Read Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box for Free Online Page B

that
much to you." His one brow rose again. "Did it?"
    She swore silently at him for belittling
what they'd shared and for putting her mind in turmoil and her
heart in an uproar. Tears of frustration burned her eyes, making
her feel foolish for caring about what they shared, when he
obviously didn't give a damn. The cold-hearted jerk . She
rose to her feet, ready to make her escape, but he stood too. His
hand shot out, grasping her forearm to halt her.
    "I'm sorry." His voice was an aching rasp, a
plea that caught her off guard and stilled her movements. "Please,
don't go. I know this is a little late, but I didn't mean to hurt
you."
    She met his gaze, planning to tell him to go
to hell, but those beautiful eyes of his, didn't lie. He meant what
he said, but she wouldn't let him off the hook that easily. "Well,
you did." Her eyes shifted to where his hand lay on her forearm.
With a raised brow, her gaze met his again, and he let his hand
slip away.
    "I know, and if you'll give me a chance, I'd
like to explain."
    She hadn't expected him to agree. She
plopped back down in the seat, taking her original pose, crossing
her arms across her chest. "Let's recap, Ian, so we're both on the
same page: we spent three wonderful weeks in Ireland, you told me
how much you loved me. I was stupid enough to believe you. Then you
dumped me without even letting me know that you did. What exactly
do you need to explain to me?"
    His brows drew downward in a frown as if he
was bewildered by her harsh rendition of what happened. "I had to
leave in a hurry, Aubrey," he said carefully. "I left a note with
the hotel clerk. Didn't you get it?"
    "Note?" Her voice rose, not bothering to
cover her irritation. "What note? There was no note—and what was
wrong with you dumping me face to face?"
    "Hold on." He lifted a hand as if to ward
off her onslaught of words. "For starters, I didn't dump you."
    She laughed without humor. "You spent the
night with me. Then you were gone."
    "You don't understand. That's not how it
happened." His lips pursed together as his hand scrubbed over his
jaw in frustration. When he caught her dagger-like glare, he
back-paddled. "I mean, yes of course it's how it happened, but
there's more to it."
    She rolled her eyes as he scrambled for an
explanation, but really, what could he say to make what he did all
right? Nothing. "No, I don't understand. You measly bastard,
I sat in that hotel room for two days wondering what happened to
you. Thinking maybe you'd been kidnapped or murdered—but here you
are sitting, healthy and safe."
    "I know what I did was wrong, but at the
time I thought it was for the best." There was unmistakable regret
in his tone, but she refused to hear it.
    "Abandoning me was 'best'? " She
didn't care her voice had risen. The old pain of being used
shimmered down her spine until fury burned brighter.
    "Aubrey, what we had happened so fast."
    "I was there. Don't you think I know?" Her
voice broke and she turned away from him. She wouldn't cry,
dammit.
    "I was twenty, impulsive. I wanted to be
with you always, but then the call came from home."
    She looked at him again, her gaze
scrutinizing his expression. "What are you talking about?"
    "I know you don't believe me, but I did
leave a note for you. I didn't know how to say goodbye. I loved
you, but I couldn't stay with you."
    She raised a doubting brow. "And I'm
supposed to believe you?"
    "It's the truth."
    "Hello." The boy announced his presence as
he entered the room, carrying two glasses filled with a pink
liquid. "I have some strawberry lemonade here. It's really good,"
he told them. "I know 'cause I had a glass already."
    As he neared, Aubrey's eyes widened in
disbelief. It was like looking at a duplicate of Ian. The eyes, the
hair and the cleft chin were all his.
    The boy placed the glasses in front of them.
Her eyes narrowed as she pinned Ian down. It all made sense now.
"You got a call, did you?" Sarcasm dripped from her words, chilling
them. "No wonder you