Convenience

Part 77

David said matter of fact as if he was offering her a choice. "What are we going to do about us?"

For a second there she thought he was going to burst out laughing. She was worried. Hysterical. Beatrice tipped her head. "There! Is! No! Us!" She gritted through her teeth. All traces of humour vanished. Her whole life in recent weeks seemed to revolve around David. Her eyes conveyed the thoughts she'd kept unvoiced.

He shook his head and said, "Wrong." His word would be like a red rag to a bull.

She had to work hard to keep her features serene. "I have already told you that!"

Beatrice saw the twinkle in his eyes. Beatrice silently acknowledged that she was ill at ease. She knew why. That kiss. The fact she had allowed it. In her brain, she rolled her eyes, allowed? Allowed? She had practically threw herself at him! She was a sensible woman. Sane. What was the matter with her? Kissing him? Here? A huge mistake. She remembered she hadn't exactly fought him off! She gave him permission to take it further. She knew that. It was in the way he was looking at her. She swallowed at the intensity she saw in his eyes. She needed to calm down. Her heart was racing.  A fire was racing through her blood. His eyes had her heart thumping. Her eyes rounded. She felt lightheaded. What the hell was she thinking? Five years of coming to terms with her situation with him, and now she threw it away? In one second she threw it away. Why take the risk? A huge error.She hoped he hadn't noticed her gulp.

She had made a mistake coming here today. Definitely a mistake.

She tried to regain her composure. She straightened her spine. "You do remember that you wanted a divorce, remember?" She kept her voice cool, and tried to keep her eyes from showing that she was getting angry, again.

David wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Silently he thought things were going to have to change, and change fast. Shrugged his shoulders, and he said in that amazing, rich deep voice, "Changed my mind!" His lips twitched.

Her eyes widen at that comment. He'd been downright obnoxious in their relationship. Said upfront that he wanted a divorce. And now he didn't want a divorce? He doesn't have that option. Beatrice was tempted to stamp her foot. She vented, "If you want to talk to me, contact Mr Hartnell." Beatrice opened her car door. She sighed and told herself to calm down.

His hand clamped the car door. "Wait!" He leaned in once again.

She mumbled hiding the apprehension as she wondered if he was about to start up a conversation about that kiss. "I have made several mistakes today, I wouldn't repeat those mistakes." It was about time he dropped the attitude, she thought. "I have already wasted my time today." She pushed away from him. "Let go of my car door!"

David nodded his head. He persisted gently. "Your appearance is a sham!"

Who cares, if he thought her appearance is a sham? Puzzled she looked up at him and grumbled, as she acknowledged his statement, "Great. Fine!" Her eyes met his. "Ok?" She saw the twinkle in his eyes, again. "So, let go, now!" She snapped. "Right now!" She growled.

David stood in front of her, his hand on the car roof and when she went to step past him to get into her car, he shadowed her moves and blocked her. She figured that his security guards were watching them on their monitors, and they might well find their antics comical.

He ignored her orders, assumed a fake solemn expression and said calmly even though he had a predator's smile. "Just to confirm." He stood his ground.

Her eyebrows snapped together. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked him any questions. "What?" She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and she looked him in the eye.

He smiled, pleased that he had managed to get her to stop. He wanted her to see it in his eyes as he said, "You enjoyed kissing me!" A jolt of adrenaline surged through her. Longing and courage. Sanity returned. She attempted to duck under his outstretched arm. He lowered his arm. She moved a step back and glared. David watched her response. It was obvious that he wasn't going to let up: Not going to stop until she gave in to his demands! "And, you know that I liked it!" He reminded her softly, still stopping her from entering her car.

"We all make mistakes." She snapped. "As I said, I wouldn't repeat my mistakes. I am not your back-up plan." She tried to keep her anxiety out of her voice when she said, "I only kissed you because I wanted to know, how it felt, being kissed by my husband. My supposed husband!" She dusted at an imaginary spot on her skirt, to avoid his eyes. "Huge error. Kissing you today."

He knew all of his goal posts were altered. He said with conviction. "No error." He fixed his gaze on her. She saw his determination. Saw that intention in his eyes. His eyes flitted from her eyes to her mouth. David said flatly. "Never saw you as a coward."