[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“Yes!” she screamed.She was being irrational and she knew it.But when that woman had answered his phone, all she could see was red.Deiter shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.“I don’t know how else to prove myself to you, Arissa.I love you but it’s not good enough for you.You want me to be okay with other men touching you, my woman, and not question it.But the rules are different for me? I just don’t know.I’m leaving now.I’ll be at Kell’s if you feel like talking.I’d love for you to come, there’s someone I want you to meet.Otherwise, I’ll…see you later.” He pivoted around and went down the stairs rapidly.The shutting of the door below echoed in his wake.She couldn’t move.He’d said he loved her.Then left.No, surely it was a ploy to get her to come after him.She hurried to the window and peered out.No sign of his vehicle.He had left.Arissa screamed in frustration.What the hell is going on with me? Hell, if she’d not got the news she wasn’t pregnant, she may just begin wondering if she was, given her extreme mood swings as of late.What’s it going to be? Let the best thing yet in your life get away? Or swallow some of your damn pride and go after him?Moments later, her engine started as she turned the key.Her bag for Santa Fe was in the trunk just in case.She didn’t want to lose him and she really had to be much more considerate of his feelings when it came to her male friends.She drove as fast as she could to Kell’s.Her mood didn’t improve any when it took a while for her to find a parking spot.Even after she had secured one, she debated going in or remaining out.“Why am I chasing after him? He’s the one who left me.”Because you’re the one who acted like an utter ass, her brain informed her, a bit too gleefully, she thought.“I’m not the one who has women answering my phone.”Get over yourself Arissa Wright or you’re going to end up alone.With a mutter at her subconscious, she climbed out of the car, locked it then walked towards the entrance.She enjoyed Kell’s but hadn’t been there in a while.As she entered, she saw Martin the owner standing behind the greeter’s podium.“Hi, Martin,” she said.“Miss Arissa,” he replied with a grin.“Lovely to see you tonight.”“Thank you.” She glanced over the crowd but didn’t see Deiter.“I’m looking for someone—”“Deiter Schneider,” he interrupted.“We were told to expect you.I’ll take you to the table.”She was expected? With a deep breath, she followed the still-handsome older man through the tables to one by the window, offering a lovely view of the place across the street.“Here you go,” Martin said.Arissa looked down and found a petite woman with shoulder-length blonde hair sitting at the table.“Are you sure?”“Of course,” Martin claimed with a smile.“Can I get you a drink?”“Tea please,” Arissa replied.Left alone, she put her attention back on the woman who watched her with a cool gaze.There was no invitation to sit down.She sat anyway.“Where’s Deiter?” she asked.“He’ll be back,” the woman’s response fell like ice.“I had pictured something more when he told me about you.But I guess I was wrong.”She bristled.Who the hell did this woman think she was? The voice was identical to the one who’d answered his phone.“Excuse me?”“All he talked about was how much he wanted us to meet and how much I’d like you.Well, he was wrong.I don’t like you at all.You’ve hurt my brother for the last time.Do it again and I promise you, they’ll never find your body.”The words were delivered with deadly promise.“Arissa.” Deiter spoke softly beside her.She turned her head and drank him in.Was it possible for a man to get even more handsome in less than an hour?“Hi, Deiter.You said you wanted me to come, so here I am.”“I see you two have met.” He sat beside her, close but not touching, and she missed his touch.“Arissa Wright, meet Marlis Schneider, my sister she works for the German military.Sis, this is Arissa Wright, a doctor.”Sister.The woman who’d answered his phone was his sister.She swallowed and gave the woman a small smile.“Nice to meet you.” And military so…yeah crap, that threat was most likely a promise.Marlis’ smile didn’t reach her eyes.“Likewise.” She’d officially made an enemy of the sister of the man she loved more than anything.She loved him.That’s why she’d been acting like this.Because she’d fallen in love with him.Duh! Her subconscious added.Or at least just realised it.One glance to the man beside her made her sudden joy falter.He may not want her anymore, not after her behaviour.Deiter sneaked peeks between his sister and Arissa.Something had happened while he’d been in the restroom.Honestly, he’d not believed she would have even arrived here.Not after the tantrum she’d thrown at her place.Nevertheless, here she sat.While their food was delivered along with Arissa’s drink, he asked Marlis in German, “What’s going on between you two?”“Nothing,” she replied.“So,” Arissa began, “How long are you in town for, Marlis?”“I’m leaving tonight, which is why Deiter wanted us to meet.”He glared at his sister for being so harsh with her response.Arissa stiffened a bit, as if embarrassed.He realised then she knew it had been his sister who had answered the phone.“Oh, I see.”Arissa turned to him and licked her lips.Damn but he wanted to nibble on that plump lower one.He could feast on her mouth and never get bored.“I’m sorry, Deiter,” she said.“What for, Arissa?”“How I acted.You were right.I wasn’t being fair.It’s not right I expect you to not react when a man touches me and you not let any woman touch you.I guess…well, I don’t know what I was thinking, but I know it wasn’t right or fair.”“And?” he asked.“And I love you.”His heart thudded loudly in his chest.She’d actually said the words.He wanted to pull her close and ravish her but he had to know she trusted him and believed him.“Do you trust me?” he questioned.“Yes.”He stayed silent for a moment until a sharp kick under the table snapped him from his thoughts.His sister glared at him.Hmm, maybe she doesn’t dislike Arissa after all.“Do you believe my words when I say there is no one else for me but you?”She licked those delectable lips again and got up from the seat only to climb up on it.“Get down from there, Arissa,” he said, reaching for her.She batted his hand away.“Can I have everyone’s attention please?” she called out.“Oh no, you don’t have to do this.” He captured her hand but all she did was squeeze it.The room fell silent and every pair of eyes focused on their table.“I’m sorry to interrupt everyone’s dinner but I wanted to say something.I’m Arissa Wright.”A few people called out greetings to her which she replied in kind.“This man here,” she said, tugging him to his feet, “is Deiter Schneider.He teaches at the university.We were supposed to go away to Santa Fe this weekend but I acted like…well, to be blunt, an idiot so I came down here to ask for his forgiveness [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]