I gasped in shock and outrage. “You can’t just go around killing people, Baker! What the fuck?” The thoughts of either Seth or Baker trying to lay a hand on Eli made my blood boil. How dare they? First of all, Eli could probably kick both their asses, one hand tied behind his back. Secondly, he was one of our team! “If you even think about laying a hand on him, I’ll make you regret it.”
“Why would you even care? Right now, because of him, you’re having to stay holed up in an old Victorian house that’s probably haunted, pretending that you’re going to make renovations on it. According to the home office, you haven’t even logged into your computer in weeks. Sam is scrambling to make excuses for your behavior. Your father, who already has his hands full with a misbehaving and cocky Jinx, is threatening to quit and come home so he can assure himself with his own eyes that you’re fine. That poor cat is probably horny and would enjoy socializing with other animals. With one word from you, we could end the suffering. Let us get rid of him for you.”
I couldn’t believe the words coming from Baker’s mouth. He wasn’t that kind of person, so I knew he had to be yanking my chain…didn’t he? I mean, the agents in our company did use deadly force from time to time. Would they honestly try to hurt Eli?
“Please tell me that you’re kidding, Baker.”
He shrugged. “It was your father’s idea, not mine.”
I stared at him a full two minutes before he finally burst out laughing, unable to hold his poker face a moment longer. “Of course, we aren’t going to kill him, Ari. That’s stupid. He’ll just go back to wherever he came from.” His eyes softened when he looked at me. “He’s agreed to do that for you. He says it isn’t right that he’s taking you away from the people you love. As a matter of fact, he’s already turned in his notice—he leaves in two weeks.”
What was remaining of my heart shattered. After I’d gotten over my initial fury over Eli’s lie, I’d slowly started to allow myself to listen to reason. Sure, the bad whispers overpowered my hope of things ending well for me. I’d waited and hoped that Eli would reach out to me, maybe even physically force me to come back to him. There’d been some kidnapping dreams that woke me up—cock hard and weeping for Eli. No, I didn’t really want to be kidnapped but I did want Eli to at least put up a token fight for me…for us. He hadn’t, though. He hadn’t and there wasn’t a damn thing left I could do about it. On the ship, I’d given him everything I had.
“Did you hear me, Ari? He’s leaving. Two weeks. If he walks out this time, I’m afraid he won’t have the courage to come back again. Is this how you want to leave things—without either of you even discussing what happened?”
“I’m not the one leaving, Baker. He is. Why don’t you go talk to him and leave me in peace!”
Peace—ha! There would never be any of that again. I loved Eli and as bad as I wished Baker was wrong, he wasn’t; I did love only one man, forever and always.
“Because Seth is talking to him. I’m talking to you. We drew straws. I lost.”
“Bastard,” I hissed, but without much feeling. I knew Baker and Seth both loved me. I guess I knew it—I’d thought Eli loved me, too.
“Let’s negotiate. What’s it gonna take to make you comfortable enough to at least meet him to talk?”
I threw up my hands in frustration. “Oh, I don’t know! Maybe he could show me that he cares instead of allowing me to walk out of his apartment and not even try to find me! Maybe we start there!” I knew I sounded like a brat, but didn’t care.
“He’s already done that. When you go back to your house, you’ll find that he’s sent you a dozen pink roses every day since you pulled your disappearing act. I have no idea why pink and not red, but I assume the man had a reason. He’s also sent your stupid, rabid cat a treat box with each bouquet.” He rubbed his hands together. “What’s your next demand?”
I felt a heated blush stain my cheeks. I knew why he’d chosen pink over red…and it involved pink lace swim trunks. Damn, that was a good effort and then he added treats for Havoc on top of that. Hmmm. If I had any heart left, it might have melted a degree.
“He could have put forth some effort to find me. I know he’s more than capable, yet I’ve been sitting in this dreary house talking to a cat and staring at ugly walls and paint cans. Would that have been too much to ask for, Baker? You’re the self-proclaimed expert. You tell me!” I couldn’t help but be angry since he’d nailed me so perfectly on my first demand. He’d given me hope when I shouldn’t have it—it would only lead to my heart being broken all over again.