Chapter 44
In the parking lot, inside the black Maybach.
Frederick sat in the dark, holding his phone, dialing Maeve’s number over and over again.
The faint glow from the screen cast deep shadows over his sharp, handsome features.
Only his pitch-black eyes remained terrifyingly clear.
He looked like a lethal predator lurking in the dead of night.
Suddenly, Frederick lifted his gaze, locking onto a slender figure approaching in the distance.
Maeve felt his aggressively predatory stare the very second she walked into view.
It felt physically heavy, weighing down on her.
Her grip tightened on her purse as she deliberately slowed her pace to delay the inevitable.
Back near the restrooms, Jonathan had offered to walk her down, but she had refused.
Now, facing Frederick all alone, a thrill of nervousness coiled in her stomach.
As the thought crossed her mind, the sound of a car door opening made her snap her head up.
Frederick had stepped out of the Maybach and was walking straight toward her.
She instinctively took several steps back, spun around, and broke into a sprint.
The heavy footsteps behind her quickly matched her pace. Just as she was about to reach the elevator, a large hand clamped securely around her wrist.
The next second, she was swept off her feet. Maeve let out a sharp gasp, her arms instinctively flying up to wrap around Frederick’s neck.
Still in shock, she looked up.
Their eyes met, and to her surprise, there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his dark eyes.
“Now you’re scared? You left me out here for over an hour, turned off your phone just to be cruel, and yet you weren’t scared then p>
She froze. Frederick actually wasn’t angry.
He carried her effortlessly toward the Maybach, effortlessly reading her mind.
“Are you surprised that I’m not furious p>
Maeve’s eyes darted away, and she lowered her head, refusing to answer.
He placed her gently into the passenger seat. Before she could react, Frederick leaned over her, his knees bracketing her hips.
The car was dead silent.
So quiet that the only sound was their synchronized breathing.
The dim lighting added a thick layer of intimacy to the space.
The air between them grew heavy and undeniably seductive.
Looking up at the imposing man hovering over her, Maeve’s deadened heart betrayed her pounding wildly in her chest
Thump, thump, thump—
Her fingers curled into the leather seat, gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She hated herself for this. She had been hurt so many times.
Why was she still so pathetically weak for him?
The scent of mint grew closer.
As his lips descended, Maeve forced herself to turn her head away.
His soft lips barely grazed the corner of her mouth before trailing across her cheek finally settling In the hollow of her neck.
Frederick placed soft, lingering kisses against the delicate curve of her throat.
“Mae, you don’t even know why I was angry p>
His hot breath fanned over her skin. It tickled, and Maeve tried to push his head away.
“Then tell me. Why are you angry p>
Frederick rested his head against her shoulder, idly twirling a strand of her hair around his finger.
“I think you know. You just don’t want to put in the effort to understand me anymore p>
Maeve squeezed her eyes shut. “Frederick, you’re the one who changed p>
He had changed into someone she couldn’t read anymore.
He had changed… into someone who didn’t love her.
Frederick’s breathing was shallow.
“I have never changed p>
But the truth was staring her right in the face. She could see it clearly.
She didn’t argue with him. She just let him hold her.
A few minutes later.
Frederick pulled back, buckled her seatbelt, and drove them back to Wisteria Cove.
They didn’t speak for the entire ride.
While waiting at a red light, Frederick freed one hand. gently took hers, and soothingly rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.