much drama. This was another reason I didn’t date. Everything just got complicated when it went beyond simple fucking.
“If you had your head any farther up your ass, you’d be a medical miracle.” I rubbed my forehead. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me.” He spread his arms wide. “Tell me why you’re here and who hired you. If I’m wrong, you should be able to prove it.”
“Prove it?” My headache was back, but it had nothing to do with my drinking. “I can’t tell you about my case. My clients deserve their confidentiality.”
“That’s convenient.”
“Really? I’d say it’s fucking inconvenient that I can’t defend myself.” I uncurled my fingers and pressed my hand flat on the table. “Look, your parents didn’t hire me. No one hired me for them either.”
That was as honest as I could be without breaking the NDA I’d signed. I didn’t want to say that my case had nothing to do with him or his family since that wasn’t true anymore, but that was as far as I could go.
“Right.” That single word held a shitload of judgment and disbelief.
Fuck it.
“Did you tell Shadae or Brew?” I asked. “That you think your parents hired me? Did you tell them that?”
“No. Like I said, I’m not going to let you hurt them.”
I drained the last of what was in the thermos and set it next to the basket. I wanted to yell at him, tell him that he was being a jerk for assuming that I’d use the Huxleys, but I knew that’s what I’d done too. I’d learned the truth about his family history and used that to make a decision about who he was. I sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted him judging me based on the things my family had done.
I wasn’t going to lecture him, though. This wasn’t a relationship I was trying to fix so we could ride off into the sunset. I didn’t need to debate or explain anything, even if I could have. The Douglasses had given me permission to share their case information with the Huxleys, but Bradyn wasn’t a part of that. He wasn’t a part of any of this.
I’d be the bigger person, though, and admit that I’d been wrong. No need to behave like him.
“Look, I need to apologize for how I behaved last night.” The change of conversation seemed to throw him, and I took advantage of it. “Or, actually, I need to apologize for stuff before that too. I came back yesterday and went to your cabin to tell you I was sorry for jumping to conclusions about what you’re doing here. That’s when I saw the woman in—”
Bradyn opened his mouth to say something, but I held up my hand. I needed to get everything out.
Inhaling deeply, I continued. “Your ex, I mean. Then, by the time I actually saw you last night, I wasn’t in an apologizing mood. So, I’m doing that now. I’m sorry I made assumptions about who you are and what you’re doing.”
I stood and took the thermos over to the sink. I rinsed it out, wondering if he was going to respond to what I’d said. When I finished, and he was still quiet, I figured that was answer enough.
“You can take the thermos back now. I’ll have what’s in the basket for lunch and take it up to the house myself later. No need for you to stick around.” I went to the door and opened it so he couldn’t misunderstand what I was saying. “I don’t give a damn if you believe me or not. I have a job to do. And don’t worry, I’ll stay out of your way the rest of the time I’m here, and after that, it won’t matter. I don’t intend to ever come back here again.”
An uncertain expression was on his face, but he didn’t argue or even comment. Instead, he got up, took the thermos, and walked out without saying a word. I made a point of shutting the door normally just in case he was waiting to hear if I slammed it.
Leaning against the cool wood, I pushed down my disappointment. I didn’t know what I’d been expecting from him, but that hadn’t been it. If I’d had that sort of conversation with a sub, yeah, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they just walked out without trying to explain or at least ask a few questions. It wasn’t in most submissive’s natures to try