UP IN FLAMES

Stunned by what he said, all she could do was sit there, and when she didn’t say anything, Alaric cursed under his breath again. “I’ve told you that I don’t mind the chase, and I have no fucking problem chasing after you, but I refuse to run after a ghost. And that’s what you are if you can’t let go of your past with your mom. I won’t chase a ghost.”

Then he spun, his long legs quickly eating up the distance between her and the door. And then…then he was gone, the door slamming shut behind him.

The moment Alaric left, she knew, without a doubt, that she had made the biggest mistake of her life. It was right there, smacking her face. Everything he had said was right.

She was a coward. And the best damn thing to ever happen to her had just walked out the door.

………

Her heart was like a hummingbird in her chest by the time she climbed out of her newly returned car and stared up at Alaric’s house.

A thousand things could go wrong with this. He might not be home. He could be and he could have company-his brothers or anyone, really. Maybe even another woman… Oh God. He could also slam the door in her face.

Vanessa’s stomach dipped like she was on a roller coaster of horror, but she would not run. She was done running and that was why she was here. She would’ve come last night, but she figured he needed the time to calm down and she needed to get her head on straight. After two pints of ice cream and a good old ugly cry, she’d passed out and woke up this morning determined. She had been wrong and she wasn’t going to run from what she felt any longer. Please God, do not let this be a huge mistake.

She headed up the paved walkway, passing the sweet scented early summer flowers. On the front porch, the furniture was pristine yet inviting. Gathering up her courage, she lifted her hand to knock, but the front door whipped open before she could knock.

It wasn’t Alaric who answered the door.

Paul stood there, eyebrows raised. Their eyes met, and she didn’t know what to say.

“Miss Spencer,” Paul said,” How are you?”

Vanessa managed a smile,” I’m fine, “she replied,”It’s really good to see that you are fully healed. Thank you so much for all you did. I will always remember it,”

Paul grinned at her. “Oh it’s fine. I’m assuming you are here to see Alaric. Come in,”

Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. After a second, she stepped inside the door, “Yes I am,” she replied, “Is he here?”

“What’s up,” came the voice she wanted to hear before Paul could reply. No…she needed to hear.

Alaric filled the doorway to the living room, the gray shirt he wore stretching over his broad shoulders. Upon seeing him, she was momentarily stunned into silence and forgot his partner was there. His dark hair was messy, but his face was freshly shaven, and his dark eyes bore into her. His expression was absolutely unreadable as he stared back at her with searing intensity.

His gaze dropped, drifting over her before returning to her face. “I thought you stopped wearing those horrible suits?”

Her cheeks flushed. “I did, but…”

He waited.

Vanessa couldn’t bring herself to vocalize why she had dressed in the only boxy, unattractive suit she had left. What had seemed like a good idea when she got ready this morning now felt foolish.

Both of them waited-Paul and Alaric. Paul didn’t look like he was planning on moving from the hall. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I was wondering if we could talk? If not, then maybe later, or-” Her lashes lifted and she met his stare again. The set of his hard jaw told her it was do-or-die time. Either keep running or act like a grown, somewhat sensible adult. “I was wrong about you-about us, and you were right. I am scared. I was scared that I would end up like my mother and that-that was so stupid, because I’m not her and you’re not any number of those guys. And I know I might’ve screwed this up, but I wanted you to know that I’m sorry and that I was wrong.”

Alaric cocked his head to the side. Paul was staring at her as the silence stretched out between them. “I know,” Alaric finally said.

Out of everything she’d expected him to say, that wasn’t it, and that was sort of funny, because it came as no surprise that he would be that cocky. But “I know” after making such an impassioned admission? What the hell was she supposed to do with “I know”?

She stared at him as a slow, one-sided grin appeared on his lips. Her brows pinched. “Is that all you’re going to say?”

“No.”

Vanessa waited…and waited. Paul waited, looking like he needed a big bowl of popcorn.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I was angry and frustrated,” Alaric said, unfolding his arms, his eyes holding hers as he walked forward. “I left your place last night, Vanessa, but I didn’t leave you.”

I didn’t leave you.

Her breath caught as the four words sunk in and when they did, there was a swelling in her chest that she was sure could’ve taken her straight up to the ceiling.

“So, you see, I’ve been waiting for you.” He stepped closer, so close that their legs brushed. “I was going to give you till this evening to come to your senses and then I was going to come after you.”

“You were?”

He nodded. “Remember? I told you that I like to chase.”

She remembered.

“And you know what I like better than the chase? The capture,” he said, cupping her cheek. “I enjoy the capture the most, V.”

Her pulse pounded in several places throughout her body. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Alaric smiled as he smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “Is there something you want to say to me?”

Sweet relief eased the taut muscles in her neck and happiness bubbled up inside her. She swallowed against the sudden knot in her throat. “This was easier than I thought it was going to be?”