Chapter Ten

Cecelia

I pull up to see my Audi parked in the driveway, and the sight of it jars me. It's part of what I left behind. It seems no matter how much space I put between myself and the life I was living a year ago, I won't ever escape it.

Today I overserved and talked the ear off every customer at the café, intent on resuming my routine. When things got slow, I busied myself scrubbing every inch of my restaurant to avoid Marissa and her questions. This morning, I all but fled, leaving him alone without a car and to his own devices so that I could try and sort my thoughts.

Exiting the Camaro, I inspect my Audi before glancing at the lifeless house, curious as to what he's doing inside.

"You don't look happy about it."

I damn near jump out of my skin and turn to see Tobias feet away from me, his black tee plastered to his monstrous build, sweat trickling down both his temples.

"Or maybe you didn't want to go into that house because you thought I was in there." He tilts his head, his allure drawing me in, his stare skeptical. "Which one is it, Cecelia?" The rawness in his voice threatens to open the reinforced scars in my chest. "Stop eye-fucking me, and tell me which is it? You're not happy about the car or the fact that you were going to have to face me in that house?"

"What?"

"You heard me." In two strides, he's in front of me, his presence invading. I've never been immune to him, and playing indifferent to my attraction at this point is ridiculous—not only that, he knows better.

"That was my second run today. You're not alone in what you're feeling." He glances at the car. "We can get rid of it, but I was the one who took it away from you, so I thought I should be the one to return it."

"It just surprised me, that's all. I didn't think I'd ever see it again."

"Right," he mutters in a dejected tone.

I grip his forearm when he steps around me, and he stops, shoulders tensing as he lifts amber-colored eyes to mine.

"I love the car," I say honestly, but we both know it's not the car I'm talking about. "I'm just..." Anger surges through me, and he reads the agitation taking over.

"Ready to talk ?" He turns and moves in, causing me to take a step back. " Fight ?" Another step. Nothing in his demeanor hinting of exhaustion, though he just ran for miles. He's pure wolf as he leans in, faint hints of citrus and spice invading my senses. " Fuck ?"

When I remain mute, his shoulders sag. He presses a kiss to my temple before he dips to whisper. "More time, then. That's all we have, Cecelia," he reminds me before he makes his way into the house.