“Not so fast, mi amor. I think you’d better invite me in.” He gave her another of his crooked grins. “You don’t want to have a scene right here on your doorstep, do you? What would your neighbors think?”
Solie gave him another scowl as she took in his self-assured expression, wondering why in the world she used to find that smile so sexy. Now that she knew the real Raul Escobar that smile just looked like pure evil.
She was contemplating the wisdom…or stupidity…of letting him in when he grasped her by the upper arm, set her aside and pushed the door. Then he stepped in and closed the door behind him.
“See how easy that was?” he asked, but this time when he looked at her his smile was gone. In its place was a look so cold it made her shiver. “You kept me waiting, mi amor. That’s not good.” He jerked his head toward the hallway. “Now let’s go relax in the living room and have a chat.” Before Solie could respond he grasped her by the shoulder, turned her around and gave her a little shove, forcing her down the hallway ahead of him.
Her skin prickling at his touch Solie walked, trying to get as far away from his reach as possible. She hated the idea of inviting him into her home but if she let him say his piece maybe he would go. Right then her greatest wish was to have him gone, out of her house and out of her life, but maybe she would have to suffer through his tirade first. She just hoped it would be a short one.
In the living room Raul didn’t even wait to be invited to have a seat. He stepped past her as if he owned the place and went to sprawl on her sofa, his head against the cushion, one leg halfway up. A slimy smile slid over his lips as, eyelids lowered, he watched her standing in the doorway. “Come on,” he said, his deep voice silky soft. “Join me.”
Solie stood right where she was. Once upon a time that seductive tone might have worked but not now. She was way past any kind of attraction to him. Now all she felt was revulsion.
She folded her arms across her chest. “Just say what you came to say then get out.” She said the words through gritted teeth. “I have no time to entertain slime balls.”
Raul threw back his head and laughed out loud. “Was that the best you could come up with? You’re losing your touch, Solie. Where’s the fiery chica who used to match me word for word? Where’s the witty rejoinder?”
Solie took a step forward and scowled at him. “Listen, you’re not welcome here. You’re lucky I even let you in. Just state your case and leave.”
That got her a look of amusement. “You let me in? How droll.” Then, as if tired of the game, he shifted and dropped his legs to the floor. He patted the seat beside him. “Come on over and sit so we can talk.”
Solie did not move. The very idea made her skin crawl. Sit beside Raul so he could wrap his arms around her, maybe even force himself on her? She wasn’t that stupid. “Just talk,” she said. “Say what you have to say and get out.”
Raul sat back and regarded her, the amusement sliding from his face. “Oh, so that’s the way it is, is it?”
“That’s the way it is.”
“Fine.” He slapped his hands on his knees and then sat forward. “Let’s get serious.” He looked over at her, his smile gone. “I want you to come back to me.”
Solie shook her head. “I got that. What I don’t get is why in this world or the next you would think that would ever happen. You’ve gone mad or what?”
Raul shrugged and this time the smile he gave her was free of bravado. It almost looked…genuine. “Mad is right,” he said. “Mad in love with you.”
“Raul,” Solie dropped her arms and jammed her fist on her hips, “you said let’s get serious so why don’t you?”
“I am serious.”
“No, you’re not. You’re the one who desecrated our relationship by cheating on me. You’re the one who couldn’t stay out of your secretary’s pants. Or did you forget?” Solie sucked in her breath, the anger building as the whole scenario came flying back to slap her in the face. “And after all that, you expect me to take you back? No,” she said, shaking her head, “you’re definitely not serious.”
“That was a big mistake, Sol. I was going through a…phase. But I’m over that now. I came to my senses. I need you.” He gave her a look so earnest that if Solie didn’t know him she would swear he was telling the truth. Well, the truth according to him, anyway.
“And what about Miss McQuade?” She just had to ask. Not that it would make any difference but her curiosity was getting the better of her.
Raul gave a snort, his lips taking on a bitter twist. “That bitch? I got over her a long time ago.”
Solie lifted her eyebrows, shocked at his crudeness. Then she frowned. “I can imagine you called me the very same thing.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head, “never. I respect you too much.”
That almost made her laugh. It would be funny if it weren’t so sick. “Yeah, that’s right. That’s why you cheated on me.”
“I told you, it was just a -”
“I know, a phase. That’s what you called it. But let me tell you something about that ‘phase’ of yours.” She slid her hands into her pockets, her anger giving way to a stillness in her soul, a sign that this man could no longer stir her. “That phase,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm, “can go on forever as far as I’m concerned. It’s been over a year since we broke up. What we had is dead. Buried. Rotting in its grave.”
This time Raul did not take her answer sitting down. Lithe as a tiger, he was up and by her side before she could move. “Not anymore, Solie. I still want you and I know you want me, too.”
He hadn’t touched her and Solie used the opportunity to back away, moving out of his immediate reach. Things were getting too hot for her, too emotional. She needed a wild card to get her out of this mess. Desperate, she drew for the one thing she knew would rid her of him once and for all. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong,” she said, her voice cold. “I don’t want you. I moved on a long time ago. I have a man in my life now.”