you didn’t come looking for me.”
“No, I didn’t, and I think we both know why. I’m here now and we can talk about that. But first, you mentioned having a bad day. I can’t imagine seeing your sister and your ex-boyfriend, now married with a child, was easy, especially when you thought you were headed down the aisle to matrimonial bliss with him yourself.”
Maya laughed bitterly to avoid the pain of hearing him say out loud what she’d already thought so many times today. “Apparently, he didn’t get the memo, so no, today wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
Ayden began removing the jacket he was wearing.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a frown. “I didn’t ask you to stay. I only agreed to talk for a few minutes.” He had no right to make himself comfortable in her hotel room. Not after the way he’d dismissed her so long ago.
Ayden paused. “I’m sorry yet again. I keep apologizing to you tonight.” He held up his jacket. “May I?”
“I suppose you can stay a few minutes longer.” Ayden draped the jacket across the sofa and sank down into its plushness.
He sat forward on the couch and rested his very large forearms on those powerfully muscled thighs of his. Jesus! Why couldn’t she think straight when she was around him? Sure, he’d always had this effect on her, but she would have thought his treatment of her five years ago would have cooled any physical response she might have to him now. Apparently, she’d been wrong.
“I’m sorry for what you went through with your sister. It’s truly a shame because you’re worth a thousand Ravens.”
Maya couldn’t resist a small smile forming on her lips. Ayden didn’t compliment people often. “You don’t have to say that.”
“You don’t think I mean it?”
She spun away and shrugged. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. Ayden, Raven, Thomas—they were all in her rearview. She’d only come back to Austin to get closure and move on with her life. She’d done that. Her mother having cancer had certainly put a wrinkle in her plans to go back to San Antonio and her new life.
When she didn’t answer him, Ayden must have risen from the sofa, because Maya felt rather than saw him behind her. “What? What is it that you want from me?”
His large hands grasped her shoulders and guided her around to look at him. “Don’t hide from me, Maya. Aren’t you tired of it?”
Maya jerked out of his hands. “Don’t presume to think you know me, Ayden, just because you can spit out a few obvious facts about me.”
“All right. Then how about this. I want you back.”
Maya sucked in a deep breath and reminded herself that Ayden was a master at getting his way, especially with women. Over the years, she’d seen him bring the most intelligent and independent women to their knees and have them beg him to take them back. He never did. Instead, he’d have Maya send a farewell gift with his regards. His regards!
It must have crushed his ego when she’d chosen not to stay working for him after he bid her adieu after their night together. She wasn’t about to go backward even though her heart yearned for more. Still, she was curious and found herself asking, “Why do you want me back?”
“You’re the best assistant I ever had. You know how Stewart Investments is run. Hell, how I work. I can count on you to make decisions whether I’m there or not. I trust you implicitly. And remember the Kincaid Corporation deal that I’ve always wanted a crack at?”
She nodded.
“I have the opportunity to pitch Stewart Investments to them again. You remember how important it was for me to land that account. He’s one of my father’s largest suppliers. You remember how hard we worked on that first pitch only for him to go to a larger firm. Times have changed and Stewart Investments is in better shape than ever to compete with the big boys.”
Ayden didn’t want her back. He wanted his trusty workaholic assistant back under his grip. “I see.”
“You see what?”
“You want me back so I can be your shadow, following you around, being at your beck and call. Well, I’m not your pet, Ayden.”
“I never thought you were.” He sounded offended. “And I’ve never treated you like one. You were always a valuable employee.”
Maya shook her head. So he was just going to act like it never happened. That they’d never seen each other naked? That they’d hadn’t slept together on the bear skin rug in front of his fireplace? “You should go, Ayden.” She pushed at his rock-hard chest, which was darn near impenetrable, and walked to the door.
“Why?” He grasped her wrist. His eyes were fire when he said, “You haven’t even heard me out.”
“Why should I, Ayden, when you refuse to even acknowledge the elephant in the room? I left for a reason and you damn well know why.”
Ayden sighed heavily and slowly released her as if she’d struck him. He leaned backward against the door and his intense gaze rested on her. “I’d hoped we wouldn’t have to discuss it.”
Maya rolled her eyes upward, not wanting him to know how hurt she was by his words. Yet again, Ayden was bruising her already fragile ego. But try as she might, she couldn’t ignore the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She wiped at them with the back of her hands.
Ayden swore when he saw her tears. “Christ! I’m sorry, Maya. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Not again.”
“But yet you continue to do it.”
“Not on purpose,” Ayden said. “Never on purpose. I care for you, Maya. I always have. I suppose that’s why I allowed our relationship to become—” he paused for the right word “—complicated. And I take all the blame for what happened. You were destroyed when you came to me, but rather than comforting you, I took advantage of you, and for that I’m terribly sorry. I should never have let things go as far as they did.”
Maya glanced up at him through her tears. He was apologizing for making love to her? Was he mad? He was making the situation so much worse, because to her that night had been one of the most sensual encounters she’d ever experienced. But why should she be surprised? He’d only been with her out of pity. He could never find her, Maya Richardson, attractive like he did the many beautiful women he frequently bedded.
Much to her chagrin, Ayden kept going. “The next morning I was so mortified by my actions that I sought to sweep it under the rug like it never happened, which I know wasn’t fair to you. But I didn’t know what else to do, Maya. Clearly, I’d compromised our working relationship so much that you couldn’t come back to work for me. It’s why I gave you such a generous termination package. I was sorry for taking advantage of you. I’m still sorry, but I promise, should you choose to work for me again, I will never cross that line and take advantage of you again. I promise I will respect you and your right to have a life of your own without me taking up every minute of your free time.”
“Why are you saying all of this?”
“Because I need
