Manfax (Winter Brothers #2) - Jacob Chance Page 0,71

how she flipped my world off its axis?

Should I pretend that every second we’ve been apart, I haven’t felt like a thousand pound boulder is sitting on my chest?

Pausing in front of the door, I stand with my arms crossed and try to prepare myself for the impending knock. But there’s no preparing that’ll suffice. When the knock comes all I can do is clench my teeth and man up enough to face the situation head on.

Drawing in a steadying breath, I brace myself. I’m about to be assaulted by the sight of her beautiful face.

I pull the door open wishing I was facing my future but fearful she’s now the past.

“Adam,” she whispers, her eyes welling with tears. I look beyond her, focusing on a low hanging branch Larsen and I climbed onto this past summer. “Adam.” My name is a plea. “May I come in?”

Stepping back inside, I start up the stairs, leaving her to follow. I hear the front door shut as I grab my coffee mug and head to the kitchen for a refill. Too bad it’s not whiskey.

I fill my mug and lean back against the counter. Roxanne approaches. Glassy eyed and red nosed, she’s stunning. No matter how angry and hurt I am, I want to drag her into my arms and never let her go.

She stops in front of me. “I know you don’t want me here.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”

She winces, but my cruel words don’t send her running. “I owe you an apology and then I’ll go.” Her chin raises while she waits for me to object.

“Are you waiting for applause for showing up?”

“No.” She scowls and I know I’m getting to her. “I would’ve told you about the Manfax reports as soon as we met, but legally I’m not allowed to tell anyone. I sign a confidentiality agreement with every client who hires my company.

“You still should’ve told me.”

“Adam, be reasonable. I had never met you before. Don’t you think it would’ve been awkward for me?”

“You mean how it was for me when I found out that my girlfriend knew things about me that I hadn’t shared with her myself?”

“I told you that I never read your reports beyond your description. I just imagined you must have a busy dating history if four women wanted reports on you. We’ve never had to do that many on one person before.” If I wasn’t so pissed, I’d be proud of that accomplishment. Doing my best to look bored, I sip my coffee. She steps closer, and my heart gallops behind my rib cage.

“There hasn’t been a day that’s passed that I didn’t want to tell you about the reports. But for me, those statistics don't matter. They haven’t mattered since you first kissed me in the pool. I didn’t want to admit how you made me feel. Least of all to myself. And the more time we spent together, the deeper I fell.”

I shake my head. “You should cut your losses now. You’re too good for me anyway. I’ll only end up disappointing you.”

“Adam, shut up and listen. For fuck’s sake. I’m trying to tell you I love you. That I don’t care what you did before we met. All that matters to me is that you love me as much as I love you.”

“Love can’t fix everything, Roxanne.”

“Rocky. Call me Rocky. You’re the only one who does, the only one I want to call me that.”

“You’ll always be Rocky to me, no matter what.”

“I need you to let me finish before you speak again. Okay?” She waits for my nod. “After you left the party, I went to the ladies’ room and cried my eyes out. Danica and Violet came in and tried to console me. I was angry with myself for so many reasons, but most of all, I wished that I’d run after you. Or forced you to take me with you. While the three of us were in the bathroom, Jessica walked in. She told me I was unethical and threatened to out our relationship on social media. She said it would ruin my business.” Roxanne edges toward me. If she reached out she could place her hand over my racing heart. “And do you know what I said to that bitch?” she spits out the question like venom. I shake my head. “I told her I didn’t care what she did. That all that mattered to me is you.” She drops her head for a few seconds, and