Page 56 of Maid for a Magnate
Catalina checked her watch. Only thirty minutes until guests were due to arrive. Time to head out. She’d opted to park near the side entrance off the utility room. Just as she turned into the room to grab her purse and keys, she ran straight into a very hard, very familiar chest.
Closing her eyes, she tried like hell not to breathe in, but Will’s masculine aroma enveloped her just as his strong arms came around to steady her.
“Running away?” he whispered in her ear.
Knowing she’d never get out without talking, Catalina shored up all of her courage and lifted her gaze to his. “I’m not the one who usually runs.”
Keeping his aqua eyes on her, Will reached around, slammed the door and flicked the lock. “Neither of us is getting out of here until we talk.”
“I don’t need you to hold onto me,” she told him, refusing to glance away. No way was he keeping the upper hand here just because her heart was in her throat.
“I want to make sure you’ll stay put.”
He dropped his hands but didn’t step back. The warmth from his body had hers responding. She wished she didn’t fall so easily into the memories of their lovemaking, wished she didn’t get swept away by such intriguing eyes. Even through their rocky moments, Catalina couldn’t deny that all the good trumped the bad...at least in her heart.
“I’ll stay.” She stepped back until she was flat against the door. “If I don’t listen now, I know you’ll show up at my apartment. Might as well get this over with.”
Why couldn’t he be haggard or have dark circles beneath his eyes? Had he not been losing sleep over the fact he’d been a jerk? Why did he have to be so damn sexy all the time and why couldn’t she turn off her hormones around this man who constantly hurt her?
“There’s so much I want to say,” he muttered as he ran a hand over his freshly shaven jaw. “I don’t know where to start.”
Catalina tapped her watch. “Better hurry. The party starts soon.”
“I don’t give a damn about that party. I already gave Bella a check for the foundation.”
“Of course you did,” she muttered. “What do you want from me, Will?”
He stepped forward until her body was firmly trapped between his and the door. Placing a hand on either side of her head, he replied, “Everything.”
Oh, mercy. She wasn’t going to be able to keep up this courage much longer if he kept looking at her like that, if he touched her or used those charming words.
“You can’t have everything.” She licked her lips and stared up at him. “You can’t treat everything like a business deal, only giving of yourself when it’s convenient for you or makes you look good in the public eye.”
Will smoothed her hair away from her face and she simply couldn’t take it anymore. She placed her hands on his chest and shoved him back, slipping past him to get some breathing room before she lost her mind and clung to him.
“I’m actually glad you cornered me,” she went on, whirling around to face him. “I didn’t want to run into you tonight, but we both need closure. I don’t want to leave Alma with such awkwardness between us.”
“Leave Alma,” he repeated. “You’re not leaving Alma.”
Catalina laughed. “You know you can’t control everyone, right? I am leaving. In two weeks, actually. My mother and I have tickets and we’re heading to Milan.”
“What’s in Milan?”
Catalina tucked her hair behind her ears and crossed her arms. “My new life. I’ve been working for nearly four years and I’m finally ready to take my clothing designs and see what I can do in the world. I may not get far, but I’m going to try.”
Will’s brows drew in as he listened. Catalina actually liked the fact that she’d caught him off guard. He’d been knocking the air out of her lungs for a good while now and it was only appropriate she return the favor.
“I know you’re angry with me for blurting out the proposal in front of such an audience, but you have to listen to me now.”
“I’ll listen, but you’re wasting your time if you’re trying to convince me of anything. We’re not meant to be, Will. We’ve tried, and we weren’t successful either time. I don’t want to keep fighting a losing battle.”
“I’ve never lost a battle in my life,” he informed her as he took a step closer. “I don’t intend to lose this one.”