Pulling his gloves off, he threw them on the floor and stalked over to the bathroom he’d installed in his home gym. Stripping off his workout clothes, he threw them into the hamper before walking into the double length shower. He turned the water to cold, to try to shock himself out of his fury, but it did nothing. Just made him shiver.
Once dressed, he ran his hands through his damp hair to try to get it under control, as he walked into the living room and switched on the TV. Almost immediately he turned it off again, and strode to the kitchen, yanking open the refrigerator and staring into the abyss. He d
idn’t even focus on the food. He was too busy thinking about all the breakfast food he’d left for housekeeping to clean up at the hotel this morning.
Because she didn’t stay.
Because he’d upset her.
Letting the door swing shut, he stomped to the hallway and grabbed his keys, desperate to get out of this house. It felt too big and too small all at the same time. Fresh air would work.
Or a drive in his car, foot down as he cruised up the highway.
Maybe then he could start to think properly.
Chapter Sixteen
Pulling a tray of fragrant cranberry and white chocolate muffins from the oven, Becca slid off her oven mitts, transferring the muffins to a cooling rack. She’d come straight home and pulled the ingredients out, determined to do something other than think about today.
And last night.
Not that it was working. Every five minutes or so he’d flash into her mind, that blank expression on his face when he’d seen her flowers in reception. She’d hoped for anything other than blankness. She would’ve been happier if he’d shown her his usual pissed-off frown. Because at least then he’d be feeling something.
And she wanted him to feel something when she was around. The same way she did whenever his name was mentioned.
Shaking her head at herself, she decided to take Mia up on her offer. A movie with her and Josh was preferable to sulking in her apartment all evening.
Sliding her feet into her sneakers, she grabbed a light jacket from the hook beside the front door and jammed her arms into it. Then she ran back to the kitchen and grabbed a container, putting four of the still-hot muffins inside. If she took them out when she got to Mia’s they should still be yummy.
With the tub in one hand, she opened the front door with the other, and nearly dropped the damn muffins when she saw Daniel standing only inches away from her.
With an expression that looked like it could kill anybody within a hundred yards.
“Oh.”
Daniel’s lips twisted into a frown. “Becca.” There was a masculine deepness to his voice that made her pulse race. “Are you going somewhere?”
She looked down at the muffin tin. “To see a friend.”
“Can I talk to you for a moment before you leave?”
“Um, I guess.” She didn’t move, though her pulse was nearing critical levels. “How do you know where I live?”
He lifted an eyebrow.
“My personnel file?” Had he looked inside it? Weird how warm that made her feel.
“Actually, I got it from your aunt. I called the number listed in your file and she said you’d moved out a few months ago. You should probably update your details.”
“Is that why you’re here? Because I didn’t put in a change of address form with HR? Are you going to discipline me for it?” Her voice was more tart than she’d intended. But damn, would it kill him to give her a smile?
“I bought you these,” he said, picking up an arrangement of white lilies. They were pretty and huge and she had to remember how to breathe. “As an apology for this morning.” He ran the tip of his tongue along his bottom lip.
“Oh.” She had no idea what to say.
“I also want to talk to you.”
“Now you want to talk.” She shifted her feet. “You didn’t seem very talkative earlier when you threw me out of your hotel room.” The memory of it stung her.