep myself distracted. What I really wanted the whole time was you.”
I open my mouth, and then snap it shut. What does one say to that? He had me. He had me, and he didn’t want me.
“You’re good, Tane. I’ll give you that.”
“That wasn’t a line, Giselle, give me some credit,” he says, looking down at his shoes. “You know there has always been something between us. Connecting us. Drawing us together.”
“It doesn’t matter. You have no right to say those things,” I reply, taking a deep breath, hoping it will calm me down.
It doesn’t.
“If we were so connected, you would have come home a long time before now, and I wouldn’t have had to run into you by accident. If I didn’t walk in on you and Keira, I probably would have never seen you, would I?”
He lifts his face up to look at me. Many emotions pass over it.