The Job Offer - By Eleanor Webb Page 0,77

door open for him to come inside.

Chapter 21

"Will you tell me what your resignation letter is about?" Ben finally asked after he walked in behind her and stood looking at her in the foyer. He now looked angry, frustrated actually, and her heart sank. He was here only to confront her about leaving the company and nothing more.

"I don't think that it will work out, my being there, working with you." Anne turned and walked into the kitchen with Ben on her heels. Stopping to pull two water bottles from the refrigerator, she handed one to him. Ben leaned his backside against the counter and thanked her gruffly. "I won't sue you or the company, Ben, if that is what you are worried about. I'll even sign papers waiving my right to do so if that is what you want."

"I don't give a damn about that, Anne. Tell me why you want to leave. Rudolph told me you were doing well and seemed to like the company." He ran a hand through his hair again messing it up further until the ends stuck straight up. She wanted to brush his hair down, to touch his face, to touch any part of him. But she could not do it, not any more. She no longer had the right to do so. Shaking her head sadly, she put her bottle down on the counter and looked out the patio door at the sunny deck.

"I do like the company."

Without looking at Ben she walked back into the living room and sat down on the couch. Ben came in behind her and took a chair next to her. He looked so good dressed in his jeans and tee shirt. His eyes looked tired, though, with circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept for a while.

"Then why?" He clearly looked frustrated now as he asked her. He no longer looked angry, only worried.

"You know why." It hurt to keep looking at him so she stared at the fireplace.

He set his water bottle down on a coaster on the coffee table and ran his hands over his face. When he looked back at her, his eyes were sad and his lips were frowning.

"I tried to find you that Sunday to apologize, Anne. I was stupid, so stupid. I know that you did not try to manipulate your way into the job, that you would never do that. I'm sorry, Anne. Don't leave because of that." She could hear the sincerity in his voice. It did not change anything. He still had only wanted a vacation romance, and now she was pregnant.

"That's not why I'm leaving, Ben," she spoke softly.

"Then why?" he suddenly exploded and stood up to pace the floor a few times before he sat back down again. Anne watched him confused by his agitation. He was the one who called off their relationship, not her. She hoped he would leave soon because she was finding the pain of seeing him here wearing on her control.

"Why, Anne? I don't want you to go." Pain suddenly flashed across his face, and his eyes looked tormented. "We'll work it out, Anne."

"I can't, Ben. It's too hard." Her voice caught and she swallowed wishing that she still had her water bottle. She could not look at him any longer and stared at the fireplace again.

"I tried calling you, Anne, to explain but you changed your cell phone number right away."

"I changed it to a local number before I went back to Boston."

"You didn't call me. I asked Jim to tell you to call me." His voice sounded husky with emotion.

"I threw your card out," she said quietly. She continued to stare straight ahead but was surprised by the low moan that came for him. She looked over at him and saw him press the fingers of his right hand to his eyes. He was silent for several long seconds before he looked up at her. His eyes were full of sorrow and regret. She could feel tears behind her eyes and looked away, biting her lower lip with her teeth. This was much more difficult than she thought it would be.

"Anne," his voice was choked. "I'm sorry for what I said to you at the inn. You have no idea how sorry I am about that. But I'll never be sorry for loving you, Anne. Never!"

Anne felt a tear slide down her cheek and she looked over at Ben. He stood up shakily, kissed the