Return to You

be
lonely."
    Lainie opened her mouth to say she found it
hard to believe Everett was lonely when the door opened and he
walked in.
    "Ladies." He nodded at Mae but didn't spare
her a glance. "Dinner smells delicious. I'll go clean up."
    He just ignored me. She didn't like that. Not at all. Something inside
made her want to make him notice her instead of taking for granted
she'd be there at his beck and call. "Everett."
    He stopped and turned to face her.
    Lainie wondered if she looked as surprised
at her imperious tone as he did. Only now that she had his
attention, what did she say? "Where's Olivia?" It wasn't going to
make him fall to his knees and beg her for undying love, but at
least he'd have to talk to her.
    Everett slowly raised his eyebrow at
her.
    "Olivia went to call you for dinner. Where
is she?"
    "I must have just missed her. I'm sure
she'll be along soon." He strode from the kitchen, apparently for
his bathroom.
    Something was wrong. She had the distinct
impression he wanted to avoid her. Well, she wouldn't stand for
that. "Excuse me, Mae."
    Mae's low chuckle followed her out as she
hurried after Everett. She needed to catch up to him before he
locked himself in the bathroom. She made it in time to slap her
hand on the closing door and wedge herself inside with him.
    He goggled at her, something between horror
and fascination. She couldn't blame him—she wasn't sure what had
gotten into her either.
    That wasn't true. She was here for Olivia.
"What's going on with Olivia?"
    "I have no idea what you mean." His eyes
flickered down to the open buttons of her shirt.
    "You're up to something."
    "Elaine, you do realize you're in my
bathroom."
    "It's where you are, so, yes." But she
hadn't noticed how small it was until that moment—or how close he
was to her.
    Then he took a step closer. His restrained
energy beat at her like a tangible force. He smelled delicious, and
she wanted to burrow her nose in his neck.
    She needed to get a grip.
    She needed to throw herself at him and beg
him to love her.
    If Olivia were here, she'd tell her to
assert herself. Everett needed someone strong enough to stand up to
him. Both Olivia and Mae thought that was her.
    It was her.
    She put her hand flat on his chest and
pushed. "Stop trying to intimidate me."
    He froze, staring down at her incredulously
as if he couldn't believe a mere mortal dared to touch him. The
important thing was not to show weakness at this point. Any small
evidence of weakness and she'd be through.
    She may have been through as it was.
    The thought of being fired hurt. That alone
galvanized her into action. She ran her hand up over his shoulder
and down his arm, just like she'd imagined doing so many times.
    He place his hand on hers, holding it still.
Her knees weakened at the touch. Looking up, she expected anger,
but he stared at her, rapt.
    "This is a side of you I've never seen,
Elaine." He studied her palm before turning it over and running his
thumb over her knuckles.
    She warmed all the way to her core.
    Then as quickly as he took her hand he let
it go and stepped back. "If you'll remove yourself from my
bathroom, we'll discuss any concerns you have at our morning status
meeting."
    Did she blink and miss something?
    The change from hot fascination back to his
usual cool, distant regard was so abrupt, she floundered before she
figured out what to say. "What about dinner?"
    "I'm having dinner in the city tonight."
    Who was he having dinner with? "About
Olivia—"
    "Olivia is my daughter. She's not your
concern," he said distinctly. He turned his back to her and turned
on the faucet.
    She gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
What just happened?
    He concentrated on folding the sleeves of
his crisp white shirt up his forearms.
    The sight of the dark hair peppering his
arms mesmerized her. She shook her head to clear it. "But—"
    "Elaine," he said, meeting her gaze in the
mirror, "this conversation has ended."
    "This conversation
has not ended."
She'd never been on the receiving end of his anger. She'd imagined
she'd collapse into a whimpering heap and die on the spot if it
ever happened.
    Not so. Oddly, she felt like shoving him
again. "Olivia's become my friend. I won't see her toyed with."
    "You think I'd toy with my daughter?"
    "I think you'd do whatever you had to in
order to get what you want."
    He turned around again, his arms crossed,
one long finger tapping his chin as he contemplated her. "What I
want right now is my privacy."
    She