Stare Me Down (Stare Down) by Riley Murphy Page A

popped open and she blinked. As the haze lifted, he read the dawning panic loud and clear. If he didn’t let go of her, she’d probably scalp herself running away.
    “The bell. The door. I mean, there’s a delivery.” She leaned and snatched up her glasses, shoving them on. Only she braced her elbows into his solar plexus to do it and the action caused him to grunt.
    “Sorry about that.” She had her Woody Allens back on and awkwardly pushed off him in a half-roll stumble move.
    By the time he stood and readjusted himself, she had her back turned toward him, and that’s when he noticed her hair. Long. It was really long. Down to the center of her back. She’d had it clipped up before he’d dug his hand into it, so even then it was hard to gauge, but now it wasn’t. It was thick and wavy. Threaded with gold, copper and silvery blonde highlights. Beautiful. He willed her to turn around so he could see those cornflower blue eyes framed by all that rich, unobstructed brilliance. Jesus, he bet she’d be stunning.
    “Jaxx?”
    “It’s—” she cleared her throat but didn’t move, “—Doctor Gavin and our, um, time is done.”
    “Don’t be shy. Turn around and talk to me.”
    “Why, so you can tell me what an awful therapist I am?”
    “Jaxx.”
    She shook her head, and the action sent those ribbons of silk swaying. It was hypnotizing.
    He waited for the swinging to stop. “I realize you’re upset.”
    She shook her head.
    “You’re not upset? Mad, then?”
    She nodded.
    He tilted his head. “At me?”
    She shook her head again and reached out to peel a bit of leftover tape from the door.
    “At yourself?”
    She nodded, and he grinned. He loved a woman who took responsibility for her actions. But what action was she mad at? Caving into him when he had her hooked, or diving on him the first chance she got? Didn’t she know she had no choice? He’d stacked the cards in his favor and played them. Now he felt bad.
    He went to her. “Honey,” he whispered, grasping her by the shoulders. His plan was to make her turn around so they could talk and he could explain, but then she sank back against him and he forgot all about the plan. The action was so reminiscent of his dream, he nearly stepped back.
    “Please. Please don’t call me that.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it makes me want to ask you to stay, when what I’m going to do is tell you to go. It’s best if you leave before we have a complicated mess on our hands.”
    He had nothing to say to this because she was right. This, whatever it was between them, was a complication he didn’t need in his life right now. And judging by her firm resolve to not turn and face him, she felt the same way. Shouldn’t he be experiencing a sense of relief that she wasn’t looking for more from him? Shit. It was precisely because she wasn’t that he was bothered.
    “Yeah, I’d better go.”
    She nodded and leaned away from him, and illogical though it was, he had the desire to pull her back against him. To continue where they’d left off. The need to do that burned like a bitch, so he was glad that she hadn’t turned around. It was safer for both of them this way. He was beginning to think that dream had been a warning not to mess with her, and what had he done?
    The bell rang again and he noticed her shoulders slump. The fury he felt over this surprised him. It also made him realize he couldn’t leave without saying his peace. “That’s not a delivery. It’s Carmichael sending you a message, isn’t it?”
    “Yes.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “She’s probably wondering why you’re still here.”
    He thought about all the phone calls during sessions and now the ringing bell and scowled. “Before I go, promise me one thing.”
    “What?”
    Her shaky tone made him feel like absolute shit. “Promise me you’ll deal with The Dragon Lady sooner than later.”
    Silence.
    “Please.”
    “I-I will.”
    “Goodbye Jaxx.”
     
    Jaxx nearly wilted