His Unexpected Lover (The Thorpe Brothers) Read Online Free Page A

out of one of the best schools in the country, follow you to Chicago so you can pursue your dream career.  You’re not willing to get a job here in Washington, D.C., not even look for one here that might fit your desired legal area, because you want to go back to Chicago.  You want me to give up everything while you gain everything.  Is that it?”
    He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated with the way she was interpreting his offer.  “It isn’t like you have to give up everything.  Just transfer schools!  And we can still be together!  I know you love me and I feel exactly the same for you!  What’s the problem here?” 
    “The problem is that you’re not sacrificing anything and yet you’re asking me to sacrifice all of my dreams!”
    They stood there in his small living area, glaring at each other. 
    If he thought that was who she was, he didn’t know her at all. 
    “I have to go,” she whispered, hurt beyond anything by his attitude and assumption s. 
    “No you don’t,” he said, trying to calm her down. “Just stay and talk about this,” he tried to coax her. 
    She slipped back into the bedroom and grabbed her clothes, refusing to even look at him.  When she was dressed, she walked back out to his barren living room and something occurred to her.  “You’ve never really made this into a home because you always knew you’d be going back to Chicago, right?”
    He’d grabbed his jeans as well, his frustration obvious.  Axel looked around his apartment, not sure what she was talking about.  “What do you mean?”
    “This apartment…” she said, waving her hand around to encompass the sofa and books but no television, no coffee table.  There was nothing that would make one sit back and relax.  “It isn’t just a bachelor pad.  You’ve never really moved in here.”
    “Of course I have.  All of my stuff is in the closet.  What would you expect me to do?”
    Kiera closed her mouth, so many things falling into place.  “Well, I guess I should at least be flattered that you wanted me to come with you.”
    He grabbed his shirt, buttoning it up partway but his frustration was obvious.  “We’re not finished talking about this,” he said and started looking for his keys.  “Let’s just go out to dinner.”  He stopped looking for them when he noticed her chin wobbling, a sure sign that she was closer to breaking down than he thought.  He sighed heavily and moved towards her, intending to take her into his arms and reassure her that they could make this work. 
    She pulled back when he started to touch her, not sure what she might do if she felt his hands on her back.  Kiera was so hurt by his suggestion that she didn’t need to work.  But she was also feeling a great deal of pain caused by the fact that he wouldn’t even consider finding a job here in Washington, D.C., at least until she finished school herself.  He wasn’t willing to sacrifice anything for her.  She’d been such a fool!  She’d thought he genuinely cared for her, that they had something special, but his offer explained it all to her.  She was a convenience.  He didn’t see her as an equal partner at all, but just a good lay that he wanted to transport to his home town. 
    She was holding on to her emotions with all the control she had at the moment and she didn’t want to break down into tears now.  He already thought of her as the kind of woman who went to college to get an MRS degree, what would he think of her if she started weeping all over him, begging him to stay here with her?  He’d lose even more respect for her. 
    She couldn’t handle that.  If there was nothing else, she wanted him to at least respect her. 
    “I’m not really hungry any more.  I’ll just make my own way home.”
    That infuriated Axel.  “There’s no way I’m letting you take the bus or catch a cab, Kiera.  I’ll drive you home.   And we need to talk about this.  There has to be some way to make