Unfinished Business Read Online Free

closer as rage engulfed her. “Oh, trust me, any business that I thought may have existed between us in my little girl’s mind is definitely finished. You made things perfectly clear that night. You were right, I needed to grow up and I have. I’m three years older and wiser. I know not to blindly trust the words of a man. I know how to tell the difference between pity and sincerity. And I know how it feels to give your heart—your undying love and affection—to someone just for him to trample it.”
    She inhaled deeply, trying to place her full concentration on her anger and not the sight of him standing in her living room. Six feet and four inches of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. Even in Ohio, it was easy to see the word Texas written all over him while he was impeccably dressed in a chambray shirt, designer jeans, boots, and an expensive-looking blazer. His black hair was cut low on his head, and all his handsome features, including his dark, penetrating eyes, added depth to his semi-sweet chocolate–colored skin.
    She needed him to leave before the tears started coming. She had cried her last tear over him. “I loved you and you threw that love back in my face because you thought I was too young to know my feelings,” she said heatedly. “Well, I’m doing just what you suggested. I’ve grown up and let go of childhood dreams and fantasies. I have a wonderful job and I’ve even taken your advice about dating men closer to my age. Things are going just great for me,” she lied, deciding he didn’t have to know that. “And I intend to have a fantastic love life.”
    Something within Alex snapped with that proclamation. He gritted his teeth, thinking she had definitely said the wrong thing. “What the hell do you know about a fantastic love life?” he asked sharply, grabbing her arm.
    She snatched her arm back, lifted her chin, and met his glare. “Nothing yet, but I intend to learn.”
    A rush of anger tore into him. She would learn, all right, but only with him. It would be a cold day in hell before he let any other man touch her that way. Dammit, she was his! She had loved him once, and he would see to it that she loved him again.
    Suddenly his head began swimming and the first thought that came to his mind was that he was acting stone crazy. No woman had ever driven him to this point. He was dealing with emotions that were unfamiliar, hazardous, threatening to push his limit of control. He had to get a grip.
    He exhaled slowly, trying to calm the rage consuming him. “Have dinner with me,” he said in a strained voice.
    “Dinner?” She slung back that single word as if the thought of going out to eat with him was as foreign as a six-dollar bill.
    He watched as she threw her head back and all that fiery red hair cascaded around her shoulders, making her look like a woman on the warpath, a woman who could take on anybody, including him. “I would not go out with you, Alexander Maxwell, if you were the last man on earth.”
    He inclined his head and glared back at her. Little did she know that he might as well be the last man on earth, since he was definitely the only man she would ever become involved with. “We need to talk, Christy.”
    “We don’t need to do anything. I’ve already told you in plain English that we don’t have anything to say. It’s been said and, if I recall, you did most of the talking.”
    He shook his head. This was one stubborn woman, but he could be just as stubborn as she was. “I refuse to leave until we get a few things straight.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “There is nothing to get straight. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date, so please leave.”
    Alex’s features darkened. Just the thought that she was going out with another man had him seeing red again. He knew he had to pull himself together, get himself in check. Besides, he had pushed her enough for one night, especially when she had a tendency to push back.
    He