Convince Me (Holton Series #1) by B. L. Blair Read Free Book Online

gentleman.  He thanked her for a lovely evening and lightly kissed
her cheek.  Anna was grateful for his sensitivity.  She wished she had
felt more attracted to him.  He was the kind of man Anna enjoyed being
around.  He was intelligent and undemanding.  He didn’t try to rule
her life.  Unfortunately, Anna knew Jake would never make her forget
Steven.  There was simply no spark between them.
    After Jake left, Anna glanced at
the clock and realized it was only ten p.m.  Anna laughed at herself and
tried to remember the last time she was home by ten after a date.  She
couldn’t remember.
    Anna slept fitfully that night. 
Most of her things had not yet arrived from Mayville and she had to sleep on an
air mattress until the movers arrived in the morning with her furniture. 
Anna tried to convince herself that was why she had trouble falling asleep that
night and why she overslept the next morning.
    The movers arrived on time and she
was so busy the rest of the weekend that she did not have time to worry about
Steven and his reaction to her date.
    Monday morning dawned bright and
clear.  Anna was glad to leave her apartment to return to the working
world.  After two days sorting out all her possessions, Anna was ready for
a break.  She happily returned to work.
    Julie again joined her for coffee
and Anna refrained from asking about Steven.  Julie did not volunteer any
information but simply asked Anna about her weekend.  Anna assumed that
Steven was avoiding her but she soon discovered she was wrong.  He arrived
right before lunch and one look at his face told Anna he had heard about her
date and was very angry.
    She watched with trepidation as he
firmly shut and locked the door behind him before advancing across the
room.  Anna knew she should object to his high-handed behavior but she was
too shocked to say anything.  She had never expected to see Steven so
furious.  The anger she had witnessed before was nothing to what he was
displaying now.  He glared at her, his face stiff and unyielding. 
His body was tight and his hand clenched at his sides.  Her heart began to
pound and she wondered if this was the way her mother had felt right before her
father began to beat her.  Anna held her breath and waited for the
explosion.  It never came.
    Steven walked over to the desk and
sat down in the chair opposite her.  He stared at her a minute, studying
her face as if he was looking for something and then suddenly the anger simply
disappeared.
    “I think you owe me an
explanation,” he said softly.
    Anna said nothing.  She was in
shock.  What had happened to all that anger?  Was he really able to
let it go so quickly?  She stared at him wondering who was the real Steven
Carson.
    “Anna,” he said prompting her.
    “What?” she asked, still somewhat
confused.
    “An explanation, Anna.  You
told me you didn’t want a relationship right now but you go out with some guy
no one even knows.”  The anger began creeping back into his voice.
    “I don’t have to explain anything
to you,” she said defensively.  “I can date whomever I please.”
    Steven rose quickly from his chair
and walked over to the window to stare out into the street.  For a moment,
he said nothing then he turned to look at her.  His face was perfectly
still and Anna realized she had no idea what he was thinking.  He nodded
once.
    “You’re right,” he said.  “You
don’t owe me anything.  I had hoped you would simply want to tell
me.  I guess I was wrong.  I’m sorry, Anna.  I was out of line.”
    In shock, Anna watched him turn to
the door and open it.  He paused and then gave her one sad smile and
walked out.
    Anna stared at the door wondering
what had just happened.  Steven’s reaction totally confused her. 
With a sinking feeling, Anna wondered if she had chased him away for
good.  She was afraid of her feelings for him but she wasn’t ready to let
them go completely.
    Late that night, Anna had