New Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page B

breathing became embarrassingly erratic as I fought the little spell he was trying to cast in order to keep from talking to me. “You are trying to distract me,” I said breathlessly.
    “Is it working?” he asked, gently nipping my earlobe with his teeth.
    Yeah, it was working all right and that was the problem. Leaning into him, I sighed heavily. “Please talk to me. Why did Carline say that about Stephen?”
    He let go of me and stepped away so abruptly that I nearly fell backwards. I stumbled a couple of steps before I caught my balance. Glancing around the office, I found Xavier standing in front of one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. He had his hands in his pockets as he solemnly stared out his office window.
    Walking up behind him, I threaded my arms through his, wrapping them around his waist and squeezing him tightly. “What is it, Xavier? Please.” I rested my cheek on his back.
    He removed his hands from his pockets. Gently, he took my hands in his and loosened them so he could turn around and face me. Staring intently into my eyes, it appeared as if he was conflicted with what he should and shouldn’t reveal. There was some internal struggle going on. I gave him an encouraging nod in hopes that he would start talking.
    “I think it was Stephen who was outside the house on Saturday,” he blurted.
    “I gathered that already. Now, you want to tell me what the hell would make you think such a thing?” I asked, trying to keep my anger in check. His obsession with Stephen really had to stop. He was involved with Carline now. There was no reason for him to be stalking me.
    “Ella, please. Just hear me out.” He held his hands up as if he were surrendering. “Stewart and I also believe that it’s Stephen who is tracking your cell phone. I’m not convinced that he was called out to work like Carline said. I think he was only using that as an excuse so he could get away from her. When we saw him at the Four Seasons dinner and he was all nice to you, I think he was doing it so he could win back some of your trust. He’s going to come after you again, but he’s going to wait until you feel comfortable.”
    “You’re wrong. That’s just crazy.” I said, slowly stepping back from him. “You are so obsessed with what happened to Heather that you’re convinced that I’m doomed to the same fate. Stephen is with Carline now. He’s not going to come after me.”
    “Ella, Stephen was outside the courthouse after Tom and Renatta got married. I saw him standing across the street. And don’t tell me that I’m crazy. I know it was Stephen, because our eyes locked onto to each other. He looked angry. I could see the malevolence just rolling off him in waves.”
    “No. No.” Shaking my head, I continued to walk backwards as Xavier advanced on me. “I don’t believe it. Why would he? Why would he do something like that?” Not paying any attention to where I was going, I stumbled as I backed into my bag and jacket on the floor. Before I could trip over them, Xavier grabbed my upper arms.
    “You don’t believe me?” he asked angrily. He gripped my arms tightly almost painfully as he glared at me.
    “Stop. Let go of me,” I said, as I tried to pull my arms out of his grip. He let go of me and backed away a few steps, but he still glared at me angrily.
    “Answer me,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me.
    “I don’t know what to believe, Xavier. I don’t doubt that you saw him, but I don’t think he was there because of us or me.”
    “You didn’t see him. You didn’t see the hate-filled stare he was directing at us.”
    Turning around, I grabbed my bag, scarf, and coat off the floor, and quickly headed for the door.
    “Where do you think you’re going, Ella?”
    “I have to go. I can’t be here right now.”
    His long legs enabled him to reach me as soon as I got to the door. Before I could turn the doorknob, his long fingers were wrapped around mine tightly. “Don’t run away from me,